Hair ties

The only other creature awake at five thirty

Waking up five thirty, already late, two missed texts and...its missing. this happens morning after morning.  Frazzled and flustered I search.  Time after time, telling myself I'll keep it in one place. Time after time it grows legs in the middle of the night and wonders off. Promising myself I can run without it, I grab my key card take one more look at my un-brushed unkempt hair, and turn to leave. There I see it poking out of my pocket one my green, or black, or blue rubber bands, one pink  or orange scrunchies, one rubber band. Poking its tiny flexible self out of my pocket, staring at me behind my bush, shampoo, tied around the faucet in the shower, resting on a shelf. Never where I remember leaving it. This happens time and time again with chap stick, keys, rings, and shoes.  I've tried to keep my material possessions to a minimum, because chances are I will lose them. Chances are the people who gave them to me will be offended. I usually find these things, pocket knife in backpack, rubber bands in my pocket, rings in my shoes, shoes under the couch, chap stick in my car. When these things are located its like Christmas in July, simply amazing. 

Fathers

Lately I've been addicted to listening to Butterfly Fly Away by Miley Cirus. My favorite line, you were always there when I looked back. I am a daddies girl right down to my worn out boots. When riding my bike he was there behind me, every time I looked back he was following me. He taught me how to drive. We would sit on his lap and steer from the time we were old enough to crawl. One time I steered us off the road...a little, but he never yelled just grabbed the wheel and steered us back.  He's one of the few people who have stuck up for me no matter what.  When everyone said you can't he was there saying "show 'em how you can." He has always been philosophical in his own way giving me advice. whenever I think of my dad these words come to mind "do the best you can, take your foot of the clutch put your foot on the gas, and just keep truckin'." Ultimately my favorite is, "slash don't stab cause you'll get your knife stuck."
 I've been trucking for twenty years, to make him proud. It breaks my heart when he tells me he is the proudest dad in the world.  I know that I can do so much more then what I've done.  Its hard to imagine somebody can think you are already so perfect that you can do no wrong. Especially in a society where we strive to make ourselves into something we are not, to attain perfection.
Everyone has always said, including my dad, that he didn't want children, and that having them was terrifying, I believe it. As soon as he became a father he was transformed. He is the best dad in the world, he never once put his needs above ours.  He always included us, he said "we had children to keep them with us, not let someone else raise them."  We were included in every major decision.  We went on every bike ride, every camping trip, every restaurant, party, drive, we were always there. Maybe that is why we are so opinionated we always had someone to listen to us and someone to complain to.  I've been called stubborn I don't know how many times, and my favorite line, "you are just as stubborn as your father." I don't think we are all that stubborn, we just know when we are right, know when we want to quit, and like things our way. If you don't like it there's the door.
Little girls depend on their fathers.  I did-there wasn't one spider I had to kill, not one.  In the middle of the night he was always there.  In college in the middle of the night he was always there on the other line, telling me stories and getting me through sleepless night after homesick day. Sometimes I wish my parents would not have been so great, then leaving would be so much easier. He has always carried his kids in his wallet, and never passes up the opportunity to brag about us, and show us off.  I wish every child had a father as good as mine.
Parents shouldn't have favorites but lets face it, who wouldn't pick me as their favorite child.

Stereotype me as a boy

Psychology Assignment, we had to write what waking up as a boy would be like, so here is a mix of my brothers and guys around campus. 

If I woke up as a boy I would wake up the same way I do now, the same way my brothers do.  I would set my alarm for an hour before I have to leave and hit snooze until ten minutes before I have to go to class.  I would skip breakfast because I’ll just have a huge lunch.  Being a boy would change the way I dressed and see the world. I would look for a shirt on the floor using my nose to pick out a clean one, throw on some jeans and deodorant, and head out the door.  I would walk a lot taller because no matter what I know I look good and everyone is checking me out.  I would rate every girl on my way to class, and show up on time.  After class I would head home and eat lunch, probably half a dozen sandwiches.  My stomach would be bigger and due to my testosterone and fast metabolism I could eat a lot more and not gain any weight.  I would go to a few more classes off campus.  This would require me to drive my annoying sports car with the windows down and rad choice of music blasting. The people giving my dirty looks would be mistaken as looks of jealousy.  I would carelessly signal without a blinker, no worries because I’m a guy, they will never catch up to me and blame my lousy driving on a woman. I’ll park taking up as many as four spots, and stroll into the building, passing out cheesy compliments to all the ladies to get a cheap smile.  Depending on the day I might hold open doors and start a meaningful conversation.  After class I might hit the gym with my best friends, so I can have a spotter while I bench press two hundred pounds.  We’d go our separate ways, and I would retire to my apartment.  At home I would cook something with meat and not wash my dishes or the stove.  While eating I would play video games and maybe chat on the internet with various people to pass the time. Before bed I would watch tv, read the newspaper sports section and opinions section, maybe comics, then I would shower and head to the local Wal-Mart with my wing men.  All the guys know to get as many numbers as possible you have to go to Wal-Mart at midnight.  We would get as many numbers as possible making subscripts by their name such as “megan the hot one” and “amber the annoying friend.” After completing our manly duty of number taking we would head off to a taco joint. Eating our burritos and staring down other groups of men that are invading our territory.  After a busy night of meeting girls I will never talk to again I will head home and head to my bed. 

