Memorial Day Weekend.

Holiday festivities included a

gathering at the lake

family cookout (ribs, burgers, the whole shabang)

snuggling a newborn baby

& the obsession of a new television show began. Let's just say I love Big Love. I am currently watching season 1 and it is so good.

The day couldn't have been complete without a 6.5 hour shift at Sonic or a 2 mile run.

Happy Memorial Day!

Dusk & Summer.

Dusk & Summer, (Dashboard Confessional sings a lovely song about you)- the sky was swirls of orange and yellow as Beth and I drove through the country side. She kept saying "we're in the middle of nowhere." In these here parts of the U.S. of A, I informed her that they are commonly known as "back roads"

The windows were down and the air was delicious and warm. We stopped and picked wildflowers- the vibrant, orange kind.

Music of all genres blared through the speakers and we belted out Kris Allen and Lady GaGa.

We slowed down to watch rabbits hop across the street and

took plenty of pictures of the sky and trees.

Days like these make summer so wonderul.

Dreams & Reality

I want to live here.
A beach house overlooking the Atlantic ocean. South Carolina will do, please. My brood of children can build sandcastles during the day and the hubster and I can sip hot tea and watch the sun rise before he endures his 9-5. I can open all of the windows during the day and let the house breathe in salty, fresh air. Can you smell it? Yes, that life will do just fine.

Of course, I would also choose mountains. Colorado, Utah, Montana. I could totally be a ranch wife. I could have breakfast cooked up by 6 a.m. and then saddle up those horses for a ride. Horses scare me but I could suck it up because get a load of those mountains. Can you imagine them in your backyard? Take a moment...

Moments over. Now imagine that it is raining. Loud thunder is echoing through the valleys. The light breeze carries the smell of pine. Oh yes, I will take those mountains. Pretty, pretty please.

I would gather the children and snap on their rain coats. Rain boots would come out from the back of the closet and we would splash in puddles. Can you hear their tiny shrieks and giggles? Then we would go inside, towel off, and make cookies. Naps would follow and I would sit on the back porch and stare at those mountain while the rain poured and the clouds thundered.

Anyways, I haven't given much thought to those dreams.

The reality? It's my 100th post! Hold the phone--100?

Yes, 100. Happy 100th post and thank you for reading!

Where do you dream of living?

Happy Hour Horror.

If you live in one of the 34 states home to Sonic Drive-In, you are very familiar with a thing called Happy Hour- half-price drinks and slush's.


Customers love, love, LOVE it. Carhops hate, hate, HATE it. Why? This story explains every reason why us carhops loathe the hours of 2-4.

****

It was hot. Oh, it was hot. I quickly flung up the wrist my scan bracelet was on and scanned another order. We had finally slowed down and Happy Hour was (thankfully) coming to a close.

I looked at the ticket. Station 1- the very end of the lot. I turned to look through the windows. They were the only car on that side, and they parked at the very last stall. This was the first of many annoyances with this particular order.

I gathered their two Route 44 Dr.Peppers and marched out the door. The sun was beating down and my skin was sticky from the thick, humid air. Arkansas weather blows.

I finally reached their car and pasted on a polite and cheery smile. I asked her how she was. No response. I read her receipt and handed her the 88 ounces of Dr. Pepper she ordered. No response. I read her the price. She flung a credit card at me.

Second and third of annoyances. #1: Pay with your credit card at the stall. #2: It is always nice to respond when someone asks you how are you, or to at least say thank you.

I walked away with a subtle eye roll and a good mind to never bring back her credit card. I enjoyed the few seconds I was inside where there was a hint of air conditioning and then trudged back to her car, passing all other empty stalls on my way. It spiked my

annoyance even more, really.

"Here ya go, ma'am. Have a nice day!"

No response. No tip.

Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?

****

I will admit that I get annoyed a little too easily when it comes to Sonic and customers, but I think this would have angered any carhop. Especially a carhop that is sweating. Profusely.

What should you have gotten out of this?

#1 Park closer

#2 Use your words

#3 Tip at least a quarter.

Yours truly,
a very annoyed carhop

Smells of Summer (& a birthday)

Happy Birthday Kaylee!
We have been best friends since the 2nd grade & I cherish each day. I hope I'm telling you 'happy birthday' when we are 80.

