Home Again!

I am finally home for the summer after finishing my very first year of college! Everything is going well, Ollie Popeye is lovin' on his new crib, but . . .

This    ^   is a JOKE.

Thank heaven's for the Jazz game though - and Chase having six very nice friends over - so my car could be unpacked in a record four minutes!

Let the unpacking begin!!!

Small Spoon

So, my roommate Kelli and I are in our bedroom studying for finals (yuck). And as we here humans outside playing, we get jealous. Kelli thought it would be a good idea to help her focus if she got a big spoon full of Ice Cream. When she came back into the room, she told me she had changed her mind, and just got a little on, in an effort to be more healthy. .... I looked over and saw this.

Conference

Love this movie.

Click HERE to watch it.

Percussive Dance

This blog is dedicated to my new - this semester - hobby... CLOGGING.

I have decided that this is probably one of the hardest things I have done. When my mom told me a couple years ago that she took me out of dance when I was little because "you just weren't good" ... I was secretly determined to become a great dancer. With the help of Darrin's Dance Grooves, I now can bust a little hip-hop... and courtesy of Rustin Van Katwyk, and BYU ... I can now add basic clogging to my repitua. 

It is a lot more difficult than it looks, at least to me, but in 27 minutes, I can say I have officially completed Beginning Clogging!

 (And I'm pretty darn good at it dang it!)

Drink

I'm definitely sippin' on that haterade.

People

You know what makes me angry? .... Maybe you guessed it from my title.

Well. Its people. People drive me nuts. The worst part about it is I am a person myself. So there is no getting away from them. I wish I could though. Sometimes certain "people" say things that put me over the edge. 

I guess there really isn't a point to this post. Just me venting through cyber space because dang it.. Everyone else is people.

I guess I'll end this one with the one thing I can always turn to ... even when I'm angry.. a joke. This one courtesy of www.cleanjoke.com

This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.

He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said no and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.

George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."

Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed. 

One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

Love It

Whenever I'm having an off day, it is certain that this song can always make it better.

You Are the New Day

I will love you more than me

and more than yesterday

If you can but prove to me

you are the new day

Send the sun in time for dawn

Let the birds all hail the morning

Love of life will urge me say

you are the new day

When I lay me down at night

knowing we must pay

Thoughts occur that this night might

stay yesterday

Thoughts that we as humans small

could slow worlds and end it all

lie around me where they fall

before the new day

One more day when time is running out

for everyone

Like a breath I knew would come I reach for

the new day

Hope is my philosophy

Just needs days in which to be

Love of life means hope for me

borne on a new day

You are the new day

Ode to the Bathroom

So, I hate germs. Really bad. I acquired this dislike growing up in the household I did. (Germs were not allowed in under any circumstance). I owe it all to my mother, who well, owes it all to her mother. So I guess this post should be entitled, Thank You Grandma Helen. While I'm on the topic of thanking people though, I may as well thank Marissa my dear sweet cousin as well. I'll tell you why in just a little bit. 

First a little history about the past few months while I've been living in this 12x9 square I call 'home', I'm proud to say I've yet to intentionally step bare-foot in our absolutely disgusting bathroom. Better known as The Mold Box, I better explain this though. Our bathroom really is usually kept up, our apartment mother ... aka ... Kelli seems to do a good job at cleaning the sickest parts, the tub and toilet, often. (Thank you by the way) and I have a thing about our t.p. countertops and soap. We always have Bath and Body soap (which reminds me, I need to make a mall run, we are running low) but still, it is disgusting. 

The reason for this post though is now, courtesy of Marissa - we have TOILET SEAT COVERS!!!  Thats right. Be jealous if you would like. Marissa gave them to me the other day as an early Birthday Present. FIVE THOUSAND OF THEM. Love her for forever because of that. I've attached a picture so you can see them in all of their glory. 

These little babies are helping me make it through the homestretch as germ free as possible.

I Will Succeed!

Esta verano he decidido que voy a aprender español. Ha sido siempre algo que tengo quise hacer. He esperado bastante tiempo... Por el año 2010 seré bilingüe.