Fall

Football and fishing, parties and early morning hikes.  This weekend was great...minus the fact that I had to force myself to study histology during the football game.  Thanks to tivo I was able to watch all the good plays, and many turnovers. In the past five years I've gone from  knowing nothing about football, to calling calls before the refs. I'm still an amateur.  Every game the refs come up with something I've never heard of.  Like whats hurdling players, I don't know, but apparently you can't do it. Luckily I have experts around to consult. Utes beat the mighty BYU! We went fishing up Diamond Fork, saw a big Elk, and found our secret fishing spot.  At least I thought it was secret, turns out there are a lot of fisher people who go there. It was plenty muddy, and there was plenty of slipping and sliding. I am no fisher woman. If I had to fish to survive-well I would be one amazing fisher. However its one thing I need help in. My dad caught two small fish, and I mostly talked with Phil, and got wet. We left and ate at the Little Acorn. I was asked to ask my dad subtly if we could go eat lunch.  I need to work on my subtlety, "Dad I love you, and you know what goes good with love?  Philly Cheese steaks at the Little Acorn." I did have a Philly Cheese steak, and it was delicious. After lunch we headed home, and then to the coffee shop to meet with Boyd.  After coffee I went to Kim's house and  had cake and ice cream for an over the hill birthday. Held Baby Emma, who is adorable, but makes me very glad I can be the Aunt, and then leave her with her parents. Kids cry and I hand them off. I bought the biggest package of pop tart's ever, 48 in one package, it was like buying a variety fireworks package that you can eat. I blame Erin for my new addiction. Went to bed around midnight Saturday, which wasn't good. The foot ball game was pretty good, BYU handed the Utes the game. Woke up at four in the morning ate breakfast and made sandwiches, mostly peanut butter with a little jelly. Then we headed off to go hiking with Phil's friend. I can say that I beat two whinny boys up a mountain.  We got there in the morning, and everything was wet, by the top of the hill our pants were soaked.  I was told I was not wet, lies. The boys were soaked, and out of breath. We saw no deer. At the top of the hill we signed the register with our names, the football score, date, and a little story that went like this "we saw and shot big foot, and am writing this down before he throws me off the hill." We read the other entries, and found out there was a trail with butterflies and deer, so turns out we didn't have to bush whack our way up the mountain, but we didn't find the trail on the way up. Funniest entry "man at the top of the mountain scared my deer away,  people who do this for fun are crazy." So we sat on the mountain eating granola bars, sandwiches, and jerky. We practiced our aim with rocks and trying to knock rocks down the mountain. We had to see who's gun was loudest, and I was momentarily deaf. Going down took around a half hour went so much faster down the mountain on the trail, no butterflies, plenty of butt sliding. Got back to the truck loaded the four wheeler, and headed to arbys (don't know how to spell it, too lazy to look it up).  I had fries with ranch and it was good. Came back and did laundry, loaded my stuff, had to tell my parents I couldn't eat dinner with them, and that made a weekend of no dinner with my family, which was sad.  All in all I spent maybe 14 hours at home this weekend mostly spent sleeping. Picked Kim up at her church, because they had ice cream I had mint, and a cherry. We were going to get gas but the place I get gas at was closed, and I had never used my debit card for gas, but the pump didn't work, so we went to Maverick, gasp.  The lady in Maverick was extremely rude, I don't even know what I did, except that I didn't know what pump I was at.  Then we went to get Erin, favorite text from her "be warned, there is a silver slug but out front."  I beat Kim to the punch quite literally.  Then it was a long ride to Logan, up the canyon and to Logan to get fruit and vegetables.  I hate leaving people in the car and wanted to be fast, but I chose the slowest oldest cashier who was jabbing at the computer, and asking me why it didn't work, just because I'm a fourth your age doesn't mean I understand it anymore then you do.  Dropped Erin off and then home sleep, Ha!  Missed running with Josh, and made it to my first class barely. I took phil'sCSU.  Wasn't that bad because hopefully I'll go to CSU. Not a lot of sleep that night. Sunday I studied, and slept. Monday was the paint dance which was pretty cool, went with Jeannie. Got painted, and ended up soaking wet. 

Quote Wall

"What are you five?"-Erin, the quote that made Erin famous

Mace Face and Snakey Jorge

ERINSAURUS!!

