Ah, Christmas

So it is Christmas time. How do I know?

Well when I went through the drive-thru of Burger King today (because, yes I went through in the 10 minutes I had to get from the gym to the mall from one job to another and had to have something to eat and BK was between the two. And yes, I ate the food on the way, as well as changing in the car and fixing my make-up too!) the girl at the window asked if I wanted to donate a dollar to Toys for Tots.

I have been asked to help out with 5 angel trees.

I went on a date last night where the biggest part of the date was walking around looking at christmas lights.

My tree is up, and so is my mistletoe.

It is Christmas.

Oh, and good news, my wonderful car that only took me $15 to fill up ON EMPTY today, gets about 30 miles to the gallon...man I love that little silver thing!

Oh my dear friends, I got my Christmas shopping done on Thursday. I just had to get Logan's gift and I ordered it online Thursday. It is too funny! I would share what it is, but Logan randomly reads the blog, so I can't.

I am grateful today for long work days, sore feet, paychecks, temples, bowling and tickets to the christmas devotional tomorrow night. I have an extra ticket, anyone want to go?

Midnight

So, yesterday was a good day. I am so happy about it. Let me tell you what happened...

First, I sold my old piece of crap Pontiac. Yes, that hunk of junk that was the bain of my existence, is now gone and owned by someone else. YES! Happiness. Bliss, these are words that describe how I feel about it.

Then my friends Lono and Logan wanted to go see Twilight yesterday, but couldn't possibly go to a "girl" movie alone, asked me to join them for a midnight showing. I said yes and really enjoyed it, as did the guys. So at 2:30am when I am heading home I realize that I, being the smart person I am, have to work at 8am. So I sleep for a few hours and head to work.

Needless to say I am tired. But you know what? This has been the best week of 2008...so bring on the yawns!

The Night of 4 Strikes

Today, I changed the oil in my car. Logan helped, because I wouldn't do it by myself the first time. But, we got in there and changed it and filled up the washer fluid, put the plates on, and we got my car done! I am so happy. I know it sounds like I am 16 with my first car, but 5 months of being without a working car and the miracles that happened to put me where I am now, led me to this. I am so grateful that Logan knows about cars and has been able to impart his knowledge of them to me. Before I know it, I will be changing the oil all by myself. I want to know as much as I can about my car and how to do the basic maintenance on it. One, so that I know it better and two, I think it is a good thing to know about your car. I oddly liked getting under the hood and doing the little things. Getting all greasy...don't worry though, I'll leave the big stuff up to the real mechanics.
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I went bowling this evening with Tricia and Logan, man I love bowling! The first game was awesome, I beat both Tricia and Logan and had 4 strikes! The second game wasn't as great for me, a couple spares and no strikes and Logan beat me. But it was fun and I even got to bust a move in the lanes.
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I know I have said it a lot lately but I am so grateful for all I have been blessed with lately. I have been given so much. I am so grateful for all those who have helped make my life so full and have been the hands of the Lord in my life. I am more blessed than I can begin to tell you. I just want to express my gratitude for prayers, good thoughts and help I have been given by those around me who love me so much. I know I am loved and I know how important I am in the lives of the those people. I am grateful for shoulders to cry on, words of comfort and arms wrapped around me. I am so blessed and I couldn't ask for more.

Ms. Fix-it

Ok, I am totally impressed with myself. I know, I know, boasting not very attractive, but come on, this is pretty awesome!
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I took my car to get it's inspections today and it failed it's safety tests because the windshield washer fluid was not working. Um, really? I was annoyed and decided I was not about to pay some mechanic $100 to fix something I could and I set to work. I did some research and checked all my fuses, checked the fluid lines...nothing. I was getting bummed but then the last thing was the that washer fluid pump had gone out. So what did I do? I took a trip to every girls favorite store...Autozone.

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I walked in, confident and sure of myself and asked for the part by name and number and stunned the guy at the counter. He was a little shocked. I walked out and headed to Logan's house because he is the one with the jack and the chisel, which is the greatest tool ever. With a little help from Logan, we just swapped the part out and I am good to go. How awesome is that? I fixed my car...for $17 I did what some mechanic would have charged me at least $50 bucks for. I feel so accomplished.
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Tomorrow, I am changing my own oil.
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Yeah, just call me Ms. Fix-it.

