Huh?

I'm not going to pretend I have any idea of how this blogspot works. I wrote that last post on the 30th, but it says it is the 15th on it. So that news is updated to the 30th of January. And in addition, I almost lit our apartment on fire. I was boiling water to take blackberry stains out of a work shirt (it really works!) and I lit this wooden spoon holder thing on our stove on fire. It was more of a slow cook, but our apartment smells like campfire now. This was because I wasn't paying attenion, and was blogging. Yikes.

S

The Month of Susan

I must admit, there is some stuff that has happened since I last blogg-o'd. Some events happened, I learned a little about myself, and etc. Instead of using my High School English technique of organizing all my info into neat little paragraphs that all flow together, I'm pretty much just going to make a list. I like lists......I have a whole planner full of them.

Work

I have been fortunate enough to be named the Employee of the Month at Los Hermanos. This entitled me to a small check bonus, two movie passes, and a free Los Hermanos T-shirt. I also have my picture up on the wall and my name on a little plaque on the Employee wall thing. My name tag now also reflects this change. My parents, sister, and grandpa ended up coming in one night, and my mom was pretty excited to see this, and my sister took a picture of me at the table with my name tag. It is all very exciting.

I actually really love my job. It is easy, and the people I work with are a lot of fun. But as I mentioned before, this month is all about learning about myself, and I have learned this lesson especially in the past couple of days: I am a HUGE klutz. I never thought of myself as a very clumsy person, but now seeing how it reflects in my work, I look back and realize it has always been this way. I have broken my arm, cracked several toes, and taken way more tumbles then necessary.

This revelation has become stronger because in the last three days at work I badly burned my thumb on a fajita pan, jammed my inner elbow on a ice machine corner, rammed my arm into a banister, and hit my shoulder about 8 times. I have so many bruises on my arms and legs, it's not even funny anymore. This same thing happened while I worked in the Winner School snackbar during high school. And to top it all off, every Sunday for the past 8 Sundays, I have hit my little 4th toe on each foot very hard. It's not like it is a long toe, but both are still painful even 2 months after the initial injury.

Boredom

Due to my colorful and wide rooted vocabulary, my roommates have called it "strange" and the words I use "not real", and have started a Vernacular Dictionary for me. So far, it contains real words and phrases such "Red Letter Day" and "(in reference to someone angry) Having Kittens". I must admit that I do make up words sometimes, or shorten them, in the case of 7-11 "the Sev", but I feel as though this is an injustice, and they are the ones who are not cultured. Either way, in true Apartment #61 fashion, this idea will abandoned shortly enough.

One weekend night, I got home from work to find my roommate Becky and her friend Mallory hanging out in our apartment. I don't know what got us started on the subject, but we started talking about music. This is a topic that can get me very heated, but mostly excited. I had recently checked out a book called Legends of Rock from Whitmore Library which contains the groups that shaped Rock and has big pictures of them. We commenced to do a full on show and tell with my book, with Becky at the iPod controls.

This episode helped me realize (another learning about myself event) that I am only slightly obsessed with listening and learning about music. I love reading my books I have about it, and will buy (or take in some cases) lots of music. I go on music kicks, and I am currently on an 80's metal kick. I don't think this music classifies as metal by today's standards, but that is what they called it then. I am currently listening to Whitesnake. I think this 80's tradition of glam rock with big hair and little onside leotards is an art lost in today's rock culture.

Scholastics

You may wonder why I added this paragraph into this already too long blog post. Well, as it turns out, I have officially applied to Grad School. I got an email that all my application materials were in, and now all I have to do is wait!! I am a bit scared out of my pants, because this is the only school and program I applied to. If I don't get in, it may be another year of Los Hermanos. Probably not though.......... Anyhow, I will hear back in March sometime.

And because I feel a bit dumber since I graduated, I have been trying to keep my brain active. I guess I feel if I am actively learning something, I won't lose too much in these months before school starts again. I have turned to literature to fill this intellegence gap. Since October I have read a bunch of books, most recently Wuthering Heights. This is a very good read, though a bit tragic. I am currently muddling my way through Sense and Sensibility, which is a bit harder because it seems for every word that Emily Bronte would use, Jane Austen throws about in 10 more.

