OH, and Natalie is now engaged to a return missionary.  It's really amazing.  I'm so happy for and proud of her. She's making the commitment to be sealed in the temple in a year.

Feelin' Like a Criminal

Oh, hey there!

So, I'm going to Seattle tomorrow, and I'm flippin' excited.  I've been literally counting down (t minus seventeen hours).

Since my last post...

I have seen Morning Glory and Sleepless in Seattle (for obvious reasons).

I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease.  The medicine I have to take at first made me really dizzy and nauseous, so I got some nausea medicine, which made me feel even worse, but I'm almost 100% good now.  I'm definitely not feeling the exact same as before, though.  Life goes on.  I also have to pee a lot.

I'm seriously considering doing that thing I talked about earlier.  A video everyday.  I'm almost positive.

I've been missing Abby a lot.  We went caroling at Mutual the other night and it made me think of last year.  I was also wearing the scarf I chose out of the ones her sister made us last year.  I've texted her and wrote her on facebook with no reply, so I texted Hernando (her husband) with something along the lines of, "Does Abby not like us anymore?  Lol."  Then, HE didn't respond.  So, that was swell.  I've had dreams about her these passed couple of nights, which was weird and got me worried because she's been sick, but she finally texted me back tonight.  So, all is well:).

We had Christmas this morning.  Complete with the traditional breakfast (Gorilla Bread).  My great aunt doesn't celebrate Christmas, so we had to have it early.  It's a bit of a bummer, but I'm definitely excited about what I got.  I got a couple of Nerdfighter CDs as well as Forever 21 jewelry and Empire by Orson Scott Card.

I think that's about it.  See you guys in Seattle!

Ah, How I Miss The Perezes...

Facebook Chat

Today


Hernando 7:00pm:
hey you like apples?.
 
Me 7:01pm:
Not if you do
lol.
 
Hernando 7:01pm:
how bout them apples on my snake score
lol.
 
Me 7:01pm:
shut your face.
 
Hernando 7:01pm:
lol.
 
Me 7:01pm:
I was too good for it and deleted it from my apps.
 
Hernando 7:02pm:
you couldn't handle the pressure.
 
Me 7:02pm:
whatever
the pressure couldn't handle me.
 
Hernando 7:02pm:
i gotta go but you keep it gansta for me
lol.
 
Me 7:02pm:
I most definitely will not
lol
bye.
 
Hernando 7:02pm:
bye.

DUMBLEDORE!

So, Dumbledore and I have something in common...

I finally got the courage to try my Burtie Bott's Every Flavor Beans that I got at the park over-the-spur-of-the-moment-weekend.  It went great.  They weren't too bad...until the earwax.

I honestly thought I had already tried some other earwaxes in the endeavor, but apparently not.  I really tried to choke back the vomit rising in the back of my throat (that's a bit of an exaggeration, but gagging was ensuing).    I finally couldn't take it, so I spit out whatever was left of it in my mouth.

The rest of the night I could taste it.  I COULD SMELL IT.  Even after having Panda Express (my newest favorite restaurant for the past few months), I can still vaguely taste it/feel it in the pit of my tortured stomach.  On the way to Panda, my dog -- who was along for the ride -- resembled the smell, and I about died.  I had to spray air-freshener and open a window.  I honestly almost vomited then (not an exaggeration).

So, alas...earwax.

Gruesome Goop

Hello, beautifuls!

Yes, it's weird for me to be posting so soon after my last post, but whoa dang...I'm excited!

Yes, my ear has been throbbing for the past couple of days, as well as being disgusting (I'll spare you the details), but, reader, I'm going to Seattle in twenty days!  TWENTY DAYS!  Huzzah!

We're going to visit my Great Aunt Gretchen for Christmas!  It's snowing in Seattle right now, and I cannot freaking wait to divulge myself in that frozen water glory.

I know everyone says that snow is awesome/beautiful for like five seconds, and then you realize you can't feel your toes, or your car has decided to stop functioning, but I honestly don't think that will be the case.

I have experienced snow twice in my life.  The first time was when I was an infant, so not so much recollection there, but I remember when I was in Utah for Christmas when I was seven, I felt like I was in Heaven (rhyme time!).  I fell in love with the snow.  At least, that's how I remember the whole experience.  I don't remember really complaining, except when I had to wait forever for the snow to build up enough to build a snowman and have a snowball fight.