"Is this someone?"-Erin, Erin on the phone with someone

"They're from Wyoming, they probably thought it was the freeway." -Jorge

"I feel stupid asking you questions." -Kim to Jorge

The Kim two k's short of triple k

"Cabbage!!!" -Erin's text to Jorge

"Oddly enough I didn't get hurt when I jumped, but Jorge did and she didn't jump." -Kim

"Kim I don't know how to do the problems I don't know how to do."-Jorge to Kim while doing physics

"Your like a duck out of water."-Jorge "Which is still a duck?"-Kim " "I guess so." conversation between friends late at night.

"So how long do I have to have an eating disorder to get into this place?" -Jorgena, after hearing about Macy's awesome job, where Nutella is the main snack.

"I eat in private and purge in public.  HEY YOU GUYS WATCH!!!"-Macy

"I don't know how to get out of here!"-Jorge "Just follow the exit arrows."-Josh Said while trying to get out of a parking garage.

"You ate it all."-Kim, this is only funny because Kim said it to Jorge after she ate a ton of ice cream, only funny because Jorge hadn't had any junk food for years.

"Isn't that the worst though? It's like you have no legitimate break up to get over, but it hurts just as much. If you need another poptart and nutella party just let me know." Erin- best roommate turned friend ever.

"Cheetah pants girl is at Wal-Mart, wearing her...Cheetah Pants!!" -Erin

"But it doesn't matter because I'm beautiful dang it." -Kim, only funny because of the funniest song ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jqkPGAjsJ8

"I'm going to get ice cream, and now I'm going to go work on a tree at...grandma's house."- Kim, this was Kim's rant about facebook and people sharing their life experience.

"nothing says love like life insurance." -Jorge

"I'm so cool I can run through a field full of sprinklers and get wet."-Jorge

"Tom and Jerry is missing...no joke, I am dead serious." kim

Nothing shy of amazing

Physics taught me I don't understand physics, but I'm learning. The best part of that class was shooting pop cans. After physics was the pre-vet club booth and palpating a fake cow, I found a pencil, bottle cap, a horse, and a pacifier. Interpersonal communications homework finished up my two o'clock hour, and then I was off to a chemistry study group.  I loved the study group I actually learned about orbitals, from a chemistry major. She's taking 18 credits worth of chemistry, so glad I'm only getting a chemistry minor, and not majoring in it. My interpersonal communications class followed chemistry. The whole ride up in the elevator I was thinking the elevator would get stuck, because I didn't take the stairs, but it didn't. We had an assignment, fill in the blank.
Men are (crazy)
Women are (pretty)
Homeless are (poor)
Older people are (senile)
Ethnic groups are (foreign)    Those were the first things that came to mind.

Today I was missing my best steer, Pete, because my histology teacher said what are cows good for, and I said "pets", and then he said "no, meat and milk production." 

Non stop studying from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. I'm in Histology and my phone alarm goes off. I didn't realize it was my phone, because I forgot I set my alarm yesterday to wake me up before my physics class. I didn't shut it off until the whole class realized at the same time I did it was my phone. Which wouldn't have been bad, but there were twenty of us around a conference table. Then came Organic Chemistry and after O chem was lunch. Lunch included nachos and watching five minutes of Sydney White before heading off to Physics. Physics was learning that you can shoot something at the same time it drops and hit it.
I had dinner at Adams park, because the College of Ag gave us taco's.  This kid said hi to me, but I can never remember his name.  He know's my name, and he's told me his name half a dozen times, so I just said hi and walked away, plus I was late to my study group. After dinner it was back to the histology books, and we are a great a bunch of kids. Then I came home to find my three best friends waiting for me with toasted pop tarts. "whats a pop tart if its not toasted?"-me  "pop stupid!"-Erin  "this blog is stupid"-josh  "that's my playlist, that I listen to."-me
I love this day.  I'm beginning to feel like a free loader. This week I cooked zero meals.  Monday we were almost kicked out of the library for being extremely loud, Tuesday I finished my homework in physics and had a chem lab. O chem lab sucks, and building molecules on the computer is impossible. Just saying.
To finish up the night my Kim, Erin, and Jeannie dressed me up for the College of Ag dinner.  I tried on a half a dozen dresses, and finally we all agreed on one.  Then came accessorizing, so we matched ear ring's to dress and then necklace to dress, and then ear ring to necklace to dress, and learned a little about fashion, don't get me started on shoes. I didn't get to bed until two in the morning, and planned on running with Josh, but I set my alarm wrong, and the clock skipped an hour which actually woke me up at four, but I don't remember turning my alarm off, so I'm pretty sure I was exhausted.
This morning I woke up to Josh texting me "are you awake?" and "are you okay." I'm getting way of track to reaching my goal, and beating my brother at his own game. So far my schedule has been run two good days have two really bad days.  Tonight Josh is coming over to set goals, and go over where we need to be. Thursdays are my volunteer days, as I don't have class until 3:30, I will also fit some studying in there.

