SCAM ALERT!!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you all know about a recent scam. I know about it because it happened to me. I'm embarrassed to say it since I'm a second year law student and caught it. But obviously I'm not as observant as I thought. Plus I was desperate. So I posted an ad on craigslist for a new roommate for next semester. I received a quick response from a girl named Katherine saying she was from France and interested in moving in as soon as possible. So I held on to the email for about a week before deciding to act on it. Mostly what made me act on it was my lack of funds and needing money desperately. So I ignored the red flags...because looking back I can see the problems. But anyway, so I told her sure and she said she'd send first months rent and the shippers fee for her things. So she overnighted a check with FedEx for $3200 and told me to deposit it right away. I did and my bank put it on hold for a week and a half. Which grateful they did! So I get this email from "her" that says she needs the money back right away and that I should westernunion it to her. But the money was on hold. I asked my bank and they said sorry its on hold. So I emailed back and said that there was nothing I could do and she's just going to have to deal with it. I never heard anything back. So then yesterday Kevin called and told me that this samething happened to them only with a jeep they were trying to sell. I did some research and for sure it was a scam...the exact emails that I recieved others had received as well. So I went and tlaked to my bank got them to flag the check and closed the account. There were little red flags like she wouldn't tell me what day she was coming and never answered any of my questions. I asked for references and she never gave them. I feel like an idiot that I didn't see the flags but I was desperate to have a roommate to help with rent. Here's how the scam works. They send me a bad check and I deposit it and then withdraw it and send them the money. The check then goes bad and I now owe the bank $3200. Plus possible jail time for fraud. The only little bit of pleasure I got out of the whole thing is that they are out $45 for sending the check overnight. Ha! Really thats no comparison but it made me feel a little better. So here's a warning to anyone looking to rent any place or get a roommate. Investigate it fully.

Wow its already December!

Is it just me or did this year fly by? Actually this last semester flew by for me. It seems like I just moved to Moscow a month ago not four months ago. I have finals this week. Luckily I only have three with one being a three day take home. So its not too bad. I hope that next semester flies by as well! That is going to be my worst semester in school. I got approval from the dean to graduate a semester early. So I'll be done this time next year as opposed to May of 2010. But that means I have 19 credits next semester. I know that that isn't a lot but law classes and undergrad classes are kind of different. We'll see if I survive. I'm really excited to get done with school. I hate school. It will be nice though since all of January I can study for the bar and then take it in February and hopefully be a grown up attorney by March of 2010. After that it just comes down to finding a job. That will be the tough part. I might start off right away doing private practice or see about a federal job. Who knows. Its one of those things were you have to have faith that things will work out in the end. I can't believe I'll be a grown up with a career! My break starts on the 20th and I don't need to be back to school until the 12th so I have big plans over the break. #1: Go to Alta for ski free after three with Linds and learn how to ski! #2: Sleep!!! #3: Go to the zoo with the nieces and nephew. #4: Watch the U play 'Bama in the Sugar Bowl! Wahoo! #5: Travel to Mecca aka going to Temple Square and see the lights. #6: Try to hang out with someone before the girl gets back in town...maybe. #7: See all my friends and family. #8: Go get pedi's for Janelle's birthday. #8: Kick butt at our family bingo game...the jar of screws is mine this year! #9: See people's new houses..Linds and the cuz. #10: Enjoy Christmas! There you go...those are my great plans...notice none of them involve school work! Sadly I will have to do some. :( I hope you all have a great holiday as well! And I'd love to see you all while I'm home! Give me a call or drop me an email!

Aha!

So I've been playing on youtube lately and decided to post a few of my favorite videos.



Hilarious! Watch the guys in the back when the tempo changes. They crack me up!

Ok here's the second one. I love Stephen Colbert!



The last one is Jim Gaffigan. He's dang funny without all the swears.



Ok enjoy! I'm always up for other funny videos so send some on if you'd like.

I've Been Tagged By Treasa

Here are the rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog

2. Answer the six "8" items.

3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

8 Favorite TV Shows:

(I have a TV but no cable...yay country living! But these are my favorite shows)

1. The Office

2. Project Runway

3. Law & Order SVU

4. Top Chef

5. Law and Order-original flavor

6. Reno 911!

7. Colbert Report

8. The Simpson's

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. went to the gym, had head phones break so no music...and I had HSM in my head! Horrible!

2. went to school

3. got prepped on the tax clinic

4. skipped class to do more tax prep, translating intake forms

5. got yelled for speaking Spanish to someone

6. Read BA

7. Made spaghetti sauce

8. got stood up for a lesson at the institute

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. No more school!

2. Getting my International Law paper done

3. Thanksgiving

4. getting my hair fixed..my roots are horrible

5. Finals! I only have 3!

6. Christmas break! Yes I need a break!

7. Going to DC to visit Becky and her family

8. sleeping

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Lupita's in Morristown, TN

2. Baggai

3. Cafe Rio

4. El Habanero in Magna

5. The Metropolitan

6. Sari Sushi Bar in Orlando

7. Tucci's

8. Lamb's Grill

8 Things On My Wish List:

1. Graduating Early!

2. a job

3. a house

4. Debt free...HA! Funny

5. The new MacBook

6. all the seasons of Pysche

7. new clothes

8. Get to a size 8 by next fall

8 People I Tag:

1. Janelle

2. Amanda

3. Katie

4. BreeAnn

5. Angela

6. Penny

7. Becky

8. Nanny

Sigh....26

My sweet niece called me today to wish me a Happy Birthday. Oh nice! She thinks I'm only 20. I was thinking about that. Now I don't want to be 20 or even 21 again...but the 24 year range would be nice. I just feel old 26 is old. I mean when you're twelve you never think you're going to ever be 26. Well today I am. Wahoo! But really I'm happy with how my life has gone thus far. I graduated from the University of Utah in three years, I served a mission and learned Spanish, which directed me where I am today. I moved to Florida alone and started law school, now I've moved to Idaho and am going to hopefully graduate early and become an attorney by February of 2010. I've accomplished a lot and look forward to continuing to accomplish things. I'll have my own firm someday. :) Granted this wasn't what I expected when I essentially planned out my life. But who can fully plan their life out? But things are good and I look forward to another 26 years! :D For the b-day a friend and I are going to go to the big city...Spokane. We are going to shop, get pedis, go to a movie, and go to dinner. I'm quite excited actually. I'll post pictures if I ever take any...who knows its supposed to be rainy. Anyway, I'm off! Word!