I'm So Excited...

I'm so excited, I'm so...so...scared! (haha, an old school Save by the Bell reference, it just made me think of that, sorry, random thoughts)

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I am really excited, why you might ask? Well let me tell you...I am the proud owner of a new car! Ok, so not really new, just new to me. But it is enough new to me to be exciting to me.
.The whole thing is a miracle. It is a little beat up, but in great condition in general. Logan is going to help me find some rims to help cover the rusted wheels, but other than that, I am good to go. I am so grateful for friends who look out for me, who want to make sure I get a deal and that I am being taken advantage of. I love that I have been a part of the miracle that happened in the last week that made this possible. I hope that one day I am a part of someone else's miracle. a big thank you to all those who were a part of my miracle, Tricia, Nic, Bryce, Logan and Melinda.
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I am excited to have a few new fun and exciting things on the horizon. As soon as I know better what they are and such, I will be able to share. But this is only the beginning for me. Don't worry, it is about to really start for me. I can feel it.

Call Me

Call me Ms. Optimistic.
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Call me The Hyper Queen.
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Call me whatever you want.
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All I know is I am so excited and happy today that I can hardly contain myself. I am happy from the tips of my toes to the ends of my extra long and unshaped graying hair! I AM HAPPY!
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I had cute little girls at work ask me why I was taking a cough drop and said because I was sick. her response...
"Sick? Ni-tole sad. I give you hugs Ni-tole."
How I adore the sweet innocence of children and their unwavering love.
I love being asked to sing the same six songs a million times a day so tone def 2 year olds can sing at the top of their lungs just excited to know the words. I love them begging me to sit and sing with them, a kid on each knee and others trying to find a way to squeeze in. I love the little arms wrapped around me either in happy hugs or wiping the sad tears away.
I especially love moms who come in and tell me that they love me and so do their kids. Mom's who give me gift cards because they appreciate me. I love them. I love my job.
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I love going to the temple. I love knowing that every Thursday around 2:30 I pick up my temple buddy and we head to temple. I love that we both came out today feeling so proud of ourselves because we almost had it word for word. That it was something we both found to be exciting. I love that my coughing fit was met with understanding and kind words from little old ladies. I love the peace and assurance I feel. I love that I know without thinking about it and analyzing it a million time (like I am prone to do) that I am loved, needed and important. I love that I walk out of the temple every week with my temple buddy knowing that we have both grown and become better people. I love knowing that in 7 short days I will be there again.
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I love phone calls about my car being ready ahead of schedule. I love knowing that suddenly I am going to feel better about the most stressful thing in my life. That this one thing will change so many.
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I love that the most random job fell into my lap today. I love that I was excited by it. I love that it starts Monday.
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I love that I am happy. I love that for the first time this year I feel things finally lining up for me. Not everything is, I still have a few major hurdles I am trying to conquer, but I see the light and that is enough for me to know that the dark days are coming to an end.

And so it Goes

Well, an eventful few days here. I guess I could try to tell all the details, but I don't feel like it.
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First, I have been battling what I thought was a nasty cold but what turned out to be my first case of bronchitis for the year. I was even going to get my flu shot this week and couldn't because I was so sick. I will spare you major details but green goo was coming from all possible holes in my head. I haven't been sleeping well because I hear myself coughing...and so the cycle goes. But I started antibiotics and I am feeling better for the most part, just still coughing. All I know is I am grateful that I am on the mend. As are roommates, friends, employers...
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I went and looked at the car I am going to buy last night. I was going to take pictures, but I was so exhausted and had such a headache that I couldn't. But it is a cute little car and I am excited about the prospect. The whole thing is a miracle in and of it's self.
A friend of a friend has a friend (ok, did you follow that? I barely did) who had a 1999 Mazda protege sitting in his garage for the last year. The clutch had gone out and they hadn't replaced it. And for reasons no one understood, they let it sit. And sit. And sit. So that the when the right time came it would be sitting there waiting for me. They practically giving it to me, hardly charging anything for a car that is in great shape that just needs to have clutch replaced. And through other miracles, I got loan with an insanely low interest rate. When I say insanely low, I mean, around 1%. Can you imagine? I am still in awe and so humbled by how my Heavenly Father has blessed me lately.
I have felt so stressed and confused and unsure of so many things lately and finally just took that leap of faith that things would work out and let go. And to my amazement things have fallen into place even more beautifully than I could have imagined.
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I even got an amazing lead on an amazing job, which I have been lacking lately, today. I am so excited and hopeful. I feel like there is an end to this dark tunnel that I feel like I have been in all year.
I will look back at this last year as being one of the hardest of my life for so many reasons and also one of the growth inspiring times. I have learned more about myself and those around me than I ever thought was possible. I have discovered reservoirs of strength and determination that I didn't know I had. I am so blessed and humbled.
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And let me not forget how blessed I have been to have such wonderful friends. I could go on and on about them but you have heard about them all. I am so grateful for Tricia and her complete devotion to me and her constant desire to help me when I don't always deserve it. To Logan for stick around through the girl stuff (and we all know there has been plenty!) and still bringing me back to where I belong. Liz J. for reminding me of where I have been, where I am, and where she knows I will be. Ash for loving me like a sister when that is what I need the most. Melinda for being honest and forceful and wonderful.
I am so blessed!
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I may not feel all that great this week, but I am so blessed to see how the Lord's hand has been touching my life, even when I didn't realize it. Every moment has the touch of his hands in it and I am humbled to know I am so loved.

