Runners High

I'm positive I've had a runners high twice, love it and accept it. If you knew me that would sound crazy because I run everyday. There was one time in Provo after running the River trail I felt on top of the world...for five minutes.  After the five minutes I had a runners crash. During my crash all I want to do is stretch, shower, and sleep. After a good run sleep almost never comes. My legs ache so much that I switch between sleeping with my legs outstretched, curled beneath me, and some sort of laying down Indian crossed leg style. The second time was in Logan after running  an eleven mile canyon run. Once again I was on top of the world didn't want to stop running, and didn't know how to stop. Runners high to me is an elated feeling.  Every muscle in your body may be aching and telling you to stop, but there is a brain muscle block and you just feel the need to run more and more.

Fly over states

I fell in love with fly over states. Not just the song, but the states mentioned in that lovely ballad by one Jason Aldean. Okay so I only drove through one state mentioned, Nebraska, but I loved it.

Our view from the hotel

As a few of you know my brother married the love of his life on Sunday, May 20.  Beautiful bride and handsome groom.  The wedding was gorgeous and took place on Lake Eerie. To get to this locale we drove slightly over 1700 miles. We left after my physics lab on Thursday at two.  We drove through Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, and up to Ohio. We took a little drive up to Michigan (you don't have to go through Michigan to get to Ohio). We'll just call it a bonus state. I drove from mid Wyoming to somewhere in Nebraska, part of Iowa, part of Indiana, and a part of Ohio. The drive was long, hot, and I spent much of the trip in some sort of contorted position trying to make everyone else comfortable. Its easier to be in discomfort then hear people complain. Just love it and accept it.
The mid west is farms, more farms and when you think there couldn't possibly be any more, there are still more farms. I loved it, everywhere green, and cows, and corn fields, and wheat fields, and barns, tractors, old farm houses. 160 acres and a mule was no lie, tons of fields. I want to move there and farm, or ranch, or just live and be a field bum.
We got to Ohio somewhere around seven pm on Friday in time for the bachelor party.  I had been texting Eric and he had been giving us very exact directions via text.  We arrived at the winery where we were supposed to drop off Phil, and my phone died. So I got out to explore, and stumbled across a large group of boys sitting outside a building. Right away I recognized my brothers, as they jumped the fence to give me a hug. First time I had seen Jason in eight years. That is a crazy long time, my entire high school and college career. I was so happy to see all my brothers together.
I realized then my over protective little sister-ness when they wanted to take him to the bachelor party where he would of course taste wine. I worried all night, and could barely sleep.

Saturday was the BBQ, and I realized then that my brother's received only the best when they went away every summer. I love my family, but walking the cottage lane I wanted a tight nit family community they had.  Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins only a house away. I got a taste of the eastern/mid west Catholic school kid attitude. I toasted with my brother's friends, and felt a little grown up. The last time I saw a lot of them I was in elementary and they were graduated high school. I still felt like a little kid. I made a fool of myself asking Phil if a couple of guys were a couple, turns out they very much weren't. That was the laughing joke throughout the night.
Sunday was the wedding of course we had to get there two hours before anyone thought of arriving. So we wandered the country club and took pictures. The judge was late, but that only gave people an excuse to start drinking early, so it all worked out. The ceremony was wonderful they did a sand ceremony joining the new couple. After was more pictures, and then dinner. Dinner was a buffet, it was really good. Fish and prime rib, everything a heart could desire. Eric gave a wonderful best man's toast, and then there was dancing. One of Eric's brothers brought fishing poles, so we fished of the dock.  I caught two fish, and Rory was catching fish like no other little girl. We threw rocks in the lake, baited hooks, talked and laughed.  It was probably the best wedding. I fell in love with the Allen's and wish there were more half brothers to be wed.

We left Monday morning dark and early, and drove.  I drove through Iowa and all of Nebraska and fifteen minutes into Wyoming I had to pull over and let someone else drive. We stopped at nearly every rest area and Mcdonalds, and finally made it home seven in the morning on Tuesday.  What a trip and all in six days. Wouldn't drive it again unless I was hauling steel on a three day haul.

April 19, 2008

 Jon delivered flowers to my class today. I went up to the professor to correct some problems and saw him out of the corner of my eye, and it was the best thing ever.  Last night we had planned for him to come to my class with flowers, all to get rid of Shermie. Shermie came over yesterday and followed me right up the stairs. Earlier I had texted Jon, "please please save me in three minutes." His phone had turned off, luckily his door was open, so I came in, and we acted like really good friends. He asked me on a "date" and gave me twenty minutes. I was hoping Shermie would have left within the minute of me leaving, but he stayed and talked to Jon for a good ten minutes. Finally he left, and we came out and talked and laughed and discussed our next plan. So when I saw Jon in class I just smiled, and the kids handed in their quizzes and left. Shermie came up to me to talk  and I just looked back at Jon with a help me look, and he came in with flowers, and gave me a huge hug. Shermie did an about face and headed over to doc. Then Doc stopped in the door and said "is this a proposal." Jon replied "Not yet!" Then we walked out arm in arm down the hall and out the door, but before we left, doc said "are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?" Jon said "is it working?" Perfect plan, laughed so hard.