Go Vote!!!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to take two seconds to tell you all to go vote! You all know how important it is to vote. It doesn't matter who you are voting for just exercise your right to have your voice heard! In my opinion both presidential candidates could do some good for the country. They also have their faults as we all do. So take the time today and vote. I'm sure you've heard everyone saying its a historical election. It truly is! So take the time to be a part of it. Ok I'll get off my soap box now.

I'm Tired

I am so tired! I have no idea why! I slept in today because I don't have class until later in the day. I went for a run and did weights and I'm just tired. I don't like being tired because then I don't want to go to school, do homework, go running...do anything. I hate that feeling. So maybe I'll get hopped up on sugar. :) On Saturday I had a class from 9:00-12:00. I was supposed to go home and do laundry and homework. Screw that! I went on a hike instead...yes by myself. If anyone remembers the "hike" I took in Florida you are saying you idiot. However, there were lots of people on the trail and I was more cautious. I went to Elk River Falls. Its really pretty! I enjoyed it. I went alone because the friends were doing homework or didn't want to go. So I'll attach a few pictures.


I also received my absentee ballot in the mail the other day. Why is Dell Schanze running? And why is he going by "Superdell"? He's a moron. I was wanting a way to check up on the judges up for re-election. Is there a website anywhere that sets out recent rulings done by local judges? I couldn't find anything so I just said sure they can all go back to the bench. Hope that was a good idea. Here is another reason why I'm tired. I'm tried of this election. The only good thing is that I have no tv so I don't have to see the commercials and I don't listen to local radio so none there either. But I'm tired of it. I'm going to get tired of people ripping on Obama when he wins. I really think he will. But you never know. McCain might pull it out. That's what she said! Ha! Sorry...that was inappropriate. Ahem...moving on. So for the presidential elections that I have been old enough to vote in I have never done it at a voting booth. My first year I missed the election by a day, the second time I was on my mission so I did absentee ballot and I'm doing absentee ballot again this year. One of these times I'll get my "I voted!" sticker. Also my roomie is getting married in January so if anyone wants to move to Moscow, Idaho I have a room! :) My sister's husband also got a job with the State department and is moving to DC. So I might be going to DC for New Year's. Kind of excited. So if anyone has any places that I should for sure go see let me know. All right I'm done and out!

Hair Saga Continues

Well I ended up spending another $35 bucks to get my hair fixed. I was doing my hair this morning and what the?! THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY HAIR!!!! I was so mad so I had to go somewhere else to get it fixed. For those that wanted a picture sorry. I didn't even think about taking one. I have one now. And this might help my point. My hair when the girl got done was too my chin. Well not anymore!

Don't mind the bright green shirt...I'm doing laundry and yes I'm well aware that I need my eyebrows waxed...that's this weekend. So anyway, that's the latest on the hair. Hair today gone tomorrow! Shut up!

Hair Salons

I miss The Salon! For those of you that don't know the Salon is a great hair place on 2700 West and 9000 South. I have gone there for a long time and generally whenever I'm in town. I was trying to grow my hair color out because I couldn't remember what my natural color was. Well I couldn't stand it anymore. It looked horrible and blah, plus I actually really like the dark reddish color. I have a mission reunion on Friday and I wouldn't have time to go to The Salon, get my hair done, go to Janelle's and then Carri's and make my mission reunion. My flight gets in at 2:00 so there was no way. So I go to this place in Moscow called Twisters. I'm thinking its a hip little shop plus they charged me $65 (more on that later) for all over color plus highlights (more on that later as well) and a cut. So I thought it was a good deal. I figured it was still a classyish place because its on main right downtown (downtown being a relative description in a town this size.) So I walk in and should have turned back around. The counter was a deli type counter and the place while not too bad looking need some fixing up. I would redo the laminate seventies floor, get a new counter..not even get a new counter refurbish that one! And fix the bathroom. Ok so its not a good sign if the only to get to the bathroom was through an alley then I'm worried...but at that point I already had color in my hair. So I would fix the bathroom. The second thing I change is the attire and hair of the stylists. If you look like you just came in from the farm after bailing hay there is no way you are touching my hair. Luckily the girl I had actually had good hair and clothes. So I would have them wear black pants and shirts and actually do their hair. I couldn't help but think that this place was a place I was going to see on Split Ends. Its a show thatI think its on Style Network...or Bravo, but they take a big city stylist and small town stylist and have them switch places. I really think the big city stylist needs to help this place. Ok I do have to be honest the color I got is good...I like it. The highlights you can't even see...although the girl said I can go back and she'll fix them if I don't like them so I think I will. The cut was medicore although I did have to go somewhere else to have them even out one side. They also love hairspray....wow. This stylist next to me was waiting for a client and she was dong her hair I swear she used most of the bottle of hairspray on herself. Then when I got my hair styled I ended up looking like a county fair rodeo queen. It was so big! But I am in Idaho so what did I expect? But I mean seriously! Its called a flat iron! Plus she didn't tell me until after that they only take checks or cash even though the door says Visa and Mastercard, so I had to go across the street to the ATM to get cash that only gave in $20 so I went back, asked for change and she didn't have any so she got a $15 tip! I don't even tip my stylists at the Salon that much! Also two pet peeves about Idaho hair in general. #1: What is with not doing your hair? Sometimes I can understand, I don't always do my hair, but for church or some event why would you want it too look messy? Drives me crazy. #2 Ratting! I HATE ratted hair! The girls here rat the underneath part of their hair but apparently they don't do a good job because you can see that its ratted and it looks terrible. Shelf head anyone? Janelle knows what I'm talking about. All this whining and (we'll call it constructive criticism) made me decide that I am an elitist when it comes to hair. I am an ambiance type person...if your salon is classy I will like my hair better. Granted if I go to a classy salon and get a crappy hair cut that won't make me happy. However how the salon presents its self is big...to me anyway. Feel free to weigh in as well. I need to go fix my hair...I'm out.

