The Happy Experiment

So, occasionally I hit this point in my life where I need to remind myself of all of the things I love in this world. That's when I break out my "Things I love" list. I read it, I add to it, I learn from it. Here is the list so far:

~Holding hands
~Seeing old men dote on their wives
~The rain
~Giving sound advice
~A hug from a friend I haven't seen in a long time
~Silly bets
~Pink socks
~Polka dots
~Nice hands
~A new bra
~My car
~A good meal
~My job
~Falling asleep all cuddled up next to someone
~The smell of a guy fresh out of the shower in a tshirt right out of the laundry
~Having a good cry
~Taking pictures
~Reading an uplifting book
~Driving around with the windows down
~Singing along to the radio at the top of my lungs
~A smile from a stranger
~Pickles
~Asking my mom and dad for advice
~Seeing my friends in happy, healthy relationships
~Getting a pedicure
~Text messaging
~Discovering a great new band
~Live shows
~Lip gloss
~Spongebob boxers
~The beach
~Henna tattoos
~Making new friends
~Being accepted how I am
~Shirts that are long enough to cover my back when I sit down
~Shoes (especially heels)
~Laughing
~Reconnecting with friends from my distant past
~Flip flops
~Skirts in the summer
~Ribbon
~Jewelry
~Family Heirlooms
~Brushing my teeth
~Fresh-cut flowers in my bedroom
~Clean sheets
~Movies that make me think
~An unexpected visit from an out-of-town friend
~New clothes
~Good hair days
~Playing the piano
~Singing the hymns in church
~Tan lines
~A kiss on top of the head, just because he can
~A firm handshake
~Reading to my brother

And newly added tonight:
~Reading the classics
~Naps
~Sappy movies
~Love notes
~Having Greg's "family" at Sunday dinner
~Men that dress well
~Women that dress well
~Men that dress well as women
~New underwear
~Patterned socks
~My iPod
~IKEA
~Ice cream in the middle of the night
~Mastering a recipe
~Crushes
~"Girl talk"
~The smells of autumn
~Friends at work
~Feeling motivated to put on make up
~Not feeling obligated to put on make up
~When people are glad to see me
~Free massages
~Piano music
~Game shows
~Educational field trips
~Rootbeer popsicles
~A good, solid argument
~Dancing with someone
~Black and white photography
~Bermuda shorts
~Laughter

Now, everyone take a cleansing breath...just kidding. I feel like sometimes all I do is whine about what's going wrong in my life, so I like to take a few moments and realize all of the fantastic things I experience regularly. I have so much to be grateful for and so much I take for granted. My goal for the week: Take the negative and find a way to make it positive.

Full moon? I think so...

I find it interesting that so many things in my life coincide with the full moon. The hospital is a completely differnet place during the full moon, especially if it occurs on the weekend. There are more babies born, more people dying, and more traumas than any other time during the cycle. Things on my particular unit are all-around busier, as well. People spike temperatures, have sudden incontinence problems, and become nauseated for no apparent reason. I blame the moon.
My personal life is always different during the full moon as well. I am definitely less fun to be around, shorter-tempered, and more emotional. Also, my sarcasm is pretty much even more over-the-top than usual. Okay, so it could be PMS (too much information, I know), but it's definitely easier to blame that pock-marked sphere orbiting our planet than my own body. I blame the moon.
I've started writing prose, and a little poetry, again. This is unusual seeing as how I haven't written in several years. My poems sound more like song lyrics than anything. I think I've deluded myself into thinking I can be a rock star. Two problems with this, 1)I know a total of 4 chords on the guitar, and 2) I really don't sing all that well. Maybe after the lyrics are written I'll pass them along to a friend's band. I mean, come on, what band doesn't need another sappy ballad?
My brother took my car to Richfield this weekend to go on a date. I think I'm having seperation anxiety. If he breaks my car, I break his head.
I saw something this week that made my heart smile (Lizzy and Colt, that was for you): A man driving a mint green vespa scooter wearing glasses (they appeared to be Prada, but I'm not sure) and a man-bag (okay, it was a purse) in the identical shade of green as his scooter. It was the most ideal thing I've seen in a long time.
Octupus' (octupi?) are very cool. The fieldtrip this week was to the living planet aquarium, I recommend it. Take a date. They had an octupus there that had his very own anemone, starfish, and-- I kid you not-- Mr. Potatohead friends. Also, there were stingrays to pet and glow-in-the-dark jelly fish. A very informative afternoon.
Now, on to the angst portion of regularly scheduled announcement: Is there something wrong with me? Do I have a horrible disease? Do I rival Quasimodo in looks? I'm getting a little annoyed with men not wanting to get to know me. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way looking for a relationship right now, but I'd still like to go on dates. I enjoy getting to know people, discovering new places, and having a good time. I mean, I know I'm no Tyra Banks, but I'm an attractive enough girl. I have a good sense of humor, a big heart, a college degree, and a career. I've got a lot going for me. I shake my fist at the men of Utah and, oh hell, I blame the moon.
Well, my dearly devoted readers. That is all I have for now.
Much love!

That time of the morning...

Well my fabulous readers (okay, more likely just a single reader) it's time for another update in the wonderful world of me.

