Adios 2009, Hello 2010!!

As we draw nearer to the end of a crazy, crazy decade and enter a new one, I thought I'd reflect on the past 10 years. I've had some personal achievements: graduating from Hurricane High School, moving out of my parents house and into my first college apartment (which was CRAZY!! ha ha), getting a newer car than the land yacht and then getting an even newer car with the Outlander that I absolutely love, getting an associate's degree from DSC (which took me twice as long as most people but it was a very interesting journey getting there), and finding out who I am. So, therefore, the past 10 years weren't too bad overall. I mean, there were plenty of rocky roads along the way, but I'm a hell of a lot further along then when I entered into Y2K at the age of 13. We had recently moved to Utah and I hated this place with a bloody passion. 10 years later, I'm well adjusted, and despite my tangents about the close-mindedness I do encounter and the lack of stuff to do, I actually don't hate St. George. At best, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather live, except on a beach in Cabo San Lucas, but that's just impractical!! ;)

I've met some very interesting people in the last 10 years. Some of them have become great friends and others are just great stories to tell. I can't lie to you though, I've got some of the best damn friends out there and I'm totally happy to have each one of them around! I wouldn't be able to tell 90% of my stories without those friends I've had for so many years. I know a lot of people graduate and lose touch with those people they grew up around, but that hasn't happened to me yet and I hope we stay close forever. Thanks a ton for being so kick ass and I love y'all!!

Probably the other thing I've done is learned so much, yet so little, about the opposite sex. My hell, men in general are so curious. (That was a nicer word than what I was planning on using.) I have dated some of the biggest weirdos in the past 10 years...there was that one that felt it was a-ok for dudes to go to gay bars on frequent occasions (NEWSFLASH boys - not ok, at least not if you're wanting to be legally married in the state of Utah...), the loser stoner ones (two of these!! Seriously, where do I find them?! Boys who smoke pot have a love that always ranks higher than any girl they meet and that is Mary J...I've learned this TWICE and the story never ever changes), the one who decided to tell me my lower back tattoo was referenced as 'the mark of the whore' on SNL (definitely was not a good move for him!), the stalker ones (these seem to happen WAY too often... gentlemen, I'm going to do you a favor and help you out - DON'T STALK ME! I don't find it attractive and I carry pepper spray!), and numerous other ones that just didn't make the cut at all. Many of my friends have gotten married and the past 10 years, and although I am very very happy for them, I'm quite happy myself too. I can guaran-freaking-tee ya, that I would not be happy with any of the guys I have ever dated, and (this is for my Great Grandma, who told my mom I'm on the path of becoming an old maid) 23 is not old in the real world. Yeah, Utah is a little old school where the average marriage age is what? 19? But, Carrie Bradshaw didn't meet and marry Mr. Big until she was in her late 30s, yes? All I'm saying is despite the pressure to settle down and start a familia, I'm totally enjoying the freedom I enjoy. I have a feeling I'll lose that freedom in the next 10 years, and I'll be ready for it then, but my past and present self is very satisfied with the things I've done and the stuff I learned that probably would not have been possible had I gotten very serious with any of the tools I've dated.

Now, I feel all this end of a decade thing is totally raining on 2009, and I'd hate to just ignore the end of this year, as it's been a fairly interesting one...so, I give you - The highlights of 2009 -