Recent Major Events

I did get a big haircut recently, which I topped off with a dye. This following picture was before the dye, but picture a dark brown.

It is a good change, I have always known I look better with short hair, but because of laziness, and just a tad of wishful thinking, I always try and grow it out. Once it gets just past my shoulders, the weight of my thick hair kicks in, and I chop it. I am enjoying not having the ponytail at work, and the dark color seems to elicit positive responses.

Bad news readers, I blew my tire the other day. But in true January fashion, I realized through this event how calm I can be faced with panicky situations. I was going about 70 MPH on the freeway, almost to my exit, when a large pothole appeared out of nowhere. Yes, I hit it. At first, I thought I was safe, but then I heard and felt the thump. I pulled off to the side of the freeway assuming I would be dead in 5 minutes. I called AAA first thing, then tried to contact the parentals since they were waiting for my safe-back in Provo call. I had to wait about 50-55 minutes for someone to come for me due to confusion in my location. He was a nice guy, and even pumped air into my spare tire. Through all this, I remained a cool cucumber, and only shed one or two tears as the cars zoomed by me and shook my little Mazda. Now I just got to go get new tires and hope they don't take advantage of a young ignorant girl.

A Final Moment

I have been having such good days this past week, and I think it may because I am trying to be more positive about crappy tips at work. But I really think it is because I have started an earnest daily scripture study. I have actually been enjoying reading the D&C, and the student guide companion. I am also reading the History of Joseph Smith by his mother Luck Mack Smith. It is a very good read, and not at all would I would have expected. I look forward to my study sessions, whenever they end up being.

And on a completely different topic, the Superbowl is upon us. And though I usually could care less about this blessed event, there is one part that I am pretty excited about. One of the coolest peole on earth today is performing at halftime. Yes, that's right friends, the Boss, Bruce Springsteen is enlightening us with yet another tame halftime show. Let us cross our fingers that Born to Run will be blasted. But until then, I have much more work to do. Hope this montly long blog-bore was an easy read though there was not as many pictures as I am usually so fond of doing. I'll see you next month.

Susan

Christmas Bloggin

Well, since my blogging is something to be desired, I thought I'd use my "completely free and void of important stuff to do" time to blog. As compared to last time, there has been stuff going on in my life to blog about, I just didn't do it.

Christmas happened, and that was pretty stupendous. We had Tom, Beth, and the babe for a long time over break. I didn't realize how much I missed my brother (hadn't seen him for 4-5 months) until I saw him. Luckily we have gotten to see Bethany and the baby since they moved, but I haven't even heard much from Tom since they left. We played a lot of Wii, me and him. I am the master of what he called "backseat playing." Here are my feelings on the matter: if you aren't good, and don't know what to do or where to go, listen to me because I sure do. It's too bad that I didn't get to spend as much time home as I wanted because of work, but I still had an awesome break.

I actually surprised my family on New Years Eve. I was supposed to work that night, and I had been told that we were open till late. I assumed I would be sweeping during the New Year, and complained to anyone with functioning ears. Turns out, we closed at 10, hurried through closing stuff, and then I raced home to Salt Lake. I didn't tell my family, and actually called my dad as I was pulling in the driveway and sounded like I was just walking home from work. Then I opened the door and walked in. They were surprised, and seemed excited to see me, however that may have been due to the bag of chips and salsa I had bought from work.

Since I do have to go to work, I'll blog more later, but thought I'd post a picture of the cutest bug ever. She is the CUTEST thing. This is her Christmas morning trying to open the can of Vienna sausages that my dad put in her stocking.

To Dad

I removed the music from my blog, I had heard it tended to blast you at work. And it kind of bothers me too.

Christmas is Suddenly Here

Again, as in my last post, I am so bad at this blogging thing. It's almost been a month and a half. But if you read my previous posts, I don't really have much going on in my life, so there is never much to say. And............. I kind of forget I have this.

Some things of note are that Christmas is indeed sprung upon us, and I blew quite a chunk of change on prezzies for family and friends last week. That is what this season is about, spending more money than you have on presents for loved ones. I truly love Christmas and everything about it. Our apartment is so richly decorated, you would think you had entered a Macy's store or something. (And seeing as though I don't have a camera these days, I think I'll try and persuade my roommate to take some pictures for the purpose of posting for you here viewers.) I also put together our annual roommate Christmas dinner, this year taking place at TGIFridays. Though it was not a Friday, the food was still delicious, and I had some again for lunch today. This is a picture we took of the roomies on Sunday, we figured it was about time.