I Speak Numbers

Today as I was reading through the ams.org website (American Mathematical Society)... You know just keeping up to date with the Math world :) ... I came across an article that said "Top Job in America: Mathematician" with a link to an article done by the Wall Street Journal. I followed the link and found this chart...

The Best and Worst Jobs

Of 200 Jobs studied, these came out on top -- and at the bottom:

The Best	The Worst
1. Mathematician	200. Lumberjack
2. Actuary	199. Dairy Farmer
3. Statistician	198. Taxi Driver
4. Biologist	197. Seaman
5. Software Engineer	196. EMT
6. Computer Systems Analyst	195. Roofer
7. Historian	194. Garbage Collector
8. Sociologist	193. Welder
9. Industrial Designer	192. Roustabout
10. Accountant	191. Ironworker
11. Economist	190. Construction Worker
12. Philosopher	189. Mail Carrier
13. Physicist	188. Sheet Metal Worker
14. Parole Officer	187. Auto Mechanic
15. Meteorologist	186. Butcher
16. Medical Laboratory Technician	185. Nuclear Decontamination Tech
17. Paralegal Assistant	184. Nurse (LN)
18. Computer Programmer	183. Painter
19. Motion Picture Editor	182. Child Care Worker
20. Astronomer	181. Firefighter

Naturally, I was quite pleased when I saw it because, Mathematician was at the top!!! There was also an article that went with it. If you are interested in reading it click HERE for the link.

 

This may have made my day! ... I guess we will have to see if any thing can attempt to top this!

Goodbye and Farewell

Today I was thinking how crazy this summer is going to be. There will be few to no boy's my age there because most all of them are serving MISSIONS! As amazing as this is, it is still going to be crazy! Especially not having my four of my very favorite guy friends there! Two of them have already left, (Steven J. and Cory) and the other two (Tanner and Steven H.) are going to be leaving in not too long! I'm so excited for all of them... but I'm afraid I'm going to have to find some new pass time this summer since I won't have my pranking partners and rock-band buddies around!!! Good luck to all four of you though! I know you will all be Outstanding Missionaries!

Clogging, Toothbrushes, and Life

Just last week a tragic even occured. 

Alright thats a lie. It was really just embarrasing and painful. While I was practicing my clogging in the basement of good old Fugal Hall, I slipped, fell, and pulled the tendons in my wrist. What a joke right? Classic. But I guess there isn't much you can do about that.

Next I needed to quickly comment on something I found So exciting. As of my last trip to the dentist, and courtesy of my worthless esophagus I have to now use a second toothpaste. Which is annoying. The good news though, is that when I went back to Provo, I put my new toothpaste in the medicine counter and realized that my spare toothbrush matched the new bottle of toothpaste, and my regular toothbrush already matched my current toothpaste! How awesome! My conclusion? ....there is a little bit of good in EVERYTHING.

Lastly, I have decided to make a change in my thinking lately, and boy has it worked. I decided to stop being so homesick, and only focusing on the places I'd rather be than school, to just love the chance to be here. AND the chance to learn. And boy has it worked, I'm so much more content than I have been in quite sometime. Who knew? There really is power in positive thinking!

S.M.A.K.

Kristen - Ali - Marissa - Shelby

Between the Days of July 24th 1989 and February 4th 1991 four little baby Walker girls were born to the wives of the four Walker brothers. These four girls would grow up to have some excellent adventures together and create even better memories. One which will always be remembered is the creation of S.M.A.K. ... A club which you could only be in if you were... well one of us four! This is a priceless picture and I love it... So I had to post it :)  

Snow Mobiles, Sleds, Hot Tub's, and Jack in the Box

So, over Christmas break a few of my friends and I (Shelby, Lauren, Caiti, Tanner, and Steven) thought it important to make some of the nights of the break extra good ones with two of the best things to do on a cold winter night in good old Idaho Falls, Idaho. Eat and Hot Tub. I am posting first on behalf of Caitlin McQuain. In the afternoon, we both thought it would be a great idea to challenge each other to the 'footlong' challenge (one we made up our selves)

 to see if we could really eat a whole five dollar foot long from subway. To my own dismay, we both succeeded, and I can safely say I do not plan on doing that again, well ever. A foot long of tuna on white is really just too much. I am quite impressed with Caiti though, she readily took the challenge and finished without complaints.

