Day 15

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

If I were an animal, I would probably be a dog.  Most likely a golden retriever. I am really playful (ask my nieces and nephews), but I am also pretty calm.  Plus, I am fiercely loyal to the ones I love.  Don't mess with them, or I will come at you.

Although, I might be a cat.  Cats are the unsociable social animals ever.  Like me.

Day 14

Describe 5 strengths you have.

1. I am an awesome listener.  I actually like it when people come to me with complaints or concerns or happy news.  I want to hear it all.  I feel like people know they can rely on me, and that I'll hear them out no matter what.  I might not always tell them what they want to hear once they're done talking (I learned that trick from my mama), but I will always try to help them out as best I can.
2. I am an awesome cook.  While I'm trying to solve my problems with food, I come up with some pretty awesome recipes.  I love cooking, and I love trying out new things.  One of the best feelings in the world is when my family devours one of my meals and tells me that it was delicious.
3. When I set my mind to it, I get stuff done.  Even though I procrastinate, I can get projects done, and I do it well (or as best I can).  You have to admit, I'm a determined little thing.
4. I am a really fast reader.  This may sound a dumb strength to be proud, but you would be surprised by how often it comes in handy.  I would not have survived my English classes if I couldn't read fast.  How English professors expect you to read a 350 page book cover-to-cover in a four day period is beyond me.  Plus, I get to read a lot more books than other people, so it makes me sound really cool when someone brings up a book that they're sure no one else has heard of, and I'm all like, "Oh yeah, that's a really great book.  I especially like the part when..."
5. I have an excellent memory.  I have vivid memories from when I was like three years old and we were living in this crazy apartment in Oklahoma.  I remember pretty much every book I've read, and even if I don't remember it very well, once I start reading it, my mind plays catch-up pretty quickly.  Sometimes I feel kind of awkward that I remember stuff like movies and TV shows so vividly, especially when other people are talking about it and they don't remember anything, but I do.  When that happens, I usually pretend that I don't remember too, but I do.  I do.

Day 13

Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1. I have so little patience.  This is why I can never teach.  I can't just sit there and run through the same thing over and over again.  I get really frustrated and just give up.  Also, I have no patience for whiners. I can only take it for so long before I get angry.
2. I bottle up my feelings.  I don't like confrontation, so when I get angry or sad or frustrated I would rather not talk about it.  This is bad because everything just stacks up on top of one another until finally I explode over the smallest thing.  That moment is never a pretty sight.
3. I procrastinate.  Especially if I'm not looking forward to a certain project.  I put it off until the last possible minute and then usually stay up all night to finish said unwanted project.  I always get it done, though!
4. I am extremely critical of myself.  It's hard for me to accept compliments.  It makes me really happen to get compliments, but I tend to think that the compliment-giver is just being nice.  It takes a little while for me to get used to the idea.
5. I use food to solve a lot of my problems.  Even though it doesn't solve any of my problems.  And that is why I'm not a size four and will probably never be a size four.

Day 12

Describe a typical day in your current life.

For this post, I will be describing my busiest days.  Just so you know, my days aren't always this crazy.