I also cannot wait to visit my Aunt Gretchen.  She is the freaking best.  You just can't help but love her.  Like, seriously.  I can't even describe how fun she is and how happy I am when she visits.

Ain't No Good

Hey there, lovelies!

So, it's been a week or two since I have posted on this diddy.

Since my last post a couple of things have gone down.

I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 four times.  Including yesterday after my mom and I -- in a spur of the moment moment -- went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, despite the homework load waiting back home.  We weren't at the park for very long, because we wanted to see the movie again.  My fourth time.  Her third.  As a sidenote, all of these fun, irresponsible suggestions were her ideas, and I love her for it.  I actually still haven't done any of my homework.  I only got as far as printing my assignments from online.

I have such a buttload of work to do because I went on a college trip this past week to USF, UCF, and Rollins College, and not everyone at school went on the trip, so work was assigned to those who didn't go, and, in turn, to those who did.  I know for a fact that I don't want to go to USF.  UCF is really nice, and I don't really think I'll be looking into Rollins.  I mean it's a pretty and small school, but it just didn't seem right for me.  We also went to Epcot on our last day of the trip (Wednesday).  It was fun, and I didn't hang out with drama queens, but I was really itching to get home by the time we got on the bus.  I really sorted a lot of things out about myself and those I hang around with.  I know what I want in that sense, at least.  As for college...don't ask.  Although, I was looking at SVU's website, and I'd really like to go to an open house of theirs.

Thanksgiving was pretty great.  Molly and Kevin, Heather, Ian, and Dylan, and my dad (that was a bit of a surprise) came over.  My dad left early.  We played Apples to Apples and Taboo (during which my spazzyness that blooms from competitiveness was filmed and will be shown at a later point in time).  We didn't get to watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets like we had planned...

The Friday after The Deathly Hallows came out, mom, Molly, and I went out to dinner.  As my mom was talking to Molly and making plans, I was nearby listening in.  We asked Molly if she would want to go see Harry Potter because we were dying to see it again.  She then admitted that she had never seen the movies.  None of them.  We jumped on that.  At dinner at La Strada's (which I don't see the big deal about), we decided to go to Wal Mart to get The Sorcerer's Stone and some movie candies because we went to Sarasota the weekend before with the movie, but it somehow didn't make it back, and the candies were just because movies and candies go hand-in-hand.  Right?

Upon our arrival at Molly's apartment (Kevin was on a camping trip with the Scouts), she said something along the lines of, "Go look at the fridge."  So, mom and I took a gander at the fridge.  There was a sonogram picture and some little ball-magnets that were pushed together to read, "Boy or girl?" and one off to the side that said, "Boy."  Mom was confused and kept looking all over the fridge.  I was confused and was wondering if Molly somehow and for some reason had a picture of Abby's baby.  We then looked over to see Molly freaking out in a spaz attack.  Molly is pregnant, and she is due one week after Abby.  I'm not going to lie.  I'm a little jealous of that fact.  Not that I would even dream of having a child during my teenage years, especially without being married (duh), but just the fact that Abby is one of my best friends, and I'd want our kids to grow up together.  Well, that was weirdly explained, but yes.  Molly is pregnant!  Yay!

After watching The Sorcerer's Stone, and Molly seeming to like it, we decided to watch The Chamber of Secrets after Thanksgiving dinner.  Oh, well.  We'll just have to do it the next time that Kevin is out.  Molly has really started to grow on me.  There's always that awkward, weird stage in friendships when you don't quite know the other person's mannerisms or humor, but I think that phase has just about run its course.  We even share the same career pursuits!  Haha.  She also wants to be an occupational therapist.  She's really amazing.  She works with autistic children.  That's such a beautiful thing to me.  Anyways, I didn't mean to go on about all of this, and I didn't mean for my thoughts to be all jumbled.

I watched You've Got Mail the other night.  I liked it.  It was your typical nineties/early two-thousands movie.  The AOL dial-up was hilarious.  I think I've seen parts of the movie before, but never the whole thing.  All-in-all it was pretty good.

I finally came up with an idea for NaNoWriMo, four days before its end.  Oh, well.  There's always next year, right?

Speaking of next year, (haha, segue) I'm thinking about doing a video diary/vlog next year.  One video, everyday, for an entire year.  What do ya think, reader?