... and as annoying as it may seem, you would never know that she could handle it looking at this model picture of her. 

Continuing on with the night, Shelby, Lauren, Steven, Tanner and I decided to go hot tubing, it was absolutely freezing outside, but still we had a good time. Afterword, I thought it would be necessary to take some post-hot-tub-pictures. The boys (and maybe even Shelby and Lauren) didn't agree... but I prevailed. Here are the best two...

Ok, so none of them were very cute, at all, but it was still funny!

Then we went to Jack in the box. Sick.

The next day Shelby, Lauren, and I went sledding behind the Snow Mobile. So fun, until the jump, and the inter-tube deflated.

Then we decided to take over Community Park Hill. We did pretty good on that too, until we ran into the fence. That was the end of that adventure.

That night, Lauren, Caiti, and I thought we should have a sleep over. 

Of course, at two in the morning we thought it would be necessary to go hot tubbing. Well, again, it was freezing. Yet, it was still quite fun. Except for the part where our hair practically froze. And the part where Lauren and I got a cold for the next week. Then once again, we went to Jack in the Box. Sick. (Except at three in the morning, it really is kind of good :) ). 

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is the best, to me its almost as good as Christmas Day! On Christmas Eve morning we exchange presents Dad gave me a piano that hooks into my computer so I can write songs! I love it! Then we bake all day (well mostly Mother and Hilary). Then at night we go to Grandma Dot and Grandpa Von's house with all of the cousins that live in Idaho. That is always so much fun and tonight was no exception. The food was, of course, amazing and we laughed. A lot. There was also quite the array of musical numbers this year. All vocal of course (ok so it was really just us cousins singing and laughing). Grandma always loves that part best.

I love this, this picture of me and Grandpa 

Von is Priceless.

When we get home we always get to open our Christmas Eve p.j.'s. This year Hilary's and mine matched as did Chase and Jordan's. Remi and her American Girl doll received matching ones as too! Hilary and I (mostly me!) thought it would be fun

 to do a little photo shoot in our twinner outfits. 

(Jordan was feeling left out!)

Then for the rest of the night before bed Hilary and I are on wrapping duty to wrap all of the presents my dad has for my mom. This year we lucked out and were only on call for like half-hour, forty-five minutes. We are always able to have a good laugh each year though from the experience! I love that this night is so full of traditions - Christmas Eve is the best!

 

My Best Friend

Even though I'm starting to get used to being at school more and more, there is nothing like coming home! One person I love coming home to every time is my best friend Saylor, (my little cousin!) She gets so excited to see me, and me her, and I love it! The Sunday after Thanksgiving, before I went back to Provo, Saylor wouldn't talk to me at all at church; however, she sat next to me all through Sacrament meeting. She seemed a little down in nursery and when her teacher asked what was wrong, she simply replied "My best friend is going back to college today." This break she was the very first person I saw and did something with. She is so much fun to be around because she is like a twenty-year-old in a three-year-olds body. I feel pretty lucky to have such a smart and beautiful little girl as my Best Friend. Ah, I just love her!

CHRISTMAS!

Since there are only 12 days till Christmas, I figured it was time for a Christmas post! Yay! First of all. I love that it snowed today, even though I don't love snow. It reminded me of home though.  There is nothing like spending at least 10 minutes scraping the ice off of your car before you can get in :) The thing I love most though about Christmas is just the feeling! There is nothing like it. I also absolutely adore Christmas lights! Driving around Provo and seeing them everywhere puts me in a fabulous mood. I can not wait to be home and look out the window to our fantastic lights my father so happily displays. These are pictures of them and I love it! Tomorrow is our roommate Christmas. I'm pretty darn excited, mostly because that means tonight is Christmas Eve. Another favorite part of Christmas. I am sure there will be a great post tomorrow after our Christmas Adventures!

MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

The Walker Family picture from our 2008 Sun Valley trip. Being away from home for a while really lets you know how important family really is! I love this picture.