• I got laid off at Wheeler Machinery in early January. Most would see this as a bad point, but it opened the door for some very good things, like being able to take whatever classes I wanted at Dixie without having to change it or just drop out of a class halfway through the semester because they wanted me to change my schedule or whatever.
• I went to a few live shows (much less than in past years however). I saw Grocery Show Rejects (good local Vegas band), Lady Antebellum (who I LOVE!), and David Allen Coe!!!!!!!! Yes, that's right, the old dude was kickass. LOL
• I FINALLY graduated from Dixie State College with an Associate of Science.
• I got a job as a hospice/home health CNA, which has been a journey itself. Hospice teaches you MANY things, as does working in healthcare in general. Lesson #1 it taught me - I do not want to work in healthcare forever. Definitely not my scene!!!!!
• I got a second (and definitely primary) job working for the school district at a school with the resource department. Lesson learned here - I love teaching and am probably going to be pretty bomb at it someday.
• I got accepted into a teaching program, and am well on my way to being a teacher someday. I have changed my mind on a career for SOOO many years and SOOOO many times that this is a HUGE thing for me. I still question this decision somedays, but when I go to work at the school and see the kids and the success or whatever makes that day a good day, I know that I've made the right decision for me.
• I became obsessed with kitchen appliances, which just shows that I am totally going to be reined in and domesticated someday. Damn gender roles!!
• I got a blu-ray player! And that has changed my life. Ha ha, it's lovely and I now understand the hype. Plus, the one I got has wireless internet that I have hooked my netflix account too and I can instantly stream Netflix to it, so I never have to sit and complain about how I have nothing to watch - as I have all Netflix has to offer right in front of me. It's delightful.
• Jim and Pam got married on The Office. Yeah, I know, it's a TV show. But, their wedding gave me a little more faith in romance and love and all that mushy stuff. I was quite the cynic for awhile. Mankind had left me thinking that there was no good left in it. And although Jim & Pam were not the beginning of the reversal process on my brain, it helped. :) Plus the episode was AWESOME.
• I went to my first demo derby, which was also very awesome. Very redneck too, but I live in southern Utah so I should just embrace that one, right?
• I got a puppy who is so kick ass, I can't describe it. He's a very cool little dude that keeps me entertained and in check. Seriously, he'll give me my diva look right back at me. Oh its awesome. Now that I read that last part back, maybe my dad was right when he told me my dog is gay...yikes. :)

And finally, in this ridiculously long post (it's the end of a decade, come on!! There's a lot to say about it!!!!! And I'm procrastinating working out as I write this post...), the new music that I have found in the last year is completely kick ass and I should share for those of you who need to update that old ass playlist you've been keeping in heavy rotation.

• Matt and Kim. Listen, love them.
• Coconut Records. He's a goofy looking comedian but his music is lovely.
• Miley Cyrus. Party in the USA, need I say more? Ok, I'm just joking on that one, but Party is a brilliant song, even if Miley never has heard of Jay-Z........
• Band of Horses. They are genius. "Funeral" is my favorite song and ringtone right now.
• Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. All right, so Idol found them. They are both delightful though, in completely different ways.
• 3Oh!3. They remind me what college is about, in a strange strange way.
• The Lonely Islands, but not for the faint of heart. They are outrageous, and completely inappropriate, but irresistible.
• Zac Brown Band.
• Lady Antebellum. The blonde guy is gorgeous and can sing. Mmhmm.
• Steel Magnolia. Yeah, they won Can You Duet. They're fun. And a breath of fresh air.
• Any song off of the Jennifer's Body soundtrack. Terrible, awful movie but brilliant music.
• Jason Aldean. He's not new, but every single song I've heard from him this year is perfect. "Big Green Tractor" take the prize though.
• Green Day came out with a new CD!!!! Yes, it was everything it should be. Thank you Billy Joe Armstrong. You rock, for serious.
• Manchester Orchestra is a great new addition.
• The Dead Weather. Jack White, you sly fox, you've created something new and INSANE.
• And my ULTIMATE favorite gem from this past year is Daisy, the new album by Brand New. Y'all are brilliant and lovely and wonderful. They're my favorite band from the past 10 years with good reason.

Alright, that's it. I'm done. I'll see y'all on the flip side of this decade.

Feliz Navidad

In the spirit of Chrismakkah....I have given all of my fabulous friends and family who actually read my blog an early present. Enjoy my new playlist - I personally think it's amazing. :)

Today I was a 7th Grade Science Teacher...