5:25--My first alarm goes off.  I groan, roll over, and contemplate getting up.  I hit snooze three more times.
5:40--I finally force myself to get up.  If I'm lucky, I'll have enough time to get all my stuff for school and grab my breakfast.  If I'm really lucky, I'll be able to put on some make-up.
6:50--Thank the Lord that I made it to work alive.
6:58--I've clocked in, and now I'm just waiting for my computer to boot up.  Adjusting my comfy swivel chair takes top priority right now.
7:05--The computer has finally booted up, and I've just finished logging into the bajillion windows that are absolutely necessary to perform my job.  I take a deep breath, and brace myself for the 15 angry moms that are going to yell at me in the next half-hour or so.
7:45--Calls finally calm down.  I can turn on Pandora and open Pinterest.
7:47--Of course, as soon as Pandora starts playing my favorite song, I get another call.  What do you know, this angry mom tops every other call I've had that morning.  The call proceeds to last for half an hour.
8:20--I finally slam the phone down because of this frustrating mom and her stupid student who waited until the last day to complete their course.  Just kidding, I never do that.  Slam the phone, I mean.  I always end professionally.  Anyways, by this time I'm emotionally drained and I can't face the phone queue, so I take a super short break.
8:22-9:30--Alternate between browsing Pinterest, rockin' out to Pandora, and helping moms/students/counselors request exams.
9:40--Come back from my ten minute break with a delicious, albeit small, plate of biscuits and gravy from the Creamery Outlet, conveniently located next door.
10:52--I'm just about to go on "Not Ready" so I can actually clock out on time.  My phone rings before I can hit the "Not Ready" button.  Call lasts for 15 minutes.
11:07--Finally finish the call.  Log out of the bajillion windows that I have open, clock out, and walk to my car. Sit in the car for a couple of minutes, trying to decide whether or not to eat out or just go to the Wilk (the main student building on BYU campus).  Decide to go to the Wilk because it's closer to class, and it has internet.
11:20-11:41--Watch an episode of "Saved by the Bell," "Modern Family," "Malcom in the Middle," or some other way awesome show.
11:42-11:55--Eat lunch as fast as I can.  Book it to class.
12:00-1:45--Endure Spanish class.  Repeat the mantra "This is my last Spanish class.  You can do it.  Pay attention.  If you fail this class, I will smack you upside the head so hard..."
1:45-2:00--Chill out, waiting for my way awesome English class to start.
2:00-4:30--Watch movies, read books, and talk about crazy awesome psychology theories.  And yes, this is what my English class is like every Monday/Wednesday.
5:20--Finally get home.  Run to change into my workout clothes.
6:00--Go get my butt kicked in a super intense workout at CrossFit*.
7:10--Crawl out of my car, into the house, and onto a couch.  Complain that I should do homework, but then I don't do any homework.
9:00--Start to complain that I'm tired.  Every 15 minutes or so, I vow that I really am going to go to bed, but I keep talking to Mom, Kiera, Rachel...whoever's still up and willing to listen to me,
10:15--Finally giving up, I actually go to bed.

*CrossFit is a new thing for me.  It is one of the hardest, best workouts I've ever done.  When I say that I have to crawl back into the house after my workout, it's because I'm exhausted and I'm so sore that I can barely move.  But it's awesome.

