Howl of the Unappreciated

It snowed today. Words cannot describe HOW SICK of the snow I am. Can't...handle...it...for...much....longer... And as the icing on the cake, I TOTALLY got sprayed by a passing car. And it got all over my large drawing pad too, so it's a tinsy bit wrinkled. Do you ever have days where you just need a good cry, even though there's really nothing to cry about? Life is good. Doing well in school, got a new calling I'm excited about (although it's getting more and more complicated as the days go on. I won't just be teaching at church, apparently, and the 1st counselor keeps emphasizing how important this is which makes me feel like I'm probably going to blow it and Hilary, a LA is going to go to hell because I didn't do as good of a job as I should've or could've.), got a righteous babe for a boyfriend, he's got awesome roommates, good friends, a great job, I belong to the true church (always helpful), got a great family--everyone's healthy and Jared just came home so Stacey's happy, instant access to chocolate, cute new purse and camera from an obliging thoughtful aunt, a good home with a good roommate... what's to complain about? I forget, but the feeling is still there. Goodness, I hate hormones. But as Nwahs once said, "Hey, if I were bleeding profusely from the crotch, I'd be a bit upset, too!" That made my day. Thanks Shawn. I mean, er, Nwahs.

What are the odds?

On the way to work today, I burst out laughing when I found fifty dollars lying on the side of the road. What are the odds?
There's a girl in the clinical psychology department that I recognized--she used to be roommates with my freshman year roommate-Kaylyn. I didn't bother to mention it to her though until today, and I was right--they were roommates together sophomore year. And then on the way to campus from work today, I thought I recognized this guy getting into a car, and I glance in the car and THERE'S KAYLYN!!! What are the odds? I had only met her husband like once, so the fact that I recognized him--I'm pretty pleased with myself.
My boss bought me Keebler fudge sticks and my coworker a croissant and us both chocolate milk because we had this (literally) headache of a workload to do for a professor. It took a third of the time we thought it would, so I had time to do my New Testament reading! I think I might be able to finish most of my homework today for tomorrow! Yay. Insert cheers here. Today's going to be a good day. And another professor complimented me on my trousers. Awwww... On the downside I started *cough* bleeding profusely today, but fortunately at least thus far my mood swings have been on the upside. Watch out when the pendelum goes the other way.... yikes! On the plus side both Shawn and Rachel gave me a nice back massage yesterday (not at the same time. You calling me fat?), and Rachel's getting better all the time at it! Awww look at you. The sweetness of it all.
Can't wait for my fave comp's wedding in a few weeks. March 10. Had a good half birthday. And even though Rachel thought to get me a present, that in fact, doesn't, make, you, look, bad, Shawn, so, don't, worry. GOSH.
I think that's about it! Can't stop giggling, despite my cramps and homework load. Oh the wonders of hormones.

Gravy boat, darling.

The optimist fell ten stories.
At each window bar
He shouted to his friends:
"All is well so far!"
~Unknown

Yorkshire puddings

2 eggs
2 heaped tablespoons of plain flour
milk

Beat eggs and flour to paste
add little milk until creamy (coats spoon)

Lard a 12 bun or muffin tin
place in oven to get hot
Place mix in tin. Cook at top of oven until golden. About 10/15 minutes on highest heat

Good luck!

That was a recipe from a family in my last area. I lived for Yorkshire puddings. I ate loads nearly everyday and still didn't get sick of them. Especially soaked in gravy. Mmmmm.... I might be forced to make some when I actually get the opportunity to, you know, buy some milk. Sigh.

Gravy was my saving grace on my mission. It facilitated the consumption of many alien or questionable repasts.

I've been having a lot of weird dreams. Last night I dreamed that I was really tiny, and had to travel with my parents, who weren't really my parents in real life, and they weren't king and queen but they were something akin to that. There was this enemy trying to get us. At one point we were running for refuge, and this cute little monster thing was able to produce loads of fluffy feathery type stuff and rolled us up in that so we were able to make it without being spotted. Dang it, the dream is quickly fading as I try to recall its events. The night before I dreamed my boyfriend and I were companions on the mission. We were determined to knock until 12, but around 11:41 I was growing tired and irritable and wanted to stop for lunch, and he's like "no this is what we agreed to do." Yeah, I'm kind of thinking he was the more steadfast missionary of the two of us. Itriedsohard.

Kay, that's about it.

How have I treated you differently today than from any other day?

Stole this from Steve on facebook.

Terror in Europe:
The British are feeling the pinch in relation to recent bombings and have raised their security levels from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon,though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even"A bit cross". Londoners have not been "A bit cross" since the blitz in1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability. It's not only the English and the French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate military posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective combat operations" and"Change sides".The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful arrogance"to "Dress in uniform and sing marching songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a neighbor" and "Lose". Belgians, on the other hand,are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

It's the white one.