In other news, it was 1,7892828282 degrees today which is not desirable carhop weather. To my delight, a monsoon came upon us and made the temperature drop 10 degrees. And lets not forget the smell rain brings with it. I had no problem taking orders out after that. The more the merrier- that became my motto!

Oh summer, please bring more days like this!

Letter to a: blog (numbero dos)

My dearest blog, I am so sorry I have neglected you. It seems I am having bloggers-block after having left my source of inspiration (school)

Let me tell you, I love summer.

the weather

the job (=$$)

seeing my best friends daily

my new love for running (I told you about this. Remember, blog?)

It is all pretty fabulous, which is why I am telling you all about it. I want to have all of the fabulous-ness documented for eternal internet remembrance. Or whatever.

More tomorrow little blog.

Woah - Grey's Anatomy

I was going to write about silly little things like my awesome run tonight and the delicious mango-lemon smoothie I made for breakfast.


However, this happened:

Commence discussion about the craziest Grey's episode ever.

Doctors, Migraines, & Running, oh my!

I am ashamed that my last post was Sunday, but my excuse is so legitimate.

Monday at work I got a terrible headache that steadily worsened. I couldn't bear lights or noise and felt dizzy when walking around.

I ended up leaving work and went home to try and sleep it off. I slept for about 3 hours and felt better so I decided I didn't need to skip out on my daily run. I went (my run was great that night!), but as soon as I got home and relaxed it came back.

I took medicine and slept for 11 hours, and when I woke up, my lovely headache was still throbbing away. I took more medicine, lay in the bed until 4 when I had to go to work, and it stayed with me most of the night.

The pain wasn't just a throb, either. I would have sharp stabbing sensations that would last only a few seconds. My mom finally said "enough is enough" and scheduled me a doctor appointment.

After waiting in the waiting room for over an hour and a short half-hour visit with my family doctor, I was diagnosed with migraines, a blood-work consultation was scheduled, and I got a sample pack of medicine. I'm hoping all is well from here on out!

In the running world, I can definitely tell that my endurance is increasing. I have completely stuck with this commitment and am feeling so good about it. I may have even bought a fancy running watch and tank top.

5k here I come.

Hopefully without a migraine.

p.s. Pray for NieNie.
More surgery.

Once a Runner...

...not always a runner.

Last summer I would go to the track nearly 3-4 times a week and do several run/walk intervals. My endurance strengthened and I eventually could run 1 mile comfortably. For me, the exercise-challenged, this was a huge feat.

Once school started I didn't run anymore. Like, zip, zero, zilch.

But I thought about it a lot. That counts, right?

The more I thought about running, the more I wanted to be able to run so much more than 1 mile. I wanted to run a 5k, and then a 10k, and beyond.

This weekend I downloaded an iPhone app called RunKeeper and loaded the pod up with peppy upbeat remixes. I joined a running newsletter that will send me a running plan every morning and (hopefully) in 3-4 weeks I will be able to run the 5k.

I know, that seems fast. But the only requirements for the newsletter were that you be able to run for 1 minute straight. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The run today was touch tough but I managed and felt great afterwards! I'm excited about this little plan. If anyone is interested in doing "the plan" with me comment and I'll put up a page of the workout cycle!

Happy workout :)

p.s. girl in picture = not me.
As if.

p.s.s. remember saying "as if" 20x an hour
after 'Clueless' came out?

How to Save a Turtle 101

My summer days consist of animal patrol and rescue.

(are turtles animals?)

Summer 2010. Woo!

And that's how it's done.

World Religion - Mormonism

Lately I've been very interested in learning about other religions.
In fact, I may sign up for a World Religions class at Harding.
My religion pick of yesterday/today to read up on was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For short, Mormons.

Ya know, those dudes that come knocking on your door with a Book of Mormon? My interest in it was sparked by Kaylee, Nie Nie, and C Jane.
I was surprised at the controversy surrounding the Church.

I stumbled upon a blog last night of a woman who is going through the process of leaving the Church, Kelly. She made several statements about Mormon beliefs so I decided to investigate for myself.

Through Google and LDS headquarters, I found some basic beliefs/principles/practices of the Church. It definitely shed some light- I feel like most people still think of Mormons as polygamists.
Here's my fancy bulleted list of Mormon findings:

• They believe in the teachings of the Bible and the Book of Mormon
• Baptism for the dead (1 Corinth. 15:29)
• Sealing families (An ordinance performed in the temple eternally uniting a husband and wife, or children and their parents.)
• Levels of Heaven
• Pre-earth life
  & many other things which you can find here.