Random Thoughts

I haven't posted for a wee bit so I thought I would today. Mostly I just want to add a few thoughts I've had lately. #1: The farmers market. I love the farmers market. A couple reasons why I like it is because of all the fresh fruit, veggies, and baked goods you find. But another reason is to people watch. The farmer's market has such a dichotomy of people. For example, I saw a woman and her two daughters who I am convinced are polygamists. They were wearing pioneer dresses and all. Unless there was a pioneer parade going down the street somewhere and they got lost, which I doubt then they were polygamists. Another couple people I saw were hippies through and through. Now I love the hippies. They just crack me up. Why? I'm not quite sure. But these three guys were trying to convince this poor girl that she was wasting the worlds water by taking regular showers and that she needed to do what they did and bath in the river. Right...I'm sorry but you can think you are clean by scrubbing yourself with a rock but I can smell you all the way on the other side of the sidewalk. I'll stick to soap and a warm shower thanks. Now the last person I saw was my absolute favorite! It was this guy standing in front of the band that was playing totally jamming. Now that is not necessarily odd but let me tell you what he was wearing. A loin cloth...yup..that was it. No pants, no shirt, no shoes...no service! He was this pasty white, pot bellied man. Needless to say when he walked by me I scooted over quickly...you never know what a man in a loin cloth might do. Thought #2 car shopping and my liability to disclose defects...yes I'm law-nerding out right now...that's what my consumer law professor calls it. I got a new car because my poor little subaru passed on to the great beyond. I ended up getting a 2004 Jeep Liberty. I know an SUV, stupid thing to get with gas prices and all. But here's the thing this area is mountainy and snowy so people get SUV's and only new cars. So that was all I could afford. Also I kind of wanted a car that would last me past school for a while. So I let the car dealership drive my subaru to figure out what I could get for a trade in. While the manager was taking it out I told the sales manager about my transmission problem and he said..."ummm...I'm not going to tell them that." I was figuring I disclosed the problem and the next person they sell it to will have a claim against the dealer and not me. :) But that got me thinking that if you go shopping for a car request a carfax and test drive the car up hills and everything. I am not a fan of car dealers. Thought #3 grasshoppers...again. Now I mentioned in an earlier post about grasshoppers and how I hate them. Well the other day I was out for my run and I ran past this huge grasshopper that has partially smashed but still alive. I felt bad for him but I kept running, but I couldn't stop thinking about him and how I needed to put him out of his misery. So on my way back I decided to stomp on him completely and help him out. So I found him and realized that I couldn't do it. I couldn't stomp on the beady eyed gross thing. I wasted 20 minutes trying to figure out how to kill this poor grasshopper...I even tromped around in a wheat field looking for a stick...which I couldn't find. So my solution was to take a running start, close my eyes and step on him pretending I didn't see him. But I heard and felt the crunch. *shudder* it was gross. So my thought on that is that no matter how much I hate the gross little things I decided that I still feel bad when little creatures get hurt. So I'm not as heartless as I thought. Thought #4 This sign:
Now I found this sign in Elk River, Idaho...which is about an hour East of me. Honestly when you see this sign what do you think? Me...I'm not so sure, I mean are they serious are they being sarcastic? What? But it helped me decide that I will not be tromping through those woods anytime soon only to get mistaken for an elk and shot at. Yes Elk and I look incredibly similiar in the dusk light. You'd be surprised at how many times I have to chase deer away from me. Ahem anyway, moving on. Last and final thought #5: Mustaches. This guy asked me to dance with him at a dance on Friday. This guy is all cowboy and he made me dance to a country song...gag... He has a mustache! Let me see if I can find a similarish type picture of him.
Ha! Yeah right if he looked like Orlando Bloom I'd get over the mustache problem. No no here we go.
So here are my thoughts on mustaches. This guy first off is really nice and everything but I seriously thought he was 40. He looks 40 with the stach! So I sly asked questions at church on Sunday to find out his age because I was really curious. He's around 30. The little rat on your upper lip makes you look forty. It needs to go. Unless you are a motorcycle police office in the days of 47 parade you don't need a mustache. I told my friend she should start dating him and then make him lose a bet and make him shave it off. Oh and one last thing to add to that. Don't ask me to dance to a "two step" country song please. Do I look like the type of girl that knows how to dance to any country? No I don't. Ok that's enough random thoughts for one post. I'm going to go do my homework. Word!

So close, yet...