Well it was quite the dramatic day yesterday. I had a midterm to take for stats. Lost count of how many hours I had spent studying for it, but was tokenly rewarded with an 89%, not counting the essay portion, which I think I did okay on. Whew. That's a load off. On the other hand, it never occurred to me that developing slides might take longer than a day. I went up to the photo people in the BYU bookstore and they said they send it out so it could take anywhere from 4 to 7 days! Will my dreams of making it into the illustration program be shattered? Oh, will we ever know? Stay tuned! If it isn't developed in time, at the very least this'll give me an opportunity to do better and more artwork and improve my grades this semester and over the summer, both of which will increase my chances of being accepted next year. I just wish admissions were twice a year. Ggggrrrrrrr.......... I wouldn't be me if I didn't procrastinate my life and therefore screw it up. Either way I have a super busy weekend ahead of me. I'm going to trysohard! Blech. I thought I lost my blue scarf yesterday, but it turned out I left it at work! Yay.


So, here's the dramatic part: A guy from my stake back at home is a graduate student in the clinical psychology department, so I see him around here a lot. Yesterday, when I got einstein bagels for case conference, I was downstairs spreading them out on the table for the students, and he happened to be there. I said hi, and he returned the greeting and asked if I knew a Brother Reagan, and one of his daughters was Cheryl. I said I did, that I was (and am!) best friends with his daughter Lyndy. He said that Brother Reagan died over a week ago, from heart problems or something. I was so stunned that I just went about putting stuff out like nothing had happened. It didn't really hit until I left the room and was halfway up the stairs and that's when I could feel the tears coming. Let me give you some more background. Our families moved into the Bothell 3rd ward around the same time--Lyndy and I have been friends since we were two. My mom has known her mom since college, and our dads are home teaching companions. I head straight for my phone, go to the bathroom, and barely holding it together I call my mom. Fortunately she answers, super-excited to hear from me (how could you not be?), and I asked her. At first she was just really confused and couldn't understand me, and I'm like "PHIL PHIL REAGAN. LYNDY'S DAD. DID HE DIE LAST WEEK?!?!" And she's like "um... Dad just talked to him on Sunday, so unless it's been in the last day or two, he's fine!" I was so relieved that that's when I completely lost it (thank goodness I was in the bathroom!) and I'm like "um... mom, next time he dies will you actually let me know?" and she said yeah, and then I said I had to get off the phone to compose myself. Holy heck. And then fortunately Lyndy was online, so I asked her the most awkward question since I don't know what, and she's like "um... not that I know of!" Apparently Brother Egan died. He's from the stake back at home, too, and has a son here at BYU around my age. I feel really badly for him, but am admittedly relieved that it wasn't Lyndy's dad. Didn't get a chance to set Spencer straight though, because I didn't see him after the Conference. Good times. My makeup all melted off by 11 o'clock. Good times. Usually the majority of it is gone by the late afternoon. At least with that I got an early start! No procrastinating for me. (in the first picture, Lyndy is on the right)



Sian, my perfect former companion getting married, sent me the information about the bridesmaid dresses. The pattern she picked out is actually pretty cute! I just can't find the particular yellow fabric she wanted online, but we'll see what I can get at JoAnn's or Hancocks. I like the dress on the right. But could you really picture me in that, and it being yellow? We'll see. At least she's thoughtful in the design department.

I think that's about it! Sorry if I was super cranky and stressed out last night, Rachel. Sometimes things get to me. Even with a great McDonalds meal.

No ifs, ands or butts

So I sometimes get into these ridiculously inappropriate moods where my only desire in life is to make people irritated and uncomfortable and confused. Doesn't happen very often, but when it does, just humor me and let me get it out of my system, and then I'm fine for another few months. We had a canadian family reunion over break, and just to be *cough* cheeky, I suddenly had the great urge to photograph my immediate familys'... butts. I KNOW! I'M WEIRD! I'M SORRY! Anyway, ten points for anyone who could guess which butts were which. As a clue, my twin brother and older brother's butts are not pictured. I'm not THAT weird. *blush*

A favorite elder from my mission may be visiting this weekend! He's from Denmark. Just found out today. I guess you could say he was my best friend on the mish--of the elders anyway, even though a few others came pretty close. He was my zone leader for two areas in a row--we transferred together!--so we served really close together for 7.5 months. And went through a lot. *Shudder* don't care to think about some of the crap that I had to deal with at the time, but he was a good friend, listener, and example. And he could juggle and iceskate like no other, which is a must have for any zone leader, I think. Good times. Anyway, if he does come, it'll be for ten days. And with his ex-girlfriend. Giving it another go, sounds like. It's been nearly a year since I last saw him! Weeeeeird. Feels like yesterday. I wish them all the happiness! :)

Rachel said the sweetest thing to me yesterday! Nearly lost it. We were sitting in Stake Conference, and the speaker was talking about being sensitive to other people and their needs and just who they are or something like that, and suddenly, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, like a flash, a vision, out of the blue, she turns to me and says something like, "that's exactly what you are, Kari!" I was completely taken aback. I think I'm pretty self-centered and clueless, but whatever helps you sleep at night, Rachel! You just make it easy to be thoughtful. But thanks. I appreciate it.