I am not Mormon but I find the religion interesting. If you are Mormon please comment with more information. As one of the most hotly debated religions, people are always interested in learning more!

I am also interested in learning about other Christian denominations and religion. What denomination do you consider yourself? Why do you believe what you do?

Countdown

30 days until I'm here:

Utah

60 days until I'm here:
depending on "the great oil spill of twenty-ten"

Panama City, Florida

Where are you going this summer?

Southwest Wedding

This weekend

Wine bottles in the wall.

I drove to the southwest for a wedding.
It was at a vineyard in the desert.



The ceremony was under a pavilion facing the vineyard.
Afterwards we dined on prime rib, potatoes, pasta, salad, & bread.
Or chicken if that is your preference.



It was a beautiful wedding.
Here are a few pictures:




I had a great weekend seeing my family & eating authentic Filipino food. It's nice to be home though. My dorm room is still packed in boxes in my car and needs to be moved inside. Maybe tomorrow.

Now we have steaks sizzling on the grill to celebrate Mother's Day. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Remembering.

It's quiet.
My roommate is sleeping peacefully and the TV is playing softly in the background.

Our room is empty and it's sad. The walls are bare, our closets empty.

There are so many memories in this room- a year of my life that marked my semi-independence. I feel like leaving something, anything, so the room will somehow remember it all. Remember my presence, the wonderful talks with my roommate, the tears shed over guys and divorcing parents. I want the room to remember the nights of no sleep (like tonight) and I want it to remember the stress we feel before a test. If only it could remember the laughs. I long for the room to remember Ali's nightly Bible reading & my singing praises to God when I wake up in the mornings.

The thought seems silly. A room can't remember things. I wish, oh I wish, that it could.

My first semester here was surreal. I was timid about making friends because striking up conversation with strangers was slightly terrifying. I was bogged down with 16 hours and pledging a social club. My roommate and I didn't get along well, and I missed my best friends from home.

Spring semester was so different. I'm sure it was because of Spring Sing and a lighter class load. I made so many friends and truly made the most of the time I had here. It's sad to leave. Terribly sad. My amazing roommate Ali will be far away in Nebraska, sweet Jill in Oklahoma, Beth & Brette in the lone-star state, and Katie in Tennessee. All so far away, all dying to stay together.

I'm thrilled to know that in a few months we will all be back, excited for a new year that holds new experiences and memories. I can see myself moving in, anxiously awaiting Ali's arrival. Once she arrives, Brette, Jill, and Katie will rush in our room. There will be shrieks of happiness and we will sit on the floor and gush about summer. And then we will go to Fro Yo.

I changed my mind. A room can remember, and it will.

It was all too good to forget.

For the love of Nie

I love nie.
Really, this should be no surprise.
I read her blog daily, and not just new posts. I like to go back to 07-08 years, especially in the summer. Is that weird? I don't think so, because Nie is so awesome.

She posted on her blog today a video called "My New Life" which she is in. She tells her story and reads a few of her blog posts. I cried. And then I watched it again.

So without further ado, I give you the Stephanie Nielson.

In other news, it's my last day at Harding. I am sad.

My dorm room looks like a dorm room.

My lovely space of living has looked like this since oh, Sunday.

Today after taking 2 finals, selling textbooks to the bookstore & shipping a succesful online listing, and after hours of packing and lifting and going-down-3-flights-of-stairs-and-back-up, it now looks like this.

When everything is cute & personal,
the room is cozy and doesn't look like a dorm room.

Which is what it currently resembles.

A dorm room.

Hat Head.

It's come to my attention that I do not look good in hats.
That's a lie, actually. I've always known I don't look good in hats.

I just don't have the right head.

I blame my mother.

My favorite hats to drool over are the Kentucky Derby hats the women wear.

They are all so cute- not something I could ever pull off!
Check em' out.

My favorite!

I won't be donning any of those hats anytime soon. Or ever.
And even though hats don't compliment my head,
I am still going to wear this hat on the beach:

Which one is your fave?

p.s. I'll let you know how that
beach hat looks come July.