Service

What a whirl wind my life has been lately.  Ups and downs, and looking for positives and seeing negatives. Getting involved and feeling good. One of the things that is constant in my life is service.  Being involved in the community.  I don't know how to not ask people if they need help.  I love it, and I'm not looking for slap on the back, or even a thank you.  I love helping people and making their life a little easier. The old quote that says "it takes a village to raise a child," is oh so very true.  I couldn't imagine being where I'm at without all the people who have supported me and helped me out.  My service pales in comparison to all those who have befriended me and have been my guiding light. I'm not a saint, far from it, I do like being recognized, but that's the cherry on top.  I love to keep people smiling. So the email I got came as a complete shock and surprise, almost made me cry.
Hello

Jorgena Miller, On behalf of the National Residence Hall Honorary here at USU, I would like to congratulate you on your nomination for an “Of the Month” award for April. This is a recognition tool used by students and staff living on-campus to recognize those around them that have done an outstanding job and are making a difference. Being nominated and winning on a campus level gives you the potential of also being nominated and recognized on a regional and national level. Thank you for all that you are doing and keep up the great work!

Here is what was said about you:
Jorgena is an amazing individual. She is a studious student, always striving for academic excellence, a great friend, and on top of that, she is training for a marathon. Jorgena has done a lot in the month of April to help others. She created an Easter Egg hunt for each of her roommates to help them feel a little more at home during Easter. She even customized each Easter Egg Hunt to what the person liked, leaving little quotes around their rooms giving hints to where hidden treasures lay.
She has had at least one test every week in April, and she has spent countless hours studying for those tests. However, if anyone needed her help or just wanted to hang out with her, she would make time for that individual. Along with being such an excellent student, she is a UTF for a class, and with that job she has taken on a huge amount of responsibility. She has been very busy UTFing in April as she prepares the students in her Supplemental Instruction class for upcoming finals. She has definitely gone above and beyond the call of duty in her job.
Jorgena is very busy with classes and a job, and yet she still finds time to serve. In April she has helped with "A-Week of Service" whenever she could find the time, and she even helped one of her roommates with her NRHH Recognition duties, even though Jorgena is not in NRHH. She is always trying to find ways to serve. She volunteered at Dance Fest through RHA, just because she had a few spare hours on her weekend and she heard that she could go do more service. Jorgena is an amazing example to me of what service is really about. Jorgena has truly gone above and beyond the extra mile in April.

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at nrhh@aggiemail.usu.edu.

NRHH, Big Blue Chapter
Residents Hall Association
Utah State University
nrhh@aggiemail.usu.edu

Thank you to whomever nominated me.  This was wonderful to read. I hope someday I can be apart of this association and write OTM'S for other people, and hopefully make their day better.  Knowing that what they do is appreciated and not taken for granted. Love it and accept it.

My life so far

In case you are more interested in my life then thoughts, I'll give you a small update.

Built a pink house around a trailer

I have five weeks left of school, two papers to write, and three tests before finals. I'm becoming more and more spiteful, resentful, and its hard to not sweat the small stuff. T-Will who is in my UTF class still follows me home, now he lets himself in. Soon I will regain my spine and tell him to leave me alone. Instead, avoiding the situation and making up excuses seems like a better plan.

Samson

Sealions

I was going to go to Nevada for spring break, but chose a much needed rest from the world, and a week alone with my Aunt. So Sunday I headed to Seal Beach, correcting 80 seven page tests on the plane.  We didn't do a whole lot, my fault, I was tired and slept and ate. The next day we made plans, we bought plants, ate out, and enjoyed each others company. Tuesday we went whale watching. We saw a couple gray whales which was cool. While waiting for the boat we watched a sea lion, Samson, play with some birds tossing fish and having fun. I didn't get very sea sick on the boat, mostly just tired.  We were in the sun for quite a long time, and after not seeing sun for months it sucked the life out of me. Along with seeing whales, we saw a whole school of dolphins. Amazing swimmers, they glided next to our boat like silver torpedoes. I tried to get pictures but realized when I thought I was getting pictures I was taking a video.  When I thought it was still on video it was on picture. So that didn't work too well. The next day we went to Catalina island, its nothing like the dressing. We took the fairy over, and I took a short nap on the hour ride. We decided to sit top deck in the sun, oh...but also in the wind.  It was freezing bundled up in my hoody, still cold. I closed my eyes, positioned in the sun, and tried to ignore the wind, still cold. On the island we ate lunch, walked around a bit. They have a huge zip line, two hour ride, which will be so much fun with Phil in the summer.