Ok, Seriously?

What a day. First, we went up the canyon to find that fall has hit Utah. Oh what a piece of heaven it is. I adore the rich fall colors and in love with how good they make me feel. Not to mention they remind me that I can break out some amazing sweaters and coats, which are my passion.

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Then, some friends and I headed to the hockey game, which is always fun. I scream like a crazy person, but I fit right in. It is just so much fun to be screaming with your friends. We especially liked the many fights that broke out. Made the screaming more fun.

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Then comes the best part...I stop at home really quick to use the little girls room on my way to running Logan home, because I really had to go. So I jump out of the car and run inside and then run back out, only to find that yes, I have locked my keys in the car. Which wouldn't be so bad because it is in my own driveway, right? Wrong. We have lost the spare key. So at 11:30 at night I wake up my roommate and the four of us are out there trying to break into the car. Poor Logan had a meeting at 7am, and is teaching at church today and he is stuck in the driveway of my house trying to break into the car.

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Seriously, how klutzy can I feel? How many dumb moments can I have this weekend? And it isn't even over yet. Do you ever just want to crawl into bed and wait out a few days in hopes of feeling better soon? Cause that sounds good right about now.

Blemish Free

So tonight after stopping by a few parties and playing some rock band, I had just left Jason's house to take Logan home. I didn't turn sharply enough around a corner and went into the center turn lane and then corrected myself. This all happened about 12:15 am. I went maybe about 15 feet before the dreaded lights started flashing in my rear view mirror.

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Now let me back for just a minute. I have never (knock on wood!) been given a ticket. I buckle my seat belt and drive the speed limit, or at least close to it. I am a good and safe driver. So the idea that my blemish free record could be stained had me a little shocked.

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So, back to the story...

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So I pull over. Logan is in the passenger seat just kinda laughing. I am shaking my head and reach to grab my purse from the back seat when I realize suddenly, that I left it at Jason's house. My purse with my wallet. And in the wallet, the license. GEES!

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So I roll down my window ready to try to explain myself to the officer. Logan opening the glove compartment to get out the registration. The cop smiles and says, "License, registration and proof of insurance."

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I smile and begin to explain, "Ok, I know this sounds bad, but here is what happened. I just left my friends house and realized when you pulled me over and went to grab my wallet that I left it at his house. But I do have a license and it is valid." I smile my large sincere smile and wait. (in the mean time Logan rolls his eyes and goes back to looking)

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"Ok, do you have a valid UT license?"

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"I do, I promise!" I assure him.

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"Ok, your name and date of birth." He says getting and pen a paper.

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I politely smile and spell my first and last name for him. Logan hands me registration papers, but they are for last year. So the cop says to keep looking and he will go run my license. I grab my phone and call Jason and get voice mail. I leave a message and ask him to call me back. Logan finds the paper work and I hand it over. I hold my breath as I wait for the officer to speak.

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"Ok, you are good, just watch what you are doing. And have a good night." He smiles and walks away.

