Flight to Reno.

I wish I had time to document all of my life and interesting meetings. As I stood in line at airport security sporting my Ohhh so Mormon byui gym tshirt I made a most unsuspecting friend. Apparently we were both headed to reno. This unnamed woman shared some good stories of her travels. She gave me some much needed company and advice. "Only in Utah" and "the odds are good but the goods are odd" were two phrases she used liberally. She told me of her traveling and adventurous lifestyle. Who knew I would run into a gal who had been born in fremont Ohio, lived in mesa Arizona and then spent a good portion of her adult life in Kodiak AK would have so much to talk to me about. Like her dads unexpected death after she got out of the military. Her inherited money that moved her to Alaska (all inspired by her teenage dream to find a good Alaska man that oprah talked about). She actually did marry only to have two kids and then find out her husband was cheating on her with a transvestite. I can't make these kind of stories up! I really wish I would've asked for her name. She went on to tell me about how she set out to finish her degree in cedar city Utah. Her road trip out to Utah from Alaska which took 6 days ended in a flat tire near Logan Utah. She told me how this nice gentleman changed her tire then kept in touch. A week later her drove down south to see her again. Two weeks later he proposed and 4 weeks after that they were married. I may have had a sore neck by the end of the flight but it was worth it. I love people. Thanks to unexpected meetings and great life adventures.

Thanksgiving

I had a wonderful relaxing thanksgiving break. Here are a few pictures of my actual meal and the tree we decorated after dinner. I'll spare you the picture of Walmart later in the evening.
On my break I got ahead with my homework, went to the temple a couple of times, did lots of packing and organizing, watched all the harry potter movies plus a few Christmas ones, saw the king tut exhibit in Idaho Falls, and went bowling with some friends. That's the short of it. I'll save the long of it for in person conversations.

Heavenly

A lot has happened in the last month. Some good, some not so good. I think I'll just try to tell the good because, honestly, that's what I would like to remember.

I always have to remind myself how blessed I am to meet and make great friends. Too many to name drop right now, but some people are great and help build me up when I need it most.

Last night I went to a Relief Society activity where we shared our cooked crock pot meals. It was a small little gathering. We had some good food and treats. I met a gal who does acupuncture. I sat around talking to her for awhile asking all of my questions. I got her business card before I left and told her I wanted to try it some day. I was hoping that I would be able to do a trade because money is something I don't really have any of right now. I think my massage skill is all that is keeping me going right now. This girl text me after I got out of my morning class and we set up a time to do a trade TODAY! Who knew I would get my wish granted so quickly. I think it was probably best that I hadn't studied up on any acupuncture or else I might have backed out. Or maybe its a good thing I've been in a medical assisting program and been having people give me saline shots for the last few weeks. Needles just don't seem to phase me so much. I just thought, sheesh, if they are going to help me....lets do it! I gave her a lil massage first and then it was my turn. We started with a little assessment. She took my pulse I assume since she was holding my wrist and then asked to see the top and bottom of my tongue. I could've asked so many questions but I just tried to explain some of my complaints. We decided to work on my neck, lower back and feet/legs. She wiped all the places she was putting needles in with alcohol swabs. I think it felt like there were 8 or so needles near my neck and then maybe that many in my lower back area. Then there was a couple in my ankles and one in the area behind my knee and one off the to the side of my shin. It was the strangest thing that I couldn't really feel some of them going in. I specifically remember her telling me in the ankle area, "this might be tender." It wasn't. Then after she had placed all of the needles she told me how to focus my thoughts, or I could just sleep. She said she would leave for 20 minutes with on check in half way through. As I sat there I could feel different needles at different times. Just crazy how energy flows through you. When it was all said and done she took them out and she gave me some time to get up and put my shoes on. I can not believe how wasted/tired/relaxed/loopy/out of it I was. I would say it was pretty close up there with my hot stone massage response. Took it all out of me. So she told me to go home and take a nap. I am not sure how long of a nap I took when I got home but I was in bed or on the couch for at least 2 hrs just paying attention to all the places that just had needles in me. My ankle was actually more tender when the needle was removed. SO weird and yet so cool. I was probably needing to go to the gym today but I skipped that since it took me awhile to even be able to drive away from her office :) Sooo that's that. I just wanted to share my experience about my first time having acupuncture. She sent me a text later telling me that her massage was heavenly. I couldn't think of a better word for my experience too.

Oh yeah, and I watched Conference...

I have many blogs that I read. I wish I could write like these people. They are amazing. However, they don't have the same stories or life as myself....so it is bound to be different.