Got within two feet of this fella

I just liked the color

Out yellow submarine

In the submarine 

Looking little green under the sea

We went on a submarine and saw a ton of fish which was probably the most fun.  We ate trail mix and enjoyed the island, and took the fairy home. We sat up top in the sun, but out of the wind this time, and this Japanese lady who was sitting across from me, kept looking at me and shaking her head. Strange. I took a nap on the return home. We got home not nearly as tired this time. Thursday we went to the spa.  Lois got her hair done, and I got a facial.  It wasn't nearly as awful this time, but its probably the last time I'll be getting one, next time I'm going all out and getting a massage.  After the facial, I sat in the steam room, hot tub, took a shower, and took my time getting dressed. It was really nice, like princess treatment for two hours. We went shopping and I was told we couldn't leave until I picked something out.  I asked how much time we had, I hate shopping. After around two hours I found a cute dress and pair of pants. Good buys. The  next day was the plane ride home.  After getting home, we took the horses up the mountain for a good ride. I was on Cactus she got freaked out by some deer, and acted strange after that, so then I rode Rocket who is perfect to ride. We got back home and Phil and I ate some Pizza. My life so far, love it and accept it!

April in Cache Valley

Happy April Fools

Not an April fools joke, literally the smallest FedEx Truck 

It is April!!! I survived March which flew by like a gaggle of goslings. Sunday the first was April fools day. My favorite holiday, but I didn't do any celebration. I did make blueberry french toast. It was delicious. We all watched conference. A lot of it was forgiveness, which I needed, and family, which I needed but didn't appreciate. Actually the first complete conference I've sat through. Melinda's friend William came up and we all watched the Grudge on Friday night. Friday afternoon I talked to Erin for a wee bit, and went on a three mile walk. Later that night I volunteered for a dance festival they had at the Stadium.  I was a runner for the judges. They gave me their envelopes, and took them to another judge in the balcony, and brought then another one. Not sure if I ever gone up and down so many stairs in my life. It was fun I'd probably do it again.  They had snacks for the volunteers, unfortunately it consisted of junk food and candy. This no junk food no candy-wedding/marathon diet gets in the way. However I do feel great. After the dance I came home and bought a bake it yourself pizza which was fantastic. Saturday was conference and shopping at every major grocery store in Logan.  Sunday was the best day, good breakfast, and conference. Then I went on a walk and onto Smiths. We had planned some time ago that the first would be my "not real birthday," because my birthday is in the summer. They bought and made me lasagna, and we moved the table into the front room and watched Once upon a time. No cake no song, very simple. We talked for a quite a while after the show ended, and went to bed. This week has been entirely too long. I taught my SI on Wednesday, and studied periodically throughout the week. We had cleaning checks as well, and did not pass. Our failing was entirely my fault, as I didn't realize the stove top lifted up, so I cleaned that, called Steve and he passed us. Now it is Friday the Chem test was a Chem test, and we will wait and see how I did. I'm re-taking it during the summer, I hate the way a C looks on my transcript. Next week I'm going home, this weekend it snowed.

This should be a joke, that is one expensive shower

In the drama department, to start off this great month, got in a big fight with Phil. Which included us both over reacting.  Personally I think he is a bit unfair. He thinks I've changed, but he can't see what he's doing. I said we've drifted apart. He told me not to blame him, as I'm the one who moved, and now he has Staci. Whatever,  moving out and moving away gives a person a lot of self reliance and independence. Something I've never had before living in his shadow. He's my brother and I love him more than anything, so we fight and get over it. Love it and accept it.

Success

"If at first you don't succeed then maybe you just suck."
I've read this phrase countless times on the shirt of a good friend of mine. The first time I saw it I laughed, as I should have. Funny phrases usually draw out a chuckle.  The more I saw it the more I disagreed, until I finally flat out just started hating it. I've thought about all the times I've tried-failed, tried-failed, and then like the saying goes, the third times the charm. Pretty sure there are others out there that have tried and failed, preserver and succeed. I'm almost positive most of those people are our professors, doctors, and clergy.  Men and women that we look up to and respect, and if they suck, then we must really be sub-standard.
If at first you don't succeed then maybe you're just having a bad day. Or maybe you really do suck. I would hope that if at first you don't succeed then try again.
Now that I've torn this shirt a second neck hole, there are many shirts that make me smile.  I often read these shirts aloud to the shirt wearer, as if they don't know what they are wearing. I think they appreciate it!