Well I was so close to being a car owner...meaning I almost had my car paid off. I had it budgeted and everything to be paid off by February. Well...no dice. I'm having car troubles. So I got it looked at and they told me that my car could be fixed; First, by buying two new tires, with a Subaru and an AWD car you have to buy all four tires even if its only one that is shot. So on our way home from Florida I had some axle issues and my dad thought it was the tires so we bought two tires in Chattanooga. I told him we needed to get all four. He didn't believe me. So on to the second thing I'd have to buy, a new transmission. Yup...a new transmission. The repair shop told me the problem was because we didn't have the same tread on all four tires. They say that it keeps the car in AWD all the time which is harmful I guess. But my dad thinks its the driving across country twice hauling a Uhaul. Which I'd have to agree. So they told me that it would cost $3500-$4000. I only owe $3000 on my car. So I decided that it would be better to just get a new car. However, the cheapest half way decent car that will last me through law school and a few years after is $9000. But can I just say that I HATE car shopping. I always feel like I'm being taken for a ride. Here's a great example. I went to a car dealership that had a 2002 Honda Civic for $12,000. So they tell me that they would take my car and reduce the car to $10,950. So then they add all the "taxes, fees, travel expenses, and location fees," and suddenly the car is now $14,000! How the heck does it jump $4,000 in fees? So I left and I was mad! So the next place I went had a 2004 Jeep Liberty for $11,280. So they would take my car for $3500 making the price $8345 or something and with fees it would end up being $8910. Hello! That is not $4,000. Stupid dealership. I'm thinking about the Liberty but then there is a 2003 Ford Escape for $9988. That's without the trade in of my car. So I'm hoping I can pull Escape down. Because I'm a Consumer Report nerd and they said that both cars are decent but the Escape is a little better. So we'll see. Anyway, that was my great day. Stupid car shopping. I had just registered my car in Idaho and everything on Tuesday. Dang it. But that's how things always happen. One good thing though my issue with FAMU has been solved. FAMU was trying to tell me that they could keep 75% of my tuition which would be $11,000. I had only gone to class for 6 bloody days there is no way that they could keep that much money. So I threatened and kept bugging them and finally they sent me an email today that said I'd get a 100% refund on my tuition! Wahoo! I was really worried on how to get $11,000 more dollars. So that was a great thing to hear! Wahoo again! I'll be going back to car shopping again tomorrow after my class. Boo for class on a saturday. Oh well! Well I'm going to go play around and then go to bed so I can hit the farmers market before class. Ok I'm out.

Grasshoppers v. Lizards

So that sounds like a Japanese cartoon. Killer grasshoppers against monster lizards. But no, no that's not what I'm going to blog about. This is about the little gross beady eyed little bugs. When I was Orlando my runs would involve watching lizards run across the pavement. Well here my runs involve jumps and dodges of horrid little grasshoppers. So I'm trying to decide what one I'd rather have, the lizards or the grasshoppers. I decided that I'd rather have the lizards. I hate grasshoppers! I think it goes back to when I lived in Price as a kid. I hate them. A bug's Life is full of it as well. There is no way that grasshoppers are smart enough to force ants to collect food for them. If the stupid grasshopper thinks that its way of escaping is by jumping INTO the person that is their enemy then they need a new attack plan. Whenever I'd see smashed lizards on the pavement I'd feel bad for them. But when I see a smashed one here I laugh! Horrid little bugs. Well I got a new roomie tonight. I'll let you know how it goes. She seems like a nice girl. I expect her to be engaged by the end of the year so no worries. :) Well anyway, I'm off to watch Newsradio.

Добро пожаловать в Москву

That means "welcome to Moscow" in Russian. At least that's what freetranslate.com said it means. Who knows they could be lying to me. I'd have no idea. Well I've moved. To Moscow. Ha! You wished it was something cool like Moscow, Russia. Ok I wish it was something cool like that. No, no I've moved to Moscow, Idaho. I was sitting in my apartment in Orlando a week and half ago waiting for Fay to come, classes got canceled, so I was in my house when I got a call at about 8:00 at night when University of Idaho called and said that I'd been accepted as a transfer. So I stayed up until 6:00 AM packing up my apartment and cleaning it. I went and withdrew from school that morning and then picked my dad up at the airport, we got a uhaul, and got started packing it up when Fay came in all her bloody glory. Let me tell you it sucks to move during a freaking hurricane! All my stuff was soaked. We finally finished up at about 10:30 PM and headed out. My car had some car trouble and we had to stop in Chattanooga to get it fixed. So that took a little while. After that we were off and we drove straight through. We only stopped for gas. I'm telling you that is not a fun drive! 35 hours in a car non-stop. *shudder* I do not want to do that again. So I made it to Moscow on sunday night, went to class Monday morning and thankfully found a place that day. I'm in a cute little townhome a little outside the town. It has two bed rooms so I'm getting a roommate. Which that story is really odd. So I went by the institute on campus to see if any apartment listings were there. So I'm walking around the building and this kid says "hey are you new?" "yes" "great! i've been waiting for you." Uh what? So he explains that he talked to Bishop Lingren...Who? I've never heard of this man. So it turns out this kids girlfriend is moving up her on the 5th and she wanted a place to live with a member of the church. It was so weird. When I found my place this girl called and she had this kid come over and check it out. So he does and now we're roommates. It was all really weird. I don't know how I feel about having a roommate after not for so long. Oh well she'll probably be married soon anyway. "Why so gloomy? Its better than being butcher." "I like being butcher. You know who your killing...and why." If anyone can name the movie I'm currently watching I'll give you ten bucks the next time I see you. Ok back to what I'm talking about. Moscow is interesting, its weird to live in a town that is completely quiet at 10:00PM...well except around the frat houses. I had friends in Orlando who wouldn't even go out until midnight. But I'm learning to really like the Northwest. Its colder than Florida, obviously, but there are a lot of recreational things to do and I'm excited to really get into them. I'm going to buy a bike soon and I already have a few trails that I want to try out. I'm an hour and half away from Spokane so for Labor day I'm going to go check it out. So a few things that I really like about Moscow. 1: Moscow Co-op, this great store has all things organic! Its a great little grocery store. I love getting vegetables there and my cheese. The other great thing is that its all locally grown. I'm totally into buying local. 2: my running route. Around my house there is this great trail that goes through town into the country. I ran part of it on Thursday and ran more today. I ran 4 miles on it today and I have no idea where it ends or begins. Its really good though. 3: My school. I really like my school, granted there are a few things that I miss about FAMU, but overall University of Idaho (McCain's VP Palin graduated from my school...just a little political info for you.) Law school is great. My main reason for transferring was the immigration clinic they have. So I'm excited to get started on that next summer. 4: The weather. I know its cold but honestly I'm excited for the four seasons. I really missed not having fall last year. They also tell me that it snows here but doesn't really last. But I guess last year it was bad. So we'll see. and finally 5: the car registration. I know that sounds funny but honestly I'm happy that they don't have safety or emissions here. I can register my car here in Idaho for $20. Seriously $20 and no safety or emissions inspection. I got a ticket in Florida for $91 for expired registration. So I'm glad that I can get my car registered and no more tickets. One last thing. I went and donated blood on Friday and I filled the whole bag of blood in less than 5 minutes! That's quick! I like donating blood for a few reasons, first its a great things to do and also its a great way for me to check my health. :) For example yesterday my resting heart rate was 50 and my bp was 107/70. Which is really low. I'm glad. I haven't been working out that well lately...mostly because of the moving. So it was good to hear that I'm not a complete slob. Well anyway, I'm going to get back to watching my movie. So I'm out! word!