This week I spent more time in Utah. It was going to be a trip to St. George, but I sorta felt like I needed to change that up last minute for a few reasons. Ended up spending time in SLC. I got in on Wednesday evening. I had a lovely drive with another ride board stranger. I sure do love getting to hear life stories from strangers. Maybe its circumstance that allows them and myself to share things we might not otherwise....but it was entertaining. Not very often that I take that drive with no radio on. Me and strangers always seem to click long enough to have a good chat. I picked up my uncle after I dropped the stranger off, then back up to clearfield for the night. It was a fun short night at my aunts house. Got some tv watching in and slept on the couch.
Thursday, I got up in time to make it to my appointment at SII downtown SLC. (www.siiutah.org) Check them out, they're amazing. I had gotten a pretty sweet dealio on a 90 minute session. I was in need of serious help with my foot. I have been pretty much in pain on and off for 4 or 5 weeks with this foot junk. I have been wearing a boot around trying to help my foot get better. The bodywork helped again. I just have to get a friend here in rexburg to do some maintenance work every couple weeks I think. ANYWAY....that was a perfect way to start my thursday morning. Then I had another chance to spend time with my friend Holly. Its so much fun seeing her so pregnant. I left her house early evening....(should've left earlier...traffic was awful) and went to Provo. I got to go see the 30 Strangers exhibit on BYU's campus with my friend Wendy. Justin Hackworth's photography is amazing. It was pretty awesome. I felt like I was in a room with a bunch of friends that didn't belong to me...but I was glad to be with them. They were fun people. There were four ladies who read essays and then one who sang a song. Mostly all about motherhood since that theme of the 30 strangers stuff was all mother daughter related. It was cool to reflect a little about my mom on a time that wasn't mothers day. Love you mom :) Then we bolted out of there and headed back to the mall. I tried to find some shoes. I need better things to wear to take care of my feet. I have found what I need but I was hoping to get it on sale or something. I am going to spend an arm and a leg on a pair of shoes. Thank goodness they will probably last me over 2 years. At least thats how long the last pair lasted me. I got back home to Ben & Holly's house late that night.
Friday morning wasn't anything eventful. Ben's cousin was staying at their house so while Holly worked on her paper I took myself and the cousin to the Distribution center on 1700 S. I got a few things I needed and he loaded up on things he needed. He is just a recently returned home missionary. Oh special :) THEN when I got home was more exciting. Wendy had come up to SLC this time. Yay! more girl time. We went to a mall downtown and met up with a friend from Ohio. Sarah McKinley. She just recently got engaged and is living in florida but came to SLC for conference weekend with some friends to shop for wedding dresses. We got to meet up with them, have lunch then we got to see her try on her dress. I can not believe she got the first dress she tried on in the first shop they went to. So lucky. I guess it was just perfect. I am ashamed to say we didn't think to get a picture. I did get to hear the engagement story though, which was way better in person that it ever would've been over the phone or via text. Congrats Sarah! you're a doll! Hope somehow I will be able to attend your wedding. I'm not sure that will happen...seeing as how it is in Florida June 15 of next year. Just too far out for me to try to plan right now. I don't know where I will be in my schooling and what not. After shopping around some more for shoes we finally made it back to Holly's house again. We sat around and talked some more...ate more food, because thats what we do when we are with friends...food food food. I guess we do have to eat everyday no matter what. When Ben got home from work we all went to see The Amazing Spiderman at the cheap theater. It was pretty good. We had gotten some treats to have later that night, but surprise! my friend from one of my classes called me to hang out. I sorta ditched Holly Wendy and Ben at that point. The movie was over and they probably had ice cream without me and Wendy probably drove home...but I went downtown to Temple Square. I was sorta surprised my friend would call. He had just went to a mission reunion and I told him we should get together while he was in town. So since he was on his way back down to provo and wanted to stop in and see Temple Square anyway...he called me up. We sat around chit chatting and catching up whilst watching a TON of couples walking around and some of them making out. I had no idea that was the place to be. Maybe it was slightly awkward, but fun all at the same time. I probably could've talked to him way longer than I did. Pat me on the back for restraining myself. Either way...it was good to have a few unexpected reunions on Friday.
Saturday I got up early to go get another massage. I figured, its free, why not fit in another one from the student clinic at UCMT. It was worth it, but such long wait. I had my old UCMT Masters Program classmate meet up with me to chat/catch up while we waited for our massages. It was so much fun to see her. I really love when I have friends that are so good at picking up right where we left off.

I am cutting this short because there was still more to saturday and then sunday, but I just mostly am so glad I have so many friends. I sit around my apartment up in Rexburg on lots of days getting depressed because I feel like I don't have any friends because most of them aren't up here. I have to sit back and realize I have taken a long time to build trust and friendship in the people that are in my life right now. The ones that matter take a little longer in cultivating something that is lasting. I have no idea why am I so close with the people that I am, but I do know that they are HUGE blessings for me. God's hands on earth in a way. My prayers are answered so many times by the people I am surrounded by....even if they aren't my closest of friends. So  please bless that I can somehow let all these little angel people know how much they mean to me.

The End.

Falling A P A R T

Today while I was in my Medical Assisting Lab the fire alarm went off. I grabbed my snacks and my cell phone and our classes headed outside along with every other class in the building. Just funny/interesting because we had just done a drill for this last week. We tried continuing on with class outside to talk about pulses and where to read them, but then it looked like we could go back in. We migrated to the other side of the building. Not true, we couldn't get in. I believe a pipe fell/broke and flooded a good portion of the building. We don't know how it really happened, but we do know for sure there was flooding and a really bad smell in the building. It smelled like an electrical fire or something like that. They let us in briefly to get our things and then rushed us out. Tiles from the ceiling were falling and as we were leaving a cleaning crew was coming in. So much chaos. We got our picture taken by the school newspaper and one classmate was even interviewed. Entertaining and unexpected. Now to get back to my homework and studying so that I can get out of town this week. Its a shame our building is falling apart, I wonder if we will have class on wednesday or not??

on another falling apart subject ...my roommate angie left to move back to cali, sad, I like her, I hope I don't emotionally fall apart later today. My room is so empty. I look forward to a trip to california someday to go visit her.