...for 20 minutes. I have to say I am so grateful that I got the job I did. Being an aide at the school with 6th and 7th graders (which are two of the grades I have never wanted to teach) has been amazing! I was worried it may make me want to make a change in my career choice yet again, but heck no! I love it. Even when the kids are dirty, rotten, awful, terrible hellians; I still get a kick out of it. Yeah, I was worried I was going to lose my voice trying to get this class to settle down and shut up!!!! but I survived. And some of the kids maybe learned something. I'm super happy with it and I can't wait until I finish my schooling so I can have my own classroom and not have to go from class to class...I dread wearing heels because I know at the end of the day, I'll regret it - especially when I go see hospice patients and try to transfer them after!

Oh and if anyone is skilled at knocking out walls and building a closet there, please let me know. My tiny closet is practically throwing up dresses and shirts and i have 5 laundry baskets full of clothes with no home. Or, better yet, if you have a master bedroom available that could double as my closet, just let me know. That would be super.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Fall update.....

Well, if anyone had told me how exhausting working 2 part timr jobs would be, I probably would not have believed them. However, it is kicking my butt along with full time school!!! But I love it. I had no idea that a part time job working with the special ed department would get me sooooooo excited to become a teacher. Its fantastic! I love the kids, I love helping them understand something they couldn't grasp, I love helping them with little problems or to feel better about themself. Its amazing. I can't wait til I have my own classroom!!!

My daddio is getting knee replacement #2 manana so most of my weekend will be hanging out at the hospital keeping him entertained.

Oh and its no longer a secret...I got a puppy. He's an adorable labradoodle I scooped up at the shelter cause I'm super lucky! He's now 7 months old and a freaking cutie. His name is Cooper and I love the little turkey to death.

And my super good friend Adrienne had the cutest little baby boy ever so I need to give a shout out to her and Jerry!! He's adorable and I have been having fun checking out cute baby duds to get him! :)

Hmmmm...what else is there to say??? I have completly finished the first class for my bachelors degree which is pretty exciting! Every assignment I turn in feels like a small step lately and I can't wait til its all done!!!! I'm starting a poli sci class next week and I'm so amped for it--this is what I've been looking forward to!

Oh and I got a power juicer and an air popcorn maker which every woman should invest in. They are lovely. And if you want some top quality apples, hit up costco. I had the best apple since I moved from Miltown. It brought back sweet memories of hayrides and leaves changing...some days I miss that frozen violent city!!! :)

Rascall Flatts

My alarm woke me up to a new Rascall Flatts song...I like it!! Why haven't I heard this song yet??? I'm always up on music...

Today is d-day for the cali trip. I just wish it was longer...like 3 weeks instead of 3 days, but getting out of town at all will be worth every second!!
If I get inspired and have time I'll post pics while I'm gone but don't expect them...I should be having way too much fun to worry about my silly little blog! :)

Spiralling

Can I just tell you life is completely insane working two jobs and attempting to go to school full time? I think being a hospice CNA is more demanding then any other job I've ever done before and it is exhausting. So, lately my school work has suffered a little and I need to jump on that!! I'm writing an outline for a presentation I have to do for one of my classes, and I'm using the paper I wrote for English 2010 at Dixie, which was on gay rights on college & university campuses. K, that paper was 12 pages and the presentation has to be 5-7 minutes. 5-7 minutes people!!! I thought that would be forever...oh heck no. I have cut out half of my topics I covered for that epic paper and it's still way over time. It is seriously coming down to chopping out whatever I can to get this half down yet again, and let me tell you...once this is completely written out in presentation form...there is not going to be much information. So, I'm mildly irritated. I don't see how any event has to be weighed as less significant, but apparently I'm going to have to make that decision and it's frustrating. Whatever. Now, for those of you who are like, why on earth would you right a 12 page paper on gay rights you fag hag?? False people. I think that every human being deserves the right to be treated equally regardless of their personal beliefs. Seriously, we're all freaking people and it disgusts me how human beings treat one another. It's terrible. For example, did you know that RELIGIOUS groups sat at Matthew Shepherd's funeral (as in the 21 year old kid who was beaten to death in Wyoming back in 1998 because he was gay) and held up signs about how he is rotting in hell and queers are getting what they deserve? That is appalling. And, because it was a religious protest, there was nothing the city or state could do to stop it. How does any church justify protesting at a kid's funeral?? I mean, he's dead!!! And not just dead, but he was beaten so severely that the man who found him thought he was a scarecrow. His parents never were able to hear him talk again because he was comatose for a few days before he died. And some whacked out religious fanatics are protesting and waving disgusting signs around at his funeral. It makes me sick. So, I wrote a paper on it. Not that my paper is going to save the world of all hate and whatever, but I think it is important.