Last year the dinner took place at, wait for it, Los Hermanos. Our server ended up being someone we work with now (says Becky). I remember how Christmasy it was, and how much I liked it. Ironic. I actually love working there during the Holidays because they have it decorated all up and down and they play Christmas music constantly. I have really loved working there because it is a friendly place, and the work isn't really all that difficult.

Some things I do to occupy my time whislt not toiling away carrying trays and whatnot are reading and organizing. I went on quite a reading kick awhile ago. I read Atonement in about 3 days total, which I must recommend for anyone, it is the best book I have read in AGES. I also read the Twilight series in a sum total of 5 days. Fluff, but entertaining fluff. If you are bored and are in need of mindless stories, read those books. And I am currently re-reading Farenheit 451, which I found in the Science Fiction section of the Library (which I zoomed in and out of because I didn't want anyone I knew seeing me in that section).

I've also started organizing everything. I actually went through all my purses and de-junked them. Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate this kind of stuff, but that is just how bored I get. I did find some cool stuff though, like my delicious Burt's Bees Chapstick. If you have not experienced Burt's Bees, I heartedly suggest it, especially with the Winter months upon us.

On to something more interesting, on Monday night I went with my sister to the Body World's exhibit at the Leonardo Museum downtown. This exhibit was beyond cool. However, I did get tired toward the end of seeing endless corpses put in odd acrobatic positions. Do not scroll down for the picture if you have a squeamish stomach. All the facts were interesting, but it was slightly depressing as most were facts I have learned over 4 years of college, and have yet to retain. Oh well, that's what grad school is for, eh?

Also, I promised (and I know there were some of you just sitting on pins and needles) I would post a picture of the roomies and I in our Halloween garb. Seeing as though only Becky and I were together that night, the picture is of just us two. However, you get the picture. I ended up having to work that night, and Becky also did for a time. Then they had a party after the restaurant closed, so we hung out there for awhile. I was at work from 11 AM to 12 PM that day. Wow.

And on a much sadder note, a good buddy of ours is moving away. His name is Dan (and he better be reading this, and before Sunday as well) and he is moving home to make money for Dental School. He was our close buddy during the last school year and over the summer. He better be coming to Sunday dinner, and I have encouraged him to start his own blog to keep Sammy, Becky, and I happy. We'll miss you Dan, and constantly raise the roof in honor of you.

(Dan is on the left, his cousin Michael is on the right; At an Owlz Game in Orem)

That's all for now, I'm sure some of you were hoping that was the case about 4 paragraphs ago. I feel like I condensed the last month and a half of my life well. More to come, I'll be all alone over Christmas break, so there will be no one to distract me from blogging all the live long day!! I'm leaving you with a picture of our Thanksgiving Turkey on our door. Everyday we had to write something we were Thankful for!!

Donny Osmond Sighting

So I after becoming increasingly angry at my brother and his wife for not posting at least once a day on their blog, I realized I was somewhat of a hypocrite. Not like this is a super vital situation, but I thought that the three people who actually read this might want an update. These three people including my family I saw twice last week, and my roommate. Anyhow, I have also realized what I weak blogger I really am. I watched my sister-in-law blog when she was visiting us, and she was so speedy and efficient, I aspire to be like her.

I am still serving as Los Hermanos, I am actually serving both lunch and dinner today. I am really enjoying it because unlike the other jobs I have had I am working with other young LDS kids. At the Bean I worked all alone, and at Winner School I was about the only Mormon one there. Lets just say I never went out to the bar with the crew of them after work. The job isn't really all the hard, it's just learning how to multitask and stand on your feet for ages. Anyhow, times are good and money is sparse.

Last week was super awesome because Bethany and the babe Ainsley were in town. That little girl has grown so big! Not just in size, but when she left she couldn't really sit up or make little gibber jabber. She was so much fun and two morning when I slept over I awoke to find her in bed with me (thanks to dad). We would sit and chat for awhile while she played with her feet. She also managed to throw up on every pair of pants I brought home, and even somehow spit up down my shirt, but not on it itself! What a talent. For cute pictures click here. It was kind of sad without Tom though, it felt to be all together without him. I spose we'll just have to wait until Christmas.