Day 11

Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

1. People being rude to me on the phone: I work in the customer service department for BYU Independent Study (we provide online school courses for middle school, high school, and university students), so we get a lot of calls from frustrated students, parents, and school counselors.  Frustrated students, parents, and school counselors become angry.  I know this happens quite a lot with any customer service stuff, but I am here to speak for all the customer service reps out there--when customers are mean to customer service reps, it really gets to us.  I cannot tell you how emotionally draining it is to have call after call after call of people just taking out their frustrations on you.  So just remember that we are people too.  I've been in the game long enough that I can distance myself so that it doesn't make me so emotional, but it is still SO annoying when I say "Thank you, have a great day!" and the customer just hangs up, without saying anything to me.  Really?  Could you be anymore rude?
2. Crazy drivers: The worst is when some guy drives right up to my bumper and then whips around me at the first opportunity.  I would understand that a tiny bit better if I was an eighty year old grandma and going 50 in a 65 zone (and yes, we do get those old drivers), but I always go the speed limit.  I may not be going 85 in a 65 zone, but, hello!  We are on an American freeway, not the Autobahn; and just because you are a maniac pretending to be a race car driver on the last lap does not give you the right to put my life in danger by whipping around me.
3. People talking over me (as in over my head, not louder than me)/ignoring me: I don't mind when people have conversations without me while I'm still around.  That's fine.  I don't have to be part of every little thing that happens.  But when you take the time to actually talk around me, that's not ok.  If you're conversation is that important, go find a spot where you can chat together.  Also, if the conversation is about general stuff, and I am literally sitting in the middle of it, I feel like it's ok to put my two cents in.  Don't stare at me with one of those weird stares that says "Who are you?  And why are you talking?" and then ignore my two cents completely while continuing on with your conversation.  It makes me feel stupid and insignificant.  And it's really rude.
4. Commercials that play twice in a row: Or just when a commercial plays again really soon after it played for the first time.  I don't know if that made any sense, so I will demonstrate.  Let's say a car commercial played.  Then a restaurant commercial played, and right after that the same car commercial played again.  It's just really annoying to view the same commercial over and over again.  I think, "Ok, ok, I get the message.  I'll go buy your car!  Stop harassing me about it."
5. Not answering the phone, even though you just called me two seconds ago: I am not perfect.  I do not always get to my phone before it stops ringing.  But when that does happen, I always call that person back.  I drives me nuts when I call someone back literally two seconds after they called me, and they don't pick up the phone.  What, did you throw the phone and run away when I didn't pick up?  What is happening?!
6. Cutting in line: There's a line for a reason.  I'm sorry you didn't stay with your friends when they got in the line, but you can live without being next to them for a just a little while.
7. Asking a question and then moving on to a different question before I've answered the first question: If you ask me a question, I assume you want to know the answer.  If you don't care about the answer, don't ask the question.  If you think of a different question while I'm answering the first question, that's great!  Ask me after I'm done talking.  Also, don't ask me a question, interrupt me with a different question, and then ask the first question again five minutes later.
8. Bad parking: I do this too, so I get really annoyed with myself a lot.  It's just so annoying when you find the perfect parking spot, but you can't use it but the guy to your left thought his giant SUV needed one and a half parking spaces.  It's also annoying when people park diagonally.  Then you're forced to maneuver around the guy-who-can't-see-straight while at the same time trying not to hit the car on your other side.
9. Never returning my letters: I like hand-written letters.  I like hand writing letters.  I think they're awesome.  Yes, they don't get to the recipient as fast as an email, text, or phone, but isn't that feeling when you open the mailbox and find a letter for you just the greatest in the world?  It makes me sad that I've taken the time to write someone a beautiful letter, and they just won't take the time to respond.
10. Complaining about how fat you are:  Stop it.  Just stop.

Day 10

Describe your most embarrassing moment.

Ok, I have to put a disclaimer on this post: I am extremely self-conscious.  So I get embarrassed a lot.  A LOT!  Because of that, there are a lot of little moments that I could choose from for this particular post.  But I think the best embarrassing moments--or at least the ones that create the best stories--come from first dates.  First dates are automatically awkward; you're going out with someone for the first time, and both of you are trying to figure out how you feel about the other person, and you're both trying to figure out if you want to go out again, and you don't want to say anything stupid or wrong.  The worst part of it, though, is that both of you are trying to remember the innumerable rules that go along with a first date--most of which conflict with one another.  For example, guys are told that, above all else, they MUST BE CHIVALROUS! They must be gentlemanly and do things like open doors, seat the lady first, pay for the meal/activity, etc.  These are awesome rules, and I am by no means condemning them or saying that guys should not be chivalrous.  The problem is that in this day and age girls are taught that allowing men to be chivalrous towards them somehow makes them less of a person, and that they must resist any chivalrous act and prove that they are independent and just as equal as a man.  Can you see how this can lead to problems?

Also, I don't get asked on dates...ever.  I ask guys out on dates, and somehow they are only ever first dates.  Weird, right?  So I don't get a lot of practice at either allowing guys to be chivalrous or pretending to spurn their chivalrous acts.