Anyway, I'll get off of my soapbox now... :) It has been blissfully cooler here the last few days and I wish it was this way FOREVER!!!!!! It's perfect. Unfortunately, I have heard that the weekend will bring higher temperatures back, and shortly after we'll be getting those freezing cold mornings and freezing cold nights... but for a few days, I live in temperature heaven and I'm quite content. I had my first cup of hot cocoa for the season last night and it was like a beautiful reunion between two very long lost friends. Thank you Target for creating dulche de leche hot cocoa. You people are taste bud geniuses!

We are headed back down to California in a couple weekends from now and I'm ever so ready for a break from life to go get my guts swirled around violently on roller coasters! (Dramamine is a life saver!!!!!!!) And Lynd is joining us this time and I'm very excited for her to come. And, of course, the fright fest will be open so I'm sure that will be entertaining. I'm not as keen on them as I used to be, but haunted houses are still pretty fun. And apparently Six Flags turns the lights off on a bunch of the rides, and the old wooden coaster runs backwards, so that will be a new, interesting experience.

Other than the billion of things I'm doing that is just my day to day life...I am also on the hunt for a new rental, which is harder than one would think because of St. George's apparent hatred of all things cute and fluffy (pets!). It's been hard to find many places that allow pets and sorry y'all, but Cullen & Sushi are not going to be up for adoption anytime soon. I figure when I stumble across the perfect place, they will allow pets and therefore I will know that it's the right house, yes???

I've procrastinated on this blog for far too long. I've got to get ready for work because in 7 hours it's my weekend, but this weekend is more than a weekend to me. It is my first day off in 12 days. And the only days off in 11 days because I am on the weekend schedule for hospice again next weekend. I just need to keep telling myself that Cali is on the other side of those 11 days, I've made it so far...just keep swimming, just keep swimming......... :)

It's Official!!!!

I FINALLY have completed my associate's degree and am done at Dixie State College!!!!!!! The hard paper copy will be here in a couple weeks, and I couldn't be happier about it! It was a lot of work, I took FOREVER to finish it, but that chapter is final and done and I am stoked! I have gotten accepted into an online teaching program through Western Governor's University and as long as financial aide is all arranged and everything I am set to start that Sept 1st and hopefully will be a high school social science teacher in 2 years!!!! This has been one of those careers I have bounced back and forth between...that and a medical career, so I'm pretty happy to have settled on something and am so ready to get going on the coursework.

Ohhhh 3 new addictions:

1. How I Met Your Mother...pretty much the perfect sitcom. I love it. It makes me want to move to New York City and do the bar scene thing, even though I think the bar scene is totally lame and cliche and I hate dating...just to see if this crazy stuff actually happens (I know some of it does!!). It's legendary.

2. Right Away, Great Captain - super chill, good band. I don't know how I stumbled on them but it's good. Check it.

3. The Dead Weather - It's a marriage of alt rock and blues with a Jack White fusion....lovely! 

And I haven't mentioned it in any blog yet and I should have so......The Hangover is epic. I haven't laughed so hard in ages...plus Brad Cooper is going to be the father of my children...but that's just a small sidebar on my love of this movie. Seriously, it's hilarious. And they are coming out with a Hangover 2 in 2012 and I have never been more excited for a movie like I am for this. 