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Logan rolls his eyes and says, "If it were me he would have given me a ticket. For not signaling, or being a guy, or being white, or something! I knew he wasn't going to give you a ticket from the beginning. How annoying."

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I laughed. Seriously, of all the people to be in the car with me when I get pulled over it would have to be Logan. He gets tickets for dumb things. He was so annoyed and kept saying it was because I was a girl. I said no, it was because I had a great smile and I know how to work it.

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So the moral of this story, smile when you get pulled over. It may help your case a little. It helped mine. I can happily say I am still ticket free. :)

Updates

I have blogged a lot recently on the things I have gone and done and not to so much on what is going on. So, I thought I would fill you in.

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You may remember my old roommate who I still see regularly, Ashley, from a few years back. We lived together a few years ago with some crazy roommates. Well, she just recently moved back in with me. I am so excited! It is super hard to find good roommates (all you married folk, which is most of you, have no idea how hard it is sometimes!) and when she said she wanted to move in I was so happy! It takes so much stress off me knowing that I love my roommates and that we get along great, not just as friends but also as roommates.

I took a semester off school. There was just so much going on in my life and I got sick to my stomach just thinking about going to school. So I took this semester off and will return and finish in the spring.

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I have had some personal issues arise in the last few weeks and it has taken it's toll. There were a lot of hurt feelings and stresses about people I really cared about. I picked up some pieces in my life and in the life of some of those closest to me and it was emotionally challenging. In the long run it made the relationships closer and stronger and while we would not want to repeat, it was a good experience. I know now that there are a few people who won't easily be moved and I am grateful for that. I have a true friend in Logan and I am blessed and amazed at how much he has blessed me in recent months. I will have to dedicate a whole blog to that sometime soon.

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I still struggle with things. I am still working hard to make sure that I am doing all that I can to be the best person I can be. I work hard to make myself better everyday. And I am succeeding. To date this year, 20 pounds have left me. That my friends is equivalent the to weight I gained after dating Mark. So Mark is gone, haha! If I can only get rid of Jared...oh well. I have a few more months left in the year and I plan to make a big dent in that still.

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My car broke down again, which is just too much to handle really. It will take $2000 to fix it and it just not in the budget at the moment. So keep that in your prayers or thoughts for me. I am struggling a great deal with that at the moment.

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I am still having a rough patch but I am determined, after a few things that have happened lately, to make this year end on an up swing. I know I am loved and needed. I know that I am talented and an important part of people's lives. I have the ability to touch and inspire those around me and I am so grateful to be of help and service when I can. Taking a break and being more of that to myself as well as others is something I am striving to do. I want to be better and more assured of myself than I have been in recent months. A little rejection (or a lot really) builds character and I have a ton of character right now so I had better start using it to my advantage.

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Oh and, I am determined to snag myself a cute guy or two in the next few months. I am feeling like it is time for another streak of guys in my life. So be watching out for that to be happening too.

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So, that is what is going on in my world. Hope it makes it easier to understand the random posts now. Or at least appreciate them.

Sunday, Continued and Other Stuff

So, I realized that I might need to expand on a few things that happened Sunday and in the last few days.

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So when I tripped over the curb, there was a hole between the grass and the curb, since the curb had be laid on a few days before, and I went boobs first into this hole. So imagine me, legs sprawled on the pavement, stomach on the curb, boobs in a hole and arms and head in the grass. The guys were laughing to hard to even know how to begin to help me. My knee is still swollen and all torn up from it. I have road rash on my arm too. I realize now how bad skinned knees hurt. Not fun! So after acting as a crutch for a while, I did receive a piggy-back ride at which point, by no fault of his own, my pants which are too big anymore, were falling off. So my shirt is riding up, pants falling off, and garment bits hanging out. I was completely excited about that chance to share that part of me with the world. I seriously was so embarrassed! Between falling, and that, it was not a good night for me.