My sister is quite possibly the funniest person I know. I talked to her on the phone yesterday for a bit about things, and fortunately her husband Jared is coming home in a couple of weeks (I don't know how she manages with him gone for so long! I get irritable and antsy if I haven't seen Shawn for more than a day or two), anyway, she was complaining that one of the worst things about him being gone is that her dog is always staring at her! She said that she even took Maggie for a really long run, but that didn't stop her! Even while we were on the phone, Stacey, full of disgust, just reprimanded her by saying, "MAGGIE! NO LOOKING!!!!! GOSH!" I literally doubled over and slapped the floor I was laughing so hard. I love her because she has no qualms about stating how much she hates people, and doesn't like being around them, even when she's in a good mood! If that's not perfection, I don't know what is. Anyway, I love that dog. She's so high maintenance, but in a really cute way.

Um, yeah--I'm TOTALLY the favourite!!!

Is it REALLY weird that I'm super excited to get new batteries for my ancient TI-82? I didn't realize all it needed was four triple A batteries, and now I can't wait! I haven't used that baby since high school! And even then it was considered obsolete by my fellow TI-83+ students. The real snobs used the TI-85's. Who did they think they were? Ridiculous. The rest of us laughed at them behind their intellectually foward but socially backwards' backs.

So, through a short series of e-mails, my Dad informed me that he was going to send me some money, but that it 'wouldn't be much.' And it would just be between him and me--a gift for his starving student of a daughter. I was EXPECTING about twenty bucks, and deep down secretly crossing my fingers for $50-100 dollars. Do you like how I used both the word and sign for dollar? Me, too. I got home late last night, and found that the little Fedex envelope was still at the doorstep. Thank goodness no one took it! I had assumed Jessica would've found it and stuck it on the table. Anyway, I open it... and it was A MONTH'S WORTH OF RENT!!! 300 dollars! I couldn't believe it! I had been freaking out lately over how I was going to pay for tithing and rent (well not TITHING :) )and milk and bills and everything, and my Daddy was an inadvertent answer to a concerned frazzled oft-repeated prayer. I nearly started crying! Thanks Daddy! I love you, and not just because even though I haven't lived at home for nearly five years you still see fit to try to help financially support me! It'll save me twenty bucks on a late fee for rent, too! :)
There was something else I wanted to write about... I hate Biology, but that wasn't it. I hate things I don't understand. So I like very nearly everything! Just kidding. Science makes a whooshing sound as it goes over my head.

WHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!!!!!

I just remembered what it was--my favourite companion Sian Watts is getting married HERE (well in LOGAN) in MARCH instead of MAY IN ENGLAND. WHICH MEANS I GET TO GO!!! WHICH MEANS THAT SHE ALSO REQUESTED I BE HER.... bridesmaid. In pale yellow. I own one pale yellow (one YELLOW) ANYTHING, and I don't think it'll be temple appropriate. It's a small Beatles Magical Mystery Tour T-shirt I got at Walmart over the summer. Yeeeesh. She's sending me a swatch and sounds like she or I will be making my own dress for it. Good times. I haven't sewn since the summer (on my machine anyway) minus my purse I made, so that'll be really fun--I'm looking forward to that. And I can't believe she's getting married! I'm so excited, I just ADORE this girl. She totally deserves all the happiness life and Trevor can give her; and he had BETTER worship her. Or there will be words from an angry former junior companion (which are the worst words to be had). (pictured: how I'd LIKE to look. How I WILL look. O the poofiness of it all.)

As something negative, I screwed up my arm yesterday, lifting my super-ridiculously-heavy backpack. So now my elbow really hurts. Why WHY?!?! I try popping it, which feels good for about five seconds, then grows steadily worse again. Good times.

As something positive, I received a letter as well yesterday from my friend Jessie that I've known since forever. Well, we became friends in junior high. We're both Beatles fanatics, so we sign our letters to each other PS I LOVE YOU after our signature. Cool, huh. Anyway, it was so cute, she mentioned (I took fifth and sixth grade from her mom) how I'm the only student EVER that she would allow to do whatever I wanted while she taught--which was usually knitting, because she'd ask me what she had just taught and I could repeat it back to her. Te, hee. Those were the days.

As something again positive, yesterday Rachel gave me half of her butterfinger, and I just stuck it in my pocket for later. And forgot about it. And after my stats class (which ended twenty minutes early! A YEAH F!) I found it and it made me happy because I was craving chocolate like CRAZY! If I'm not blessed and spoiled I don't know who is. Thanks Rachel!