Cafe Rio Salad Dressing

Who doesn't love Cafe Rio?? I'm pretty sure anyone who has had it loves it...except Lynda...but anyway, I was using some leftover grilled chicken (btw George Forman grills changed my life!!!) and I decided to do a salad with it, but I was feeling the whole Mexican--add rice & beans thing but I knew that I didn't want normal salad dressing for it & I didn't think that salsa would do it justice. So, I searched out a copycat recipe for the dressing we all love so much--the creamy tomatillo, or the House dressing at Cafe Rio. I tried it and LOVED it. It's more smooth when you make it at home & you can adjust the spiciness of it. (Personally, Rio makes theirs a little bit hotter than necessary so my homemade kind was PERFECT!!) Plus, you can add a few changes to make it a little bit more healthy....like I used light mayo and skim milk.

So here it is...................

1 packet ranch dressing mix

2 tomatillos (I got these at Harmons...they are tomatoes with skins & they're super cheap there.)

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 garlic clove

1 jalepeno pepper (This is where you can adjust how spicy your dressing is...it will make it muy caliente if you put the seeds in. I left them out and it had just enough zing to it for my liking)

The juice of one lime

Just make the dressing like it says on the package (add milk & mayo). Throw the rest in a food processor (which btw, another life changer is the magic bullet. I am IN LOVE with it!!!), mix it all & then voila--you have rio dressing in your own kitchen.

This recipe makes A LOT of dressing. I halved it and it made a good two/three cups. The dressing should stay good in the fridge for two weeks. Enjoy it, love it, call me over for dinner when you're making it!!!!! :)

I found a recipe for their pork too, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll share & if you get to it before me, let me know what you think of it!!!

3-4 pounds pork roast

1 cup brown sugar

3 cups salsa

Put in a slow cooker on low for 10 hours.

Who We Are

One thing I used to struggle with in the past is judging people. It is so natural to just assume someone is a scary person because they don't look the same as you do, or think that someone is lazy because they don't have a home to live in. This is a something that has taken a lot of work to try and be more conscious of; that constant need to make a lasting impression of someone based on their exterior or a quick conversation that doesn't truly introduce you to who a person really is.

 I know people judge me at first glance. I have tattoos...therefore I am a rebel, or a troubled, punk kid. Those of you that know me know that my visible tattoo is in remembrance of my grandmother & the one on my back is a cross...so do the math. I'm not really much of a rebel, right? I've also been told that a first impression of me is that I'm a "bitch" because I'm not super outgoing initially. It's true-I tend to hold back and not be uber talkative when meeting someone for the first time. It's cause I am somewhat shy and cautious, not because I'm a bitch. My friends who have told me they first thought that stuck around long enough to find out I can be plenty friendly. 

It's just funny to see what these first impressions give off and how offensive they can be. I know we don't live in a perfect world and I don't expect everyone to quit formulating opinions from a person's appearance, but it's something that I strive to do. I found this quote one day and it's helped me to be much more careful in my thinking...so I thought I'd share it. I'm sure someone else out there will appreciate it as much as I do:

Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to love.

The Pros and Cons of Breathing

Anyway...........spring semester is finally done. And I survived....so I call it a success. 18 credits, with a 4 credit block class in the mix, is pretty much a recipe for no life. But I owned it, so I took a nice vacation to California for a couple days at Six Flags Magic Mountain this past weekend. It was SO nice to get out of St. George for a couple days and not have anything to worry about except for when to throw on some more sunscreen!!! :) Unfortunately, the vacation couldn't last longer and I'm now back home & trying to figure out a job, summer classes & preparing for an interview to get into the respiratory therapy program this week.

I got a new kitten! I know, two cats...I'm crazy, but Cullen needed a friend so....now he has a little sister!