P.S. Yesterday, at Island of Adventures, it was kind of weird, all the Youtube references I witnessed.  Well, only two, but still.  There was a guy that worked for the park asking people to take surveys, and he definitely looked like Daxflame.  There was also a girl I passed that had a livelavalive shirt that I really like/want.  Hers was all cut up, though.  That I didn't like/want so much.

P.S.S. Last Sunday, I finally had had enough of my ears popping/being in pain, and went to Solantics (don't judge me; it was annoying, and Sunday was the only day I could do it).  The weird doctor told me I had a sinus infection.  She gave me prescriptions for penicillin and some steroids.  We got the penicillin filled, but not the steroids one.  We figured the penicillin would help with an ear infection, and the steroids would cause unwanted and unneeded side effects.  It's highly likely that I don't have a sinus infection considering the fact that there has been nothing bothering me that has to do with my nasal canal.  My mom also made the mistake of telling the doctor I want to be a physician, and was going on a college trip the next day.  She then went on and on about how I need to be a fertility doctor, and how they make so much money, and it's a field full of stupid testosterone-filled men who have no idea what they're talking about.  She didn't even bother to ask me if I am interested in the field or what field I am interested in.  She just told me all of her problems with pregnancy, and how I need to have my eggs frozen before I am twenty-five, and how I probably shouldn't have a baby in medical school.  It was frightening...It also dawned on me that if I were to be an occupational therapist, then I wouldn't really be a doctor.  When I told the crazy lady that I want to be an occupational therapist, she told me, "Well, forget that.  You need to be a doctor."  It didn't click that if I pursued that career, I really wouldn't be a doctor, until my mom confirmed it several times.  Strange.

Reflecting Gratitude

Gratitude has been a topic of discussion in my head.  While that may sound like the words of a person with dissociative identity disorder, it's true.  [Please, don't take that the wrong way.]

The beautiful, inspiring words of President Monson and Elder Holland have inflamed my spirit to do something.  To say thank you, even in the simplest of moments.  To show gratitude through not only words, but actions.  While I actually was asleep (I believe) during Elder Holland's words, I came across them on one of my talk/article readings.  Emma said the actual deliverance of the talk was even more moving and emotionally and spiritually powerful.  I am thankful to have a continued knowledge of my Heavenly Father's plan for me.  I am thankful to have the guidance I need in order to endure these latter-days.

I've actually shocked my mom a few times when I have said thank you.  She continually responds with, "For what?"  Then, I get embarrassed because it was something so minute.  Then, the thought of Christ enters my thoughts.  Never embarrassed.  Always open with His love and gratitude.  I am then filled with a sense of duty.  A duty that requires me to always go the extra mile, and always be vocal about my gratitude.  A duty that should not be overshadowed by fickle feelings that cause me to want to take back my vulnerability.

So, reader, in the spirit of this time of year, I am grateful for Christ.  I am grateful that every situation I am dealing with, every heartache and hard time I face, can be related back to a parable the Savior taught or to the beautifully cliched, "What would Jesus do?"  I am grateful that He and my Heavenly Father provide me with strength to face adversity with my head held high, and my heart completely open.

Today, I confronted my aforementioned friend who had been keeping things from me, and instead of lashing out, she was surprised.  Surprised about how much I cared.  With shaking hands, tears welling in my eyes [like a little girl], I told her exactly what I was feeling, and she welcomed my vulnerability with a hug and an "Aw."  I'm grateful that the Spirit provided me with a voice.  I am thankful He made the words I wanted to say so simply clear and loving.

Today, my dear friend, Adam, found out that his aunt had passed away.  She left behind two sons.  One in college.  One who is only thirteen.  She also left her husband, who was just about to be home for good.  He is a merchant marine (I believe), and was just about to retire.  I am grateful for my mother.  I am grateful for my father.  I am grateful to still have my grandmother who still loves and cares about me so much.

I am grateful to have been born into the Knowledge, and to know for myself, that Someone cares.  Someone knows.  Someone loves me with such tender mercy that I am given a second chance when I fall short.  Someone has given me Their all, Their everything, so that I may be blessed with a beautiful, incomparable life after this time full of tribulation and growth.

Someone is my Heavenly Father.  Someone is my Savior and Redeemer.

I am grateful, reader.