Boy Bands and Hurricanes

I've been channeling my inner teenager these past two days and its been great! I don't know why but yesterday I really wanted to hear some Backstreet Boys. Weird I know. So I went to good 'ole Itunes and downloaded some Backstreet Boys, Nsync, and BBMAK. I've been jamming to them all day today! While I cleaned my house, while I studied and my drive to and from school. Its been fun. I remember going to every BBMAK concert while they preformed at Disneyland on concert choir tour with school. We camped out just to get front stage with them. It was awesome! Then I remember I bought a cassette tape, yes a cassette tape, of them for my crappy little car and Janelle and i used to drive around and listen to that tape until it died. It was great fun. I'm going to sound like an old lady for a second but music that high school kids like now sucks! I mean there are so many bands and singers that all sound the same. What happened to the Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers? I even remember Nirvana before Kurt kicked it. Those are good bands that have been around forever. Granted the Foo Fighters didn't come around until after Kurt kicked it because Dave Grohl was part of Nirvana. But still! I thank my brothers for their influence on my music choices...because with out them I probably would have been in the Whitney, Phil Collins, country group...shudder! But thanks to my brother scaring me half to death with Metallica's Inner Sandman I am now more music wise. :) Seriously that song made me not want to go to sleep as a little kid. Love it now but not then. I'm also going to be an old lady and admit that I have hit the point in my life where some stores are just too young for me. You've seen them the stores that you thought you could shop in but once you go in you realize that you are the oldest one there by almost 6 years. Well that was my experience on Saturday at the Florida Mall. I went into Areopostal looked at some clothes and the people...no,no the kids and walked out. I'm way to old to try to pull that off! However, I realized that me wearing indoor soccer shoes, a tshirt and this certain pair of jeans makes me look like a teenager. I was walking out to my car this morning on my way to class when this girl asked me if I was a senior like her at Ocoee High. What?! I do not look 17! I decided I should try a little harder not to be so casual.
Now on to hurricanes. We have one coming and I am so excited! I'm strange I know but I've never been in one and I kind of want to see what they are like. So class got canceled tomorrow and possibly wednesday because of it. I've been looking at the radar and I decided its lying. I'm also looking out my window and there are a few clouds but really nothing. I'm pretty bummed! I want some rain and wind the whole works! Don't think I'm too crazy though, its probably going to be down graded to a tropical storm once it actually hits land. If that was like a category 5 hurricane I would not be so cool about it. But either way I'm ready for Fay! My friend described being in a hurricane like being in a fish tank. I'm interested to see if that's what its like. Well now that I have a free night I'm going to go make dinner, by the way I'm screwed on the food thing if this turns out to be bigger than it is...I have food for maybe two days...if I eat my shoe along with it...anyway I'm going to make dinner, read a novel and write a little in a novel I'm writing. So....see ya!

Trip Home

So I had an exciting trip home. I was scheduled to leave for a direct flight to Orlando on saturday at 4:46. I had confirmed my seat online. However it didn't work for some reason. Annoying. So I went to the gate and they had over sold the flight by six people. They were offering a flight voucher if you took a different flight. So I took it. I left for my flight to Boston at 5:00. I was to stay in Boston over night and then finish on to Orlando on sunday morning. So I flew to Boston first class! Man was that nice! They give you a full dinner. So I had mushroom and sundried tomato pasta, a salad, a roll, and citrus cheesecake. The cheesecake was tasty! There was a lot of room and we got free headphones to watch Kung Fu Panda. However I read Breaking Dawn the whole way. Man am I sad that that series is over. So I got to Boston and had a hotel voucher to stay in Boston. So I hauled myself and luggage to the hotel they had assigned and surprise they were booked. So I headed back to the airport o find another one. They set me up with one and got me a taxi that they paid for it and all. So I got a nice little drive through Boston at one AM. :) Nice city I'd like to go back and tour sometime. Maybe to run the Boston Marathon! Ha! Yeah right. Anyway, so I got to the airport to fly back to Orlando and I was on first class again! It was great! So Steve picked me up at the airport. That was a little weird but then all good once we got going. I honestly don't know what to think of him. I sat by him and his so called "girlfriend" but he talked more to me than her. It was odd. But anyway, classes started today. It was ok. I really want to move to a different school but I don't see that happening so I better suck it up. Right? I already feel better about my health since I've been home. The working out has happened yet but the eating has been ten times better. I have to figure out the schedule to get the workouts in. Once I get classes figured out I can get my runs in. I'm going to train for a triathlon too. So we'll see how it goes. Anyway, that's it. See ya!

Quick Post

I haven't posted for a little bit so I thought I'd do a quick one. So I'm leaving for Florida on Saturday. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm excited to get back to my own house, with my nice bed, quiet house and car. I am also excited because I have been horrible eating and working out this summer so I'll be happy to be back to my routine. I also read that they are opening a 24Hour Fitness in Orlando so I can sign up there again and get back to 24Set, Cycling, and yoga! YAY!!! I am sad to leave again though. Its hard every time but I figure I only have one more summer left because the next summer I'll have been graduated. Hopefully! I had Kevin set me up a budget for this year too. I went a little crazy last year and I'm paying for it now. I'm in so much debt! For dumb things too! Thankfully he helped me out and helped me get a plan going in which I can pay my car off in about 6 months and my credit card in 13 months. I just need to stick to it. I actually HAVE to stick to it or I'm screwed. So that fact that I have a plan now on how to get it going is a big relief to me. It takes a lot of stress off. Its nice. So those were my goals today...get a budget set up and do better with my health. I got on the sparkpeople.com after what? three months and I entered all my food. Surprisingly I was under...which makes me wonder if I missed something. I am hopefully going to get up tomorrow to run. Even if its only 20 minutes and I walk part of it I have to do it! I also am going to take Monica's bridal photos. I hope the turn out well! I like taking people's photos but there is a lot of stress that goes along with it. Well anyway its late, I'm tired and I said this would be short. So I'm out!