Crazy Kids

Saturday= Game day and Cliff jumping!!! We left for Porcupine Res at eleven, and stopped to wake Erin up. We had to pick up my friends car and on the way saw an awesome giraffe print jeep, ultimate safari vehicle. We decided we needed life jackets or flotation devices so we headed over to the orc, finally made it after a massive detour, because it was game day! Turns out USU shuts down on Saturday, when students can actually have fun, so went to two dollar stores, before finding arm floaters and bouncy balls. When we were kids we never had bouncy balls, and thought the were way too expensive for us, after growing up and leaning you can buy one for a dollar I feel jipped. We headed out to Porcupine, and stopped for directions mostly because the guy had two of the cutest puppies in the world. After stopping a second time because there was a grass hopper in the backseat we made our way down the road, passing paradise and Avon. Cows were grazing on the road, and off the road. Crazy Cows! I was warned the road would be steep and was told to go slow because it was gravel.  As soon as I hit the road I was brought back to summer time and driving to and from the ranch. In the summer I went twenty, this time I went ten. I parked where I was told, which happened to be at a spot where the reservoir was the widest to swim across. Bouncy balls are not good flotation devices to swim with, and we lost one.  The current that didn't seem so swift sure carried it far and fast. The swim took forever, once we were to the other side, we saw just how low the water was. Kim was a brave soul and jumped.  Jeannie sat at the top.  Erin and I climbed up, sat for ten minutes and then climbed back down and swam back and fourth across the river, at a narrower spot.  We played fetch with a dog, and met a man who had a hangover and was trying not to pass out. By the time we left I was freezing and my lips were blue, so we had a heater in September, which seems an awful pity. We got home in time to get ready for the game, first time I had my face painted, and first time we watched an entire Aggie game. 54-17. After the game we had ice cream, and I had to write my paper on testosterone and aggression in men.  After that we watched you tube videos with Rob, and recounted many memories. One memory made this year was staying up until two in the morning waiting for our zucchini cobbler, (which tasted an awful lot like apple cobbler). While we were waiting we watched the better half of a Canadian tv series called Haven. Baking with Rob and Kim, is nothing shy of fun. I think we started the cobbler at eight, but before the cobbler we wanted a snack so we made zucchini chips, but before that we had to pick the zucchini, which meant we also had to pick the other vegetables that were ripe.  None of us have a one track brain, so we ended up singing songs, and dancing and telling stories and watching videos, and then four hours later the cobbler went in the oven.  

Friday was the ninth and was an awful tiring day all around. Friday was the first time I feel asleep while studying. During histology I was actually doing pretty good at locating tissues on the slides, after an initial period of not being able to focus my microscope. I think I've been told by my professor "remember the microscope views things upside down and backwards," half a dozen times, we've had two labs. Great class! After lab I bought my psychology books, I sat down to read it and woke up four hours later.  Which would have been fine any other night but girls night, thank's to Erin's text, "If I ever wake up" we could start. So we headed out on our grand adventure to Walmart to get ice cream, and peaches, this was a night not to think of cabbage. Upon our return we made peanut butter cookies, a first, the hardest thing about cookies is spacing on the cookie sheet and time in the oven. The plan: deliver them to Rich 201, aka the room we lived in last year. They loved the cookies, and then we made our way home through the Fudge cemetery. We were twenty feet in when a car pulled in  behind us with a megaphone. My heart dropped a little, because I thought this would be the first time I would get a ticket, a ticket for trespassing or something. The fudge cemetery has a clear sign that says "NO ADMITTANCE AFTER DARK."

How Fudge Cemetery got its name

That won't stop us from spending the night though. (In Logan you have to make bucket lists of things to do before you graduate.)  Too scared to run, I just stood there.  Our cop turned out to be a kid with a mega phone, and after parking there for thirty seconds and shouting in the mega phone, he bid us ado by wishing us a great night, and  we returned to our walk. We jumped the fence, no battle scars this time, and made our way to the elementary maze. We met some fellow college students and played one crazy game of tag, before going our separate ways. We went down the slide by Reeder, and rode the bicycle statue, we were invited to play ultimate Frisbee, but decided to watch The Roommate instead. We ate ice cream and cookies, which is unusual for my roommates so see me eating that. I went my entire college career without sugar.  That ended this summer. The Roommate was weird, twisted movie, after the movie ended, I fell asleep on the couch, and woke up when my roommate was coming towards me with a blanket at three in the morning, which made me jump a little. At six in the morning, I went running up the canyon and across the mountain with Josh. I ran the whole way, no more walking up hills for me.  We got back at a quarter to eight, had pop tarts, then I went back to sleep, he had to go to work.