The Last Ten Months

Okay, yes, it has been quite a while since I've updated. It's mainly because I don't have internet access at my house, and am too lazy to drive to the nearest place that I do. Now I have the chance to do it, so I'm putting up another update.

Since my last post, I have gotten married. My husband and I were sealed in the Oakland Temple on July 1st, 2011.

We had our reception the next day and had a ring ceremony for family and close friends unable to attend the wedding. We had a laid back honeymoon at the coast, enjoying the cooler July weather. Jori and I have been married for nearly eight months now, and they have been the best months of my life, and I look forward to many more years with him.

When Jori moved in, he also brought with him his dog, Jake, an Australian Shephard/Black Lab mix. As most of you know, I have a cat, so we were a little worried about how they would get along. At first, Jake was scared of the cat and would be tearing through the house, trying to get away from her. After a while, they finally got to the point where they tolerated each other. Now though, we find them cuddling up with each other and being friendly, but once they notice us looking, it's back to ignoring each other.

As a Wedding present, my in-laws paid for a trip to Disneyland, so in September Jori and I got the chance to do that, and we had a blast. We stayed with my oldest sister and got to spend some time with her too while we were there.

In November, Jori and I had the opportunity to go to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Sacramento with my older sister and her friends. It. Was. Awesome! I totally want to go to the next one. They are so fun to watch. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be running across the stage while still playing.

Jori and I spent our first Thanksgiving with family, but we spent our first Christmas together. I made a small meal for us, which still lasted for a few days after, and I had my first try at making twice baked potatoes. Which are delicious! My mother-in-law gave me a box full of family recipes for a christmas present, which I have made a few dishes from, all of which are delicious, delicious!

Now finally we're in February. Jori and I just got back from another trip south to San Diego for his grandmother's 90th birthday. So I got to meet more in-laws, and get to know them. We had a lot of fun, and the day after the party, we went to the San Diego Zoo with Jori's Aunt and Uncle. So many animals! The best Zoo I've been to. My legs are still recuperating from walking up and down hills, and all around for eight hours.

Guess what!

I finally have something to post. I'm engaged! Jori and I are so excited. We are being sealed in the Oakland Temple July 1st. Yes, it's soon, but we've planned on getting married for a while. Plus, we had the date of the wedding before I got my ring. We were waiting to make it official once I had it. I absolutely love it! Definitely worth waiting for.

I've had an interesting week. First, on Saturday at work, I was cleaning a room and picked up a towel which happened to be covered in perfumed Talcum Powder. Not knowing this, I snapped it open and all the powder went all over the floor, me and into my lungs. Ten minutes later I couldn't even talk. After drinking a bunch of water, I told my boss what happened, finished work that day and went home. Next day, I go to church and after we sing the second hymn, I can't breathe. I tried to catch my breath but after the next hymn (which I had to play) I still couldn't breathe so Mom took me home and kept a close eye on me. I stayed downstairs where it was cold which helped the breathing. The Talcum Powder just tore up my throat and sinuses. THEN, Monday I didn't go to school because I knew I'd be completely out of breath after 20 steps or so. I went to the doctor, he said it wasn't so severe that I'd have to be hospitalized and was getting enough oxygen. Good news right? Well, the doc was feeling my throat when he says that my thyroid feels enlarged. The thyroid is pretty darn important so I go to the hospital to get a blood test and an ultrasound of my neck. Tuesday, I'm told by Mom that the Doctor called and said I had a BB size CYST on my thyroid. LUCKY ME! I guess the whole Talcum Powder thing was a blessing in disguise. The doctor said the cyst is nothing to worry about, but will be keeping an eye on it, just in case. I've realized, I'm only twenty, but I have the most health problems in my immediate family. Sigh.

Yes I know I haven't updated in a while. I've had quite the month. First school started, then my cat died, then I got a new kitty, then I had a killer chem test which I thought I failed, THEN I found out I barely passed, THEN my sister started bugging me about not updating. So I am now updating and yes, I do have pictures of the new kitten.

Her name is Whisper because her meow is so quiet. She purrs louder than she meows, it's kinda funny. I love her tabby stripes. She's part Siamese, but I don't know what the other is. I'm thinking Rag Doll. She's a real sweetie, and a total lap kitty. And, she enjoys watching the T.V., especially when we play games with colorful graphics.