I did something this past week that I recommend everyone do at least once in their lifetime. Go be a tourist in the city you live in. It's an interesting experience. I went on a field trip on Wednesday with my brother to just check some of the cool places here in Salt Lake that he'd never seen. We began our afternoon with a ride on Trax where we played the "count the American flags" game, aka my way of keeping him entertained til we got downtown. Needless to say he kicked my butt and almost doubled my score. Once we'd arrived downtown we took a short walk to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where we went and looked out at downtown from the top level. Mostly it just made me hungry since we could smell food cooking in the Garden restaurant. McKay took the liberty of showing me where all the best places to jump from were. After that little excursion we meandered our way over to the conference center. We joined forces with a group from out of state for a tour of the vast building. Let me just say that there are some parents in this world that need to keep better control on their children. I would've been embarassed if Mac had acted like these kids. After our trip to the top of the center and back we decided to go to the Church History Museum, a very informative (and perfectly air conditioned) establishment.

After many potty stops, historical facts, and a whole roll of black and white pictures we hopped another Trax train back to the south end of the valley. All in all, a nice afternoon in the blazing heat.

I've made a goal to go on at least one date a month. The unfortunate part of this goal? No one ever asks me on dates. The moral of this story: I'm going to have to get brave in a hurry and start asking boys out.

I went to my new ward on Sunday. There's some pretty good eye-candy to be had. Greg and I have decided to nickname the members of the ward. So far we have The Resident and Mini-Mo. A fair start after just one week, in my opinion. There was also a guy in lavender pants. It takes serious confidence to wear lavender pants and a pink shirt to church. Kudos to him. Sitting in church on Sunday, though, made me have a bit of a mini-epiphany, this being that I have a strange attraction to slightly overweight balding or bald men. Strange, I know, but what can you do? They need love too.

Last, but certainly not least, I have a raging crush on one of my coworkers. He sat next to me in staff meeting and smelled so fantastic that I just had to lean over and take a whiff. He found that entertaining. Now, there are 2 problems with this scenario, first and foremost: He has a long term girlfriend that he's terrified to marry. Secondly, and slightly less important: I have a policy about dating coworkers...namely, I don't do it. Ah well, he keeps me excited to come to work. That'll do for now.

Alas, children, that is all I have for you tonight. Remember: The glass may be half full, it may be half empty...sometimes it's just half a glass.

The Mess That is My Life

Okay, so my life really isn't that big of a mess. In fact, things are going really well and almost entirely according to plan.

I took my state licensing boards this week. I wasn't as nervous for them as I probably should've been, therefore I really didn't study for them as much as I probably should have. The test kicked me out after 75 questions, the minimum for this particular test. That means I either bombed it terribly or aced it. I'm hoping for aced. After I came out of the test I was going through the routine with the woman running the center when she suddenly stops, puts hands on hips, and looks up into my face (she was about 5 feet tall and spoke with a heavy middle eastern accent) and says to me, "You're not chewing gum, are you!?!?" Me, having just come out of the hardest and most important test of my life can't come up with a fabulous answer on the spot so I say, "Oh, it's been stuck to the roof of my mouth." She gets a very concerned look on her face and says, "There is to be no gum chewing in the testing room. I usually ask before I take you in, you didn't appear to be chewing it then so I didn't ask." At this point I'm wondering how it's my fault that she didn't do her job, and basically just wanting to get out of there so I say, "Well, sorry. I didn't know." She throws me one last reproving look and sends me on my way. That, my friends, plus the very attractive man at the front desk, was my ever-exciting experience at the Pearson-Vue Testing Center this week.

Well, that's about all my life has to offer right now. Between that excitement and my new ipod (LOVE IT!!!) I've stayed busy.

Much love!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Well, for me this is one of those "everyone else is doing it" kind of things. I figure since I tend to have a few spare moments here and there throughout the night I'll share my random thoughts with the world (or at least anyone who cares to read).

This is the third time I've tried to start this particular blog tonight. Everytime I get settled in a patient calls. Have a mentioned lately how much I love my job? No, in all seriousness I do love my job. Where else could you get paid to look at butts all night. Okay, so that may be taking it a bit far, but you get the point.

My life is in an interesting place right now. I'm a college graduate (go team me), living back in my parents' house, making more money than I know what to do with. For some reason, though, I feel a bit of discontent (I don't know if that's even a word, but it is now) with my life. Maybe it's being back under the roof of the parentals, maybe it's the fact that I'm all of a sudden having to make adult decisions on a regular basis, maybe it's that I hold people's lives in my hands 3 nights a week...whatever it is I need to find the source. I deserve to be happy and I'm the only one that can make sure I am.

I want to find a voice teacher. Why? I want to sing better. Simple question, simple answer.

My cousin Greg and I are looking for a place to buy. It should be a good time living with Greg, not that he'll be around all that often. It scares me, though, that I'm putting down roots. The last several years of my life have been lived in a somewhat transient state and buying is so permanent. I know it's for the best, though, I just need to tell myself that repeatedly.

Well, my friends, the masses are beginning to wake for the day. Until my next night shift (not for a week, I'm headed to Lake Powell, yay!).

Much love!