Russian Flowers and Project Runway

Holy crap! Everyone else has new posts so I better follow I guess. I'm a sheep like that. Baaa! Following along. Well there really isn't too much to say, except that I'm hot! Seriously Saturday has to have been the best record for me on getting hit on. Not counting the mission. So the cuz and I decided to head to Gardner Village since she'd never been. So we stop for gas and I'm fixing my hair and I look over at the other pump and these four spanish guys start waving at me all crazy. So I wave back and get back to doing my hair. So while I'm waiting for my cousin to fill up the tank I unroll the window because it was bloody hot and the driver says, "hola" so I say "Hola como estan?" "Bien y tu?" "Bien gracias." So then Mr. Smooth operator says in English, "hey where you going? want to come fishing?" I politely decline and we drive off. Do you want to go fishing? Do I look like someone who goes fishing? Umm...no. Probably the best pick up line I've heard so far...including the mission. So we go to Gardner Village...so fun, love it! So I bought two pairs of sandals. I spent way too much on shoes as well. Its always a bad thing when you say, "if its under a hundred I'll take them." So I bought shoes...yea! So then I dropped the cuz off at her baby shower and I went back to Gardner Village to get a book for my mom and a pedicure. Love the pedicures. So then we went up to Park City and the outlets...once again spending more money. So then we hit main street which was CRAZY! They were having their wine and cheese fest. So people were everywhere. We opted to not get out. So then we drove further up the canyon and we took Guardsman Pass. Which pops you out in Little Cottonwood Canyon. I had no idea! But I took some photos of Snow in the mountains in JULY! It was freezing too. So here are some photos.



So on to my Russian flowers. So the last picture is one where I decided to pull over behind this car and get some more photos. So I get out and start talking to Mike and Vladimir while I'm taking photos. Mike was really chatty and Vlad not so much. They are from Russia...well Vald said the Russia that is now Ukraine...awkward! Anyway, so I got my photos and was getting back in the truck and Mike signals for me to wait. He brings out some flowers, lets me smell them and asks if I want some...sure I guess. So he gave me a pantload! Vlad had picked a lot of flowers for his wife as well. How cute! But I had to take a picture with them and document me getting flowers from a stranger. I've never gotten flowers so it was kind of fun!
Now lastly on to Project Runway. So its the new season of Project Runway. YEA! Its on Bravo if you have that channel you should watch it! So Jerry got kicked off for making this horrid little slasher film raincoat. The challenge was to go to the grocery store and make an outfit out of the things there. The girl that won had a cool dress made out of vacuum bags and coffee filters. It looked better than it sounds. But Jerry's was a horrid little coat made out of a shower curtain. So see ya! There is a guy from Salt Lake. I was a little surprised. But I currently can't decide who I think will win. I'll need to watch a few more to see who I think. Well anyway I'm done so adios!

REAL, July 4th and blood donations

Well its been a while since I've posted, mostly because the only time I really have to do it is at night but I'm always soo tired that I don't want too...but I'm doing it today. It might be short though. I mean its only 11:30 but I'm dang tired! Anyway, so I went to a REAL soccer game on Thursday with my cousin Kayla, Jen, Kortney, Treasa, Devan, Karl, Becky, Justin, Morgan, Scott, and his date...I can't remember her name for the life of me...but that's ok Karl and Becky couldn't either.  The game was really good. Granted it ended in a tie but it was exciting none the less. There was a fight, Dynamo is jerky and Jason Kreis the coach got really mad and stomped on to the field. It was fabulous! If we would have been in Europe we would have had a riot! They also had fireworks after. They were cool. But really one you've seen one firework show there isn't much difference. Although opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics is probably the best I've seen. Anyway here are some pictures of that.



So the 4th of July started out pretty well. I ended up just crashing on my parents couch and was planning on going to the flag ceremony that morning at the ward but I didn't even hear my parents get up and I slept through it. In my defense I haven't gotten a whole lot of sleep lately. Thank you for 1:00 church tomorrow. Anyway, Becky and Kennan came over for the BBQ and tank wars. For those of you who do not know what tank wars are you first off are missing out, and second are when you buy tanks and divide into teams and try to set the other teams tanks off. So the team with atleast one tank left standing at the end wins. That just happened to be my team this year. Wahoo! You try to set off the other teams tanks by dropping ground roses or whatever else hoping it sets them off. Its fun. I highly recommend it. :) So then we had the real fireworks later and Mari is a child after my own heart. She loves the fireworks and had no problem holding the sparklers and what not. One of my favorite things to do is to hold the ground rose just until it goes off then throw it in the air so it spins in the air. Its cool. I'm going to lose a finger one day but oh well. Anyway, Mari will probably be joining me in that endeavor as soon as she can I'm sure. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I enjoyed my 4th and I just have to say that my mom is an amazing cook! Dinner was delicious! So here are some photos.