Job

I finally found a job! And I love it! I'm working at a local Hotel and store. On the first floor, they have what they call an Emporium and they sell the most gorgeous jewelry, soaps, clothes and other nick knacks. Oh, and I can't forget the truffles. They are soooo good. Yum. Anyway, the second floor is where the hotel rooms are. They are amazing! The theme for the rooms is basically Victorian. My favorite part of most of the rooms are the clawed tubs. Besides that, each and every room is unique and just beautiful. The whole place is just AWESOME! I love it!

Schools out!

I am done with my finals! Yay! They were super easy too. The only thing I had a difficult time with was the ten page Anthropology Essay that was due at the beginning of this month. Ugh, it fried my brain. I only got nine pages done before I had to print it out. I got an A- on it though! It was very well written.
There was a 5 page essay due for my Communications Final, which was sooooo much easier than the Anthropology one. For my Welding finals, I probably failed the lab final because my weld looked horrible. Of course I screwed it up on the day of the final, but never before when my grade wasn't relying on the first weld I did. Sigh. My teacher knows I can do better. The written final though was easy easy. And my art class had no final. Woot! Now it's time to find a summer job.

Finished!

I finally finished the painting. I'm really happy how it turned out.

Painting

In my art class, our second painting we were to do had to be 1: bigger than our first one (which was a bit bigger than a sheet of computer paper), and 2: it had to represent ourselves or something we were fond of. (my teacher hates the "cute" pictures, like kitties and puppies and stuff. She doesn't feel they represent people very well) Anyway, my dad's birthday was coming up so I wanted to paint him something. After searching through hundreds of photos, I found one of me jumping the waves at Trinidad. So, after a few weeks of painting and not getting very far (I only go to school 2 days a week), I took it home the weekend of Spring Break and three days before my dad's birthday. So I had to hide it from him until his birthday, then unveiled it with a bed sheet.

It's 36 in X 20 in, and I did a bit more painting after I showed him of course, so it's not exactly how it is in the picture. The rock in the background was purple. Don't ask me how I made it purple, it just happened. I worked more on it today, so when it is all done and framed, I shall take another picture. Dad loved the painting. I didn't know it when I chose the picture, but this was my Dad's favorite picture he took at the coast. When I first showed him, all he could say was "Wow". He said it about ten times. My classmates at school agree and are always saying how good it looks whenever they see it. They don't believe me when I say I haven't painted much before. Although their compliments are nice, I kind of wish they wouldn't mainly because I don't know what to say or come off as rude if I don't, so I just smile and say thanks.
I'm happy how the painting is coming out, and Dad is so excited that I painted it for him. Now we just need to find a place in the house big enough to put it...

Something Funny

Here's a little something that I've been wanting to share. It proves that my family is paranoid. Last Sunday, my little sister was sick so she stayed home from church. Mom didn't feel comfortable leaving her there alone that day, so I volunteered to come back home after the first hour. (Mom teaches a Sunday school class so she couldn't) So, after the first meeting, I head home, unlock the door and find little sis still laying on the couch. I went over and asked her how she was feeling. Instead of replying, she pulled the blankets back and handed me a skillet. A large one. She had been hiding it under her blanket because Mom had an uneasy feeling. It was hilarious. I'm just glad she didn't mistake me for an intruder.

Welding

Well, I got out of my Welding class about an hour ago. It was the first day we actually did some welding. The type of welding we're doing is called Oxy Acetylene Welding. It's a mouthful. When my teacher was giving us the instructions, I couldn't hear anything! So I was terrified when we had to start welding because I didn't know how to turn on everything. So I asked someone who oh so kindly helped me out. Now I think I'll be able to do it myself. I had a lot of fun though. I was terrible, but what else can you expect from a beginner?

New Year

I admit it, I suck at updating. My life is pretty boring and the parts that are exciting I can't talk about online or at all, so you're gonna have to put up with it.
I'm not making any new year resolutions because I never stick to them. But along with the new year is the new school year. Which is where I'm at right now. I got out of my painting class early today because it was just a syllabus lecture. I'm excited for the class, but it's going to cost a lot to get all the supplies. Along with my Welding class, I'm going to be broke.
I have a job. Had it since November and I love it! I work at the local Funeral Home. Yes, I'm weird and no, bodies don't freak me out. I'm the weird one in the family.
Hopefully this year will bring lots of joy and success!

Painting

Today I made a painting for my Grandma who is in the hospital right now. Since she missed home so much, I decided to paint what she'd usually see looking out the kitchen window. Here is a picture of the final product.

It's definitely not the best painting in the world, but I'm sure it'll make her happy.