So, here is Sushi -

Cute, huh?! She's super fun and SO little! Here she is laying in the bathtub, which is her new favorite place to lay -

Fun, huh? Cullen is a full blown cat now-he's HUGE! I think he's part mountain lion! He's studly though. Both of my cats have a lot of character and they are so much fun!!!

Well, I hope everyone else had a good semester & I know I'm looking forward to summer!

Disenchanted

After spending some clinical time at Kolob Care & Rehab in St. George, Utah, I have never ever been so grateful for Luther Manor, the nursing home where my Grandma spent the last years of her life. She was always so happy and looked amazing whenever we went to visit her, and the place was run so well. I wish that my experience at Kolob would have been similar, but it definitely was not. It's just so sad when you see people who have spent their lives doing amazing things and taking care of others, being treated SO poorly when they have reached their final days and can no longer fend for themselves. I know that taking care of others is a physically and emotionally demanding task, but if you are going to yell at them, leave them a mess, and just sit on the internet and ignore them when they need your help, then maybe you've chosen the wrong field of work??? 

Oh, I also got my first huge rush of adrenaline....ok, I probably had a few while working as a physical therapy aide, but this one was pretty intense. While, two of us students were left alone with some 20 residents at lunch time...which I was uncomfortable with after this had happened EVERY meal that we were there for, but buy the 4th meal I had witnessed this, I was getting used to. Anyway, one of the poor guys choked on his lunch and he was shades of blue and purple & had lost control of his reflexes before this passed. Both of us students were freaking out, trying to figure out what we needed to do because HELLO, we haven't been trained on these things, but there were no employees anywhere on the entire hall that we were on. Yeah, it was intense. Fortunately, he was fine in the end, but I hope if I ever end up training anyone, I never leave them alone in a situation like that. 

Other than that, spring break has been a lot of laziness & catching up on all the DVR shows I have saved for the last few weeks before that. I got to go shooting with my dad & sister which was a lot more fun than I thought it might be and I have a wedding later today where my sister's band is playing the reception, so all in all, other than lots of clinical hours, this break has been a good way to get away from it all for a few days! 

Has anyone taken the phlebotomy class? I'm thinking of doing it this summer, but I wanted to know if it was worth it???? And, if it's a very hard class to do with physiology?

So Life With Out Internet Pretty Much SUCKS

It has been a long two weeks without Internet at my fingertips. We got it back tonight and it has been a glorious occasion!! My roommate and I moved out to Bloomington two weeks ago...it's been nice so far. The kittens, Cullen & Aida, had a bit of a rough time with the change of surroundings; Aida would only hide under the bed for the first week!!! They are finally getting used to their new home though. :)

School is still school...and that's pretty much my life right now so there is not much to add. I got Netflix so I've been able to catch up on all the movies I've been missing. It's so nice to have the movies delivered to you & being able to just drop them in a mailbox. It's SO easy and there's no late fees!!!!! That pretty much makes it worth it alone!! 

K, so I have like 200 emails in my inbox to go through so pretty sure this post is done. I'll be back on when something exciting happens...someday!

Update

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but that's because not much is going on. I'm just going to school and enjoying the time I have when I would usually be at work! My schedule will get more crazy the beginning of March when I start my block CNA class. It's twice a week from 2-7 pm, so that should be...interesting?? I don't know if my attention span will last for three hours, much less five, but it only takes two months to finish, so I should survive. I've also finished my volunteer training with Southern Utah Hospice & should be getting a patient next week, so that will be a nice, hopefully, addition to my schedule.

My friend, Jared, who does hair and recently graduated from hair school came out and did my hair...and I am super impressed with his skills and LOVE the cut. I'll put up pictures when I find the cord to connect my camera...

But that's it folks...this post seems to boring to be from me!! :) Hopefully everyone reading this is doing wonderful & hopefully I stumble on excitement sometime soon!