My life is actually quite boring, so I don't have much else to say. I wake up, watch music videos on VH1 with Becky and sometimes Sammy and eat breakfast. Then I mess about on the computer for awhile while concurrently getting dressed. I may have work, or I may then eat lunch. I may run an errand or two, but mostly it is just sitting around and working. Some quick points of interest to the common reader are

1-Becky, Landon, and I had lunch at Zuppas the other day and the girl at the counter told us to turn around because Donny Osmond was there. It was quite exciting, let me tell you!! I make fun of this guy a lot, but I got to give him credit for whatever it is he does now. And for the 10th time, yes he is as good looking in real life.

2-There is a fantastic show on VH1 I think everyone should watch, this actually takes up some of the laying about time. It is called The Pick Up Artist. I noticed Becks already posted a bit about this man, but it is this guy called Mystery, and he has travelled the world and written books on how to pick up women. The show is about picking the nerdiest men ever, and giving them lessons. It isn't that sleezy, and is actually cute because these dorkies get quite the self-esteem boost.

3-The roomies and I had every intention on becoming the Clue characters for Halloween, but didn't have a ward party to attend. I think Becks and I are going to wear the costumes for a work party, but I'm not sure. We went shopping for an entire Saturday to find the dresses, and I want to make sure mine gets used. I will post pictures if the costumes ever happen. Also, in preparation we watched the movie Clue. I offer a suggestion for both the movie, boardgame, and books for anyone that gets a chance.

That's about all I got for now. Hopefully I can start posting some pictures of me. However, that can't happen until my life gets more interesting. Anyhow, thanks for reading.

Listening to while blogging: Queen: The Show Must Go On, Under Pressure; Gloris Estefan: 1,2,3,4; Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up

Verdict: Combos are Disgusting

So I've been fluctuating between finding a shirt to wear and viewing other blogs for the last half an hour. I did finally settle on one and took off my dramatic wolf shirt I wear for bed. I needed something apropos for work that also matched pigtails and an army green hat. It was not the easiest thing in the world, but Mission:Accomplished.

This morning I have officially done nothing. And by nothing I mean watching the America's Next Top Model Episode from last night. Lauren Brie left by the way, which was quite startling. I have also tried to figure out how to vote. Yes I realize this should have been done ages ago, but if you look at my track record (GRE, application for Grad programs) you might find I never get things done on time. I have to go into some office now and change my address, that was the problem I was trying to remedy. AND, if you got one of those Utah Voting things in the mail, take a gander at page 67 and look for a familiar Reese face. We have put that page up on our wall in our apartment so everyone can see what a good judge we have in the familia!

And on a sad note, but also happy, one of my best friends Christa went into the MTC yesterday. I am really happy for her, but it is sad to see her go. I met her the very first day of college in 2004. She was standing outside our American Heritage class and seemed friendly, so I sat by her when we went into class. Then an hour later we saw each other in psychology class. We realized we also had a music class together. We bonded instantly and have remained close friends ever since. She is Christers, and I am the-SUZE. We will one day have our own talk show, I'm sure of it. We can gab your ear off, and spend most of our time just chatting over lunch or something similar.

I will miss her so much, and she actually came by Tuesday night to say goodbye before she went into the MTC. I almost missed her because I was at work, but they let me off early so I could catch her. I had sent her a package of goodies that were also memories, and I came home to find a pack of Pizza flavored Combos on my computer. In one of our many pointless convo's, or any time we went to Wal Mart, I have expressed my great disgust of Combos. I tried them just to make sure, and they are still terrible!!

I don't have much else to say except: I PASSED MY SERVERS TEST!! As of next Monday (after my root canal of course), I will be learning to serve and serving. I am excited but a bit nervous. I really don't wanna suck. And I also have an interview for a part time job as a classroom aide at Provost Elementary. It would be over before I had to start work at Los Hermanos, and would be perfect. Anyhow, I actually have to run to work now because I am learning how to make the specialty drinks. Try the Oasis Bliss, it is surprisingly good. Mmm, pureed dates!!