Now on too the last one. Sadly no pictures of this one. But on to blood donation. So I get called quite a bit to donate platelets. Which is cool, I'm happy to do it. So I got a call on the 4th and they said that the hospital called and they needed my blood type and all very badly. I'm A+ which is one of the most common blood types. However, I do not have this enzyme that most adults have, which if blood is transfused to a newborn or young baby can make them seriously sick or kill them. So I am a baby donor and I get called a lot. So I tried about three weeks ago but I didn't have enough iron, annoying. So I was good and took my vitamins. I went in today and the lady was taking my vitals and she took my resting heart rate which was 56. She said that's on the low end but it'll work. I asked how low it needs to be before someone can't donate. She said under 50. Unless I was someone who worked out and ran a lot. Then she quickly corrected herself and said, "you know marathon runners." I told her I was a runner but not a marathoner. So then she takes my blood pressure. 124/60. She tells me what it is and says, "good, odd, but good." Why odd? "It's just a big range." Umm...ok. I luckily passed the iron by one point. Phew. So here's what annoys me. I do not look like someone that should have a pulse of 56 and blood pressure of 124/60. I think she assumed I'd be terribly out of shape. Just because I look like a fatty doesn't mean I don't work out. Whatever. Anyway, so I got all set to give platelets and it took a really long time today! Normally I'm there for an hour and a half. Today it was 2 1/2! It was driving me crazy! Plus I hadn't eaten before I went and I got really sick this time. One the last return of red blood cells I got really light headed and almost ralphed. Gross I know. But I was glad it was the last return. I don't think I could have handled another. So I get up, feeling pretty light headed and woozy, but I don't want the workers to know. So I walk casually to the drink thing, get some OJ and a granola bar and casually as I can out the door. As soon as I get out the door and around the corner I lean up against the wall and faint. But it was only for a split second and so luckily I didn't fall or I would have been really embarrassed. Then, this is kind of gross so beware, then I'm taking my bandage off and its soaked in blood! I have never bled that much and I donate pretty much every 56 days. Then it won't stop bleeding. It was crazy. This was the weirdest blood donation ever. Hopefully next time will go better. But here's a question. Was I lightheaded from the none eating or the low blood pressure? If anyone knows I'd really like to know. If its food I can avoid it and eat before hand. If its blood pressure, then I can atleast be prepared for it. Well this turned out to be quite long. But I had some catching up to do. So see ya!

Detainee Wednesday

Every wednesday I go to the immigration court out by the airport. Well I go to the court every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but Wednesday is when the detainees are brought in. Utah is different from other states in how they detain those caught for deportation. Utah has them stay in state and local jails and the federal government pays them for the beds. Other states have privately owned jails that take care of the deportees. I prefer the Utah way because often times the private jails are not as regulated and watched as they should be and a lot of them are getting in trouble for treating the detainees horribly. I don't care what your views on immigration are but no person should be left to die in a cell and their family not informed for six weeks. So anyway, because they are considered in state custody they wear the jumpsuits and are in chains. I saw it for my first time last Wednesday and its really sad to see. I get criticized all the time for my views on immigration but I don't think I've ever flat out stated what those views are. So I'm going to here. I think that people should enter the country legally. The problem is that it is very hard and expensive to do so. Plus its a very, very complicated and complex process that I don't think many American's realize. I knew it was complex but the more I learn the more I realize that I had no idea how complex it really is. I think that if you have entered the country illegally AND committed a crime...I know people say entering is a crime...but I'm sorry in comparison to you jumping the boarder to work and feed your family and dealing drugs or killing someone jumping the boarder is not at the top of my list of horrible acts. Anyway, if you've come illegally and committed a crime then by all means you should be sent back or imprisoned here. There was this man today that I helped from El Salvador and he was caught because he got into a traffic accident, which was not his fault. He now has to go back because he did not meet any of the requirements to petition for permanent residency. I don't know I just felt bad for him. While I was sitting there is one detainee came out of the court room and he was crying, this was a big guy and burly, I heard him tell another guy in Spanish that he had to go back and that his whole family is here. I don't know I just think that we as American's need to have a little mercy. Like I said someone crossing the boarder to work and feed their family should not be compared to other crimes out there. Criticize all you want but that's what I think. I can honestly say that if I was in the situation a lot of people are in I would jump the boarder as well. The system is broken and it will continue to sty that way until something changes and I'm worried that will not happen until we have a major tragedy or more people speak up. I just want to do my part to help someone less fortunate than myself. That's what keeps me in school and that's what makes me have purpose in my life right now. People should come legally and that's what I plan on helping people do, but I'm not going to fault someone who didn't have the means to do it. I just hope that I will make a difference someday. We can always hope right?

Yay it works!

My sim card worked hooray! So here are some photos. And just an fyi Donut Falls used to be private but the county bought it from the person for 3.5 million or something like that so now its open again. I am going hiking again on saturday of anyone wants to go...just without my camera. :(

Rock Climbing...kind of

I went on a hike yesterday to Donut Falls. I went with my friend Linds and her brother and sister. It was a lot of fun. There was still a lot of snow so it was pretty muddy and you couldn't get way up like you can when the river isn't so high. But Lindsey's mountain goat siblings scaled the wall of snow to the cliffs and over to the hole. Now we all know that I am a wuss! I'm not daring or adventurous at all. However I decided that I was going to do it. Now most people wouldn't think that the cliffs we were going up were a big deal. However for me, being somewhat scared of heights and scared plummeting to my death to the rocks below, thought it was a pretty up hill battle. I considered it rock climbing. So that's what I'm saying it is. On my way up the wall of snow I was kicking my toe into the snow to get a foot hold and my foot went all the way through. It was hollow underneath with jagged rocks! That scared the crap out of me so getting back down was the scariest part of the whole thing. That dang wall of snow. It was beautiful though! The falls and the snow. I loved it. So your probably thinking where are photos? Well there I was climbing the rocks and I felt something fall and I thought I really hope that was a rock. Nope it was my digital camera. There it went into the river. I finally found it stuck between two rocks in the water and I had this kid throw it up to me. So who knows if its going to work. I need to let it dry out for a while. I got some good shots before I tossed it into the water. I'm hoping that the sim card works. If it does I'll upload them. But I've decided that I want to get more into backpacking and hiking. I went to REI and looked at backpacks and I really want one but they are like $200. One day. I also decided that if I'm going to be more adventurous then I either need to buy a cheaper camera or a better way to carry it. So I'll look into that. Anyway, I'm off to watch Arrested Development.