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In other news, I got my car back from the shop and headed to Logan's house for guitar hero the other night. Left about midnight, 12:15. Logan had gone right to bed, keep this in mind. I started heading home and things were totally fine. Then, about 7 blocks from home, in a less than great neighborhood, at 12:30 at night, my car just stops. Completely stops. I turn it off, let it sit for a minute, then try to restart and it doesn't. In the mean time a bunch of guys stood on the sidewalk just watching me. A single girl in a disabled vehicle. And my cell phone battery is about to die. One of the guys comes over and asks if everything is OK. With doors locked, windows up, I say yes and start texting everyone i know. I send one huge text to everyone letting them know where I am, in hopes that someone is awake and can come. No response from any of the 20 people I texted. I start to get more nervous as multiple guys approach the car. They ask again if I am OK and try to open one of the car doors. At this point I am frantically calling people, but no one answers. They start making some rather crude comments about me and trying to open car doors. I am trying desperately to stay calm, and stay on the phone, knowing that the battery is about to die. I called the police, but I still had to wait for them to get there and things had gotten worse since I first called. The crude comments turned very cruel and sexual and I was in tears praying like you would not believe! Right about then, Logan pulls up in his truck, looking half asleep. He sees what is going on and steps right in.

I was so shaken and upset. I am so grateful for Logan and what a great friend and brother he is to me.

After a blessing and getting my car towed, I calmed down. I have never been more scared in my life. I really thought something was going to happen that would have been a big problem, but my Heavenly Father loves me and sent a tired and half asleep Logan to my rescue.

It has been a week of lows for me. Falling and looking like an idiot in front of friends, car problems and trying to get the voices of evil men out of my head. But, in the midst of it, my sister has her baby and that is wonderful. Isn't it weird how that works?

Still Dreaming

This is still the dream. This little smart car. I love the idea of it, but I can buy a good normal car for the price I would pay for this little guy. But it never hurts to dream, right?

For now the Honda Metropolitan is my current scooter fav. I am dreaming of a Pontiac G6 or a Chevy Cobolt in the car. I will end up with something totally different from them all, I am sure.

Your Thoughts?

Well, as per Liz's suggestion I have been looking at scooters. I am still not totally sold on them, yet. Have you ever used one, loved it, hated it? Have any opinion? The idea of one is kinda fun, the gas is a HUGE sell, but I am not sure. I have been looking and so far these are my favs.

I have no idea what I will do, but I will be sure to keep you guys updated.

Realistic or Just a Pain

So I have been looking at cars. Big ones little ones, new ones, old ones, all kinds of cars. Who knows half the cars that I have looked at. Some I really liked, some I didn't. I hate this. I hate looking at cars. What I want and what I can afford are two different things. What do you do?

Where is the magic car fairy that brings one and drops it on your doorstep and things are suddenly better? Who knows?

As for the other car, the one that I own, no news is good news, right?

Serious?

The saga of the car continues. It died again. It is frustrating. So after talking with my dad, I am in the market for a new car. I have to have one. So if you happen to have one lying around, let me know.
When my Mom heard about the car she sent me in an email. This is what it said:

Sorry about your car—saw a key ring charm that has your name on it ;)

I had to laugh. That is my Mom for you. I hope your week was better than mine.

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I am a little frustrated today. I had my car in the shop last week, all week and thought things had been fixed. I woke up today and headed to work and my car was not ok. I coasted into the mechanics shop (which is right by work, thank goodness) to give him my car again. Charlie, who knows me by name at the point, asked how I was doing and I burst into tears. Only perpetuating the dumb girl in an auto shop stereotype.

I am frustrated. Then I had to rent a car and the only available one anywhere near me was a huge ford cargo van. It was horrible. I did get to trade it at the end of the day luckily for a cobolt, but still. I am frustrated with a car that doesn't work.

Anyone want to trade cars? Or pay for my rental car? I didn't think so.

duh

So, this week my car has been in the shop trying to track down what triggered a check engine light and I have been borrowing my roommates car while she is on her honeymoon. Nice how that worked out. Well her car is a stick shift, which I grew to love on an old Honda, while my grand am is automatic. Not a big deal until I had to drive my bosses ginormous Toyota Sequoia the other day. Not that it is a problem I have driven big cars plenty. I pull out of the the garage and can't figure out why the break petal is so touchy. 15 blocks later on a busy street it suddenly hits me that if I was using my RIGHT foot in wouldn't be so bad. I had gotten used to the stick shift and was trying to use two feet to drive. And the killer is that it took me 15 blocks and being on a busy main road to figure that one really dumb thing out. Sheesh.
Also, we are set to get our first heat wave of the summer this weekend, our first 80's! I know most of you have been enjoying warm weather for a while but it is our first and I am excited! Shorts are calling my name.