Something Random

A couple months ago I was looking through my box of writing when I found a poem that I had written, but didn't finish, during my Senior year for my English class. Since I liked what was written, I decided to finish it and share it. We had to write an Ode so here is my Ode to Insanity.

Ode to Insanity
My friend, which cannot be seen with the eye
You give me comfort inside my warped mind
Cackling maniacally when others are nigh
Giving them chills and think you unkind
Only I know you have a sincere heart
To give comfort to those who are in need
The ones who have indeed lost their head
And with that you've done your deed.
Don't be like mom and leave a horse and cart
Otherwise I'd say you haven't done your part
And besides, without you, I'd be better off dead.

You're a blanket of security wrapped up tight
Around those loose headed forms
Which keeps them awake at night
In their enclosed padded dorms.
Running in circles, making a scene
All the others think us as weird
But this is as normal as I can be
It is not something to be feared
Since you are something that cannot be seen
But still, I treat you like a Queen
Because you, my friend, are my Insanity

I only had a few lines into the second stanza when I turned it in. Since I worked so hard on it, I got full credit unlike some other students who wrote a bunch of nonsense, finished it, and received a C. I was very proud of myself. And yes, I know, it's weird, but that's why I like it.

Good News!

Okay, I lied. The pictures didn't come soon, but at least I'm getting them on now.



And Sharon was so proud that I finally got to fifty. I was very hesitant to go too fast. The highest I went was almost 60.
Now, some good news. I took my driving test today and I passed with flying colors. I had no errors! I was so happy. All my worries were for nothing.

Driving

Last Saturday I drove to my Grandparents house. It was a three hour drive, and I made it! I only scared the family once, going to fast around a corner on Scott Mountain. Apparently Jacquie was halfway out the window, screaming, Sharon was flattened against Jacquie, screaming and I think both parents were screaming. I managed not to roll the car though, thank goodness and the rest of the trip was uneventful. Pictures of me driving coming soon.

Update

Wow, it's been a long time since I last put up a post. Well, about three weeks ago my wisdom teeth were taken out. It took about 3-4 days for my left side to feel better and a little over a week for my right side to heal. I'm just glad I can eat normally again.
Something interesting happened to me a few days ago. I unscrewed the light bulbs in my room and placed them on the sewing table. In my sleep. I woke up and saw the light bulbs on the table and realized what I had done. I know I did it in my sleep because for some bizarre reason, in my dream I had removed light bulbs from a fixture. I find it hilarious, it's the first time I've sleepwalked.

Great Way to Start My Summer

I had a Dentist appointment yesterday. While I was there, the hygienist working on my teeth noticed that I haven't had an x-ray on my teeth since 2007. So she gets the x-rays and keeps going back to this one that, to me, didn't look like anything was wrong with it. She then pointed out the very bottom corner of the x-ray to me and said that it looked like my wisdom tooth was growing in sideways. She wasn't sure, so she got the dentist and he looked at it. He needed a better view of it so I had to step into this huge machine and have this thing move around my head. I had to wait for the results and while waiting I was praying that everything was fine. She came out about 10 minutes later and showed me the x-ray. All four of my wisdom teeth are growing in sideways, and are down pretty deep, so I have to go to some other dentist and have him remove them. Everyone has been telling me their "horror stories" about when they had theirs removed. I am so not looking forward to it.

School's Out for Summer!

I had all of my finals today. It was a nightmare, but I survived. I'm so glad that it's over with. My brain is fried right now, I can't think. Chemistry, Psychology and Spanish 2 finals will do that to you. Anyway, I just need to wait for my grades now.

Visit

Jori came up to visit today. He rode the train from San Diego instead of driving because he can't handle the big city driving yet. I was so excited to see him! So was Fletcher.


He kept trying to steal Jori away from me. Thanks Kristie for distracting him. We went to the college to return my books, introduced him to "my Institute Parents", then rode the bus back home. I finally felt like I knew where I was going.
We introduced Jori to Vander today also. He thought he was very cute.
I took a while to get Jori to hold him, but I finally did it! Don't they look so cute together?

Lazy Sunday

A lot has happened in the last few weeks. I attended a "Rock Band Social" at the Institute for a mission farewell. The next day, I went to a dance in Glendale. I didn't know anyone there, but I had a great time. And yes, I did dance. Even though there were only 2 slow dances. I danced both of those too.
Today, a good friend of mine, who goes to the Institute, is getting baptized so I'm going. I'm so excited for her!