Top Chef and Potty Training

Well I know that potty training is an odd thing for me to be talking about since I don't have children. However, I am living with Kevin, Nanny and Abby. So I'm watching Abby tonight while Kevin and Nanny are at ballroom dancing classes. Abby has been a little beasty today. So before I was about to let her go to sleep I was going to make her go to the bathroom. She threw a fit so I put her on the toilet and left her. She screamed and cried I went in to check and nothing. So I'd leave her again and then I went back to check and she was hiding in the corner and pee was all over the floor and partly in the potty. So I got her to calm down and she finally told me that she was standing and tried to get on the potty. I just cleaned it up and told myself that I am so not ready to have children. They are gross. I did feel bad for her though. She was pretty upset with herself. So I made her feel better. But it was still annoying. Ok on to Top Chef. Top Chef is on Bravo TV. Its an elimination type show. People come and cook for judges then they are kicked off if their food sucks. So I was watching on Wednesday. Its the second to last episode before the Top Chef is named. There is this girl on there named Lisa who drives me crazy. I was really annoyed because they kicked Antonia off but kept Lisa?! She's crap. I swear if she wins I'll be really mad! I mean she made plaintains?! Hello you're in Puerto Rico I think they'd want something different. Whatever. Anyway. So I went to the immigration court this morning and I love going everytime. I learn so much. Its great. So then I was supposed to go to lunch with Monica at 1:00 but it turned into 2:00 so I just worked from home it was great! It was a little hard with Abby at times but not too bad. I watched Arrested Development while I worked. I'm still having issues with eating I just feel totally out of control. Its like I just go on a binge and then wake up and realize how much I've eaten. I don't like that feeling. Mostly because it means I've fallen back into emotional eating. So I just need to focus and get back to the good habits I had in Florida. So day one start over tomorrow! :)

Money and Fat Pants

Well I need some money...bad!I am working but I have no idea when I am supposed to get paid. I had to pay my bills using my credit card today! That blew! I'm almost $5K in debt on my credit card. Plus my car loan which is $4k and school loans that are $48K just this past year! Aye! So let's add that up...that means I'm $57K in debt. *sigh* That sucks. I hate being in debt. But I haven't had a job for almost a year and the one I have now is part time. I guess I shouldn't complain I should just be happy that I have something. I think I'm annoyed because things like my car and credit card would be paid off right now if I had had a job those ten months at school. School is turning into more of a problem then I had expected. I just pray that it will pay off someday. My dad keeps telling me that in two years I can buy things like a new car and a house. I really look forward to that time. But really that won't happen until I pass the bar and I won't pass the bar until I finish two more years of school. If I have to go back to Florida alone that won't be a lot of fun either. I don't know if I could handle it. I always say that I'm going to quit school. But honestly I can't do it. I would regret it later and the idea of coming back to Utah into the job I had just makes me sad. So I'll suck it up for two more years and get finished. Although there is this guy in Florida that I really wouldn't mind getting to know. But at the same time i don't know if I want to or not. Its weird and complicated. I guess I should look into it especially since the other boy is not working out. I know he's having a rough time but seriously how are you supposed to get over it if you don't go out. Grr...its annoying. I haven't chatted with him today and I plan on keeping it that way for awhile. I really don't think I'm even going to mention going hiking. Hopefully I won't anyway. I think he needs to figure out what he wants. Anyway, this was not supposed to be a post about him. Dang. Ok one quick side note. I'm watching the RHCP Californication video, why are they all shirtless? Just a question. Ok now on to the fat pants. I have been eating HORRIBLY lately. So I've made it a goal to go workout tomorrow morning and get back to eating better. I went to the store tonight to buy better food. If I don't do something quick then I going to need to buy sweat pant fat pants. Its crazy. Its not that I've been eating way bad but I've been eating a lot! So we're working on it. I really want to go play tennis. But I don't have a racket or anyone to play with, this is when I need Florida Steve. I played with him once and it was way fun. I also have been getting really light headed lately every time I stand up. I think it has something to do with not taking care of myself. Maybe not, either way I'm using it as a reason to get back to running and eating better. One lat thing for this post is something good...finally...no more whining. :) So I checked my Property Law grade today...expecting seriously a D and I pulled out a B-! How that happened I have no idea. I was REALLY worried about that class because the test was two hours with 6 short essays and two long essays. I barely had time to finish. Normally I like to take ten or fifteen minutes at the end to make sure I have everything covered. I didn't have time to do that in this test. So that worried me but thankfully it all worked out. Also I was happy to hear that my ubber smart lawyer brother got a C in his class his first year too. I just hope my last two grades I'm waiting for end up being high B's and that will be enough to get a transfer. We're praying anyway...something needs to change my school is messed up. Well anyway, this turned out to be longer than I had planned. So I'm done!

First Blog

So a lot of people I know have blogs. Most of them married with families. Me not so much. But here's why I decided to do a blog. We are told to keep a journal and I'm horrible at writing in a journal. But for some reason I can blog all the time. So I figure its the same thing. I normally blog on sparkpeople.com but there the blog needs to be more workyouty and I don't always want to write about that. Since the only thing thats going on in my life is that I'm in law school. That's really the only exciting thing. The boy Ive been chatting with is a moron so I've given up on that. And no we haven't hung out. Jerk. Anyway, I went to the immigration court on Tuesday and sat in on some preliminary proceedings of deportation cases. So fascinating! I know I'm a nerd. I totally want to do this type of law. Although sitting in front of a judge scares the crap out of me. But I think I'd get used to it. I did have to argue in front of a judge last semester and that turned out ok. I really enjoyed it actually. But I went to the court and you get to help people with their legal questions at the Pro Bono Clinic. That was cool too. The whole conversation was in Spanish and I understood 95% of the whole conversation so that was nice. I haven't lost all of my Spanish...thankfully. Well anyway, I also went to Catholic Community Services and helped the immigration attorney there. I sat through two consultations and enjoyed that as well. I won't be going back there until Tuesday and then every Wednesday I'll be at the immigration court. Wednesday's will be exciting because that is when they bring the detanees in to have their prelim proceedings. Its all a fascinating procedure and process. Yes once again I'm a nerd. Ok I better either get ready for work or take a quick nap...ummm...