So...on to the embarrassing moment.  I went on a first date with a guy whose name I unfortunately don't remember--he did have gorgeous blue eyes though (seriously, is there anything hotter than a guy with blue eyes?  I think not).  Anyways, it was a double date with one of my old roommates, Cassandra Clive, and her now-husband.  We had finished the activity part of the date (we went bowling), and we were walking out to the car so we could go to Cassandra's apartment to play games and maybe have treats.  I walked to one side of the car, and I noticed the Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes had followed me.  Stupidly thinking that he had planned on getting in on that side of the car, too, I considerately walked around to the other door.  Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes followed me again.  Slightly annoyed, but thinking that maybe he had had the exact same thought as I had just had, I again walked to the other side of the car.  Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes started to follow me, yet again, but then he's nice shoulders slumped in sort-of despair, and he simply got in the car.  I got in after him.  As Cassandra's then-fiancee-but-now-husband started the car, Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes leaned over and said, "I was just going to open the door for you."  Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes, you have gorgeous blue eyes, but what the heck, man?!  What do I say to that?  Of course, I had realized that almost as soon as I sank into soft, old seats of Cassandra's-then-fiancee's ancient car, but we had both ignored it for long enough that it would have been possible to gloss over my stupidity if Gorgeous-Blue-Eyes had kept his stupid, chivalrous mouth shut.  Anyways, I think I giggled nervously and said sorry--as if that was going to help the situation.  I couldn't look at his gorgeous blue eyes for the rest of the night.

Sometime, if we ever have like an hour to kill, and you happen to remember it, ask me to tell you about the time my first date told me that the date we were on was contending for "Worst Date Ever" in his book.

Day 9

List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

1. Mom: My mom literally an angel.  She's one of the most compassionate people I know, and I'm always trying to learn from her excellent example.
2. Dad:  My dad is so focused, and smart, and intense, and fun, and awesome.  I wish I could be more dedicated like he is.
3. Chelsey: Chelsey is the only person I know who took an economics major and actually like it.  She has the greatest fashion sense, and she is super creative and crafty.  I hope that one day I can be just as crafty as she is.
4. Heather: I think that Heather has the most dedication out of all us girls.  When she puts her to mind to something, there is nothing that can get in her way.  I would love to be so intense about my goals.
5. Kiera: Kiera does not care what anyone thinks about her--she dances to the beat of her own drum, and that's just how she likes it.  I hope that one day I can be that brave and confident.
6. Aaron and Danny: My brothers-in-law are some of the coolest guy I've ever met.  They teach me kindness, ingenuity, and, most of all, patience.  Plus they each have an awesome sense of humor!
7. My best friends: My best friends are the most awesome girls ever!  I wouldn't have made it through middle school, high school, and freshman year of college without them.  They bring me out of my shell, and I love them for that.
8. The Prophets: The latter-day Prophets are such an important part of my life.  I don't know any of them personally, but every time I hear them speak I can feel their love.  Thomas S. Monson is such a wonderful man, and I know that he is a true Prophet of a true church, and that he really does act as the mouthpiece for the Lord.
9. Ms. Dodd, Ms. Strevens, Mrs. Watts, Ms. Proud, and Professor Tuttle: Each of these teachers made a huge impact on my school years.  Ms. Dodd and Ms. Strevens were the best teachers in my elementary school (Farlington School for Girls A.K.A the greatest school ever).  Ms. Dodd was like my second mom, and Ms. Strevens and I were bosom friends from the very beginning.  Mrs. Watts was my eighth grade English teacher, and she truly let me shine in her class. Ms. Proud was my high school English teacher, and I honestly couldn't have made it through the two years of IB courses without her.  Professor Tuttle was my creative writing teacher (are you seeing a pattern here?) during my Junior year of college, and he was the one teacher who told me that I could actually be an author.  Each of these teachers has a special place in my heart.
10. Great authors that I love:  Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, Lemony Snicket, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Jordan, and Brandon Sanderson are all great authors that I love, and I strive to make my writing something like theirs.  I know I probably won't ever be counted as one of the greats, but I like to have lofty goals.