World Domination

I am thinking about the next year of my life. I turn 22 at the end of this one. I never thought I would make it to this age so quickly. You think it is a joke but I am for real.

I am going to start the year on December 26th when I jump on a plane and head to London to catch another flight back to Kenya. Once you go black, you never go back. I will be in Kenya for 4 months. I am just so excited I could pee my pants.

My family is getting together for Auntie Kat's unveiling in July in New Zealand. So, I thought to myself, "Self, why turn around and go home if you are just going to fly to the other side of the world in a few months?"

This is how my planning began. My wheels in my brain started turning.

I want to go to India so bad.
And Thailand.
And Nepal.
And Fiji.

I am young.
I am not scared of traveling.
I have a passport.

I connected all the dots and everything is working out like a dream. No joke. Thank heavens for this job and miles I have from the first time I went to Kenya.

Here is the plan:

San Fran to London- Dec 26th

London to Nairobi- Dec 27th

Nairobi to Delhi- April 16th

Delhi to New Zealand- June 30th

New Zealand to Fiji- ?

Fiji to home-?

While I am in India I will adventure up to Nepal and then over to Thiland. Then, while I am in New Zealand I am hoping to do a study abroad. In India I want to work at a leprosy colony. In Fiji I would love to build homes and just help out where ever is needed.

 I am so excited and nervous and whatever else emotion you can feel. 

Making Up for Lost Time

So, I think you have all realized that I am not the best blogger. Since my last blog post I have done so much. I decided that I wanted to leave school a week early to be a 2nd year girls camp counselor. It was the best choice I have made in a while. I had to majorly crunch everything together and get stuff done in a jiffy. Most of my teachers were cool with me taking the final a week early but one. I got all my packing, projects, finals and whatever else done in time to go home. It was a miracle. I was home for a day or two before I got whisked away into the Santa Cruz mountains for 1 week of pure girl outdoor goodness.

I was a co-counselor over the 2nd years. There were 13 girls in that group. From the second I met all of them I knew it was not going to be a breeze of a week. I got a peep talk from my mom on the way up because of some of the girl's family problems and home situations. I had no idea what to expect. The week started out rough. There were a lot of personality conflicts and girls who just did not want to listen. It got progressively easier as the week continued and the girls learned to love each other as people and not to really focus on each other's faults. It was an amazing week. I would not trade any of my girls for the other girls at camp. I loved them all. They were so precious. By the end of the week all the girls were BFFs and totally tried. It was truly great week and it was made obvious at testimony meeting the love that was there.

One of the highlights of the week was the talent show. I don't know how it really happened but Marisa, Tabitha and I preformed. It went kind of like this, "I'm funny. You're funny. Let's do a skit together." None of us really had talents. Marisa thought it would be funny if we did a jump rope routine but none of us knew how to or had ropes. We just went with it and did exactly that. We did a jump rope routine without ropes and just with music and funny outfits. We were laughing so hard when practicing that we did not even make it through the routine once before we had to preform it and Tabitha nearly peed her pants every time we started to practice. It was a hit. Everyone was laughing so hard.

I had no time to rest after girls camp because the following week I started working. Beautiful. I have been working everyday since then. I work at a uniform store called Scholar Wear. It provides uniforms for the Challenger Schools. It has been nuts but I have a lot saved up to go on adventures and what not. I worked there when I was a junior in high school. A lot has changed since then but my desire to try them on had not. One day the store was really slow and so Michelle, Monika and I tried them on. We are SO hot in these fashion forward uniforms.

Being in weddings is the story of my life. I love being a bridesmaid and I love going to weddings. This last few weeks there have been about 10. I only made it to a few. I flew down for a wedding in LA. Justin and Kelsey got married. Kelsey was my roommate this last semester and thus Justin was basically my roommate too. I love these people. They are just so lovely.  

The wedding in LA was crazy and there was a lot of driving in the worst traffic I have ever seen in my life but I got the opportunity to play with Vernie for a day. It was so so so fun. I have cuts on my legs to prove it. I love this girl. I am so glad we got to be roommates.

Once when I was home I got wrapped into making pasta salad. We had moose shaped pasta. I put it to good use.

As soon as I got home I turned around and went back to Southern California. This time I was headed to San Diego. I had another wedding to go to. Raven and Andy were tying the knot. This couple I had been rooting on since day one. I love them together. Vernie's friend Eden picked me up from the airport and then Vern and I went on adventures, for sure. We found the Nauvoo temple in her church parking lot. This is the second time that has happened to us.

Then in the morning she jetted off to Vegas and Jenn came and picked me up. We went to the San Diego temple and waited outside right after we stopped off at Starbucks for a morning pick me up. 

We waited outside the temple for hours. There is not surprise there. She looked extremely gorgeous. I have never seen her look that good. Jenn was such a good sport about the whole thing. She even got to jump into the front of the huge group picture because grandma made her. It was so funny. Inbetween the temple and the dinner Jenn and I made a quick trip to the movies. We had a few hours to kill. We thought, "What the heck? Why not?" We had to leave to movie before it was done to rush off to PF Changs. It was so delish. 

In the morning I had to jump on a plane and head back home. I got to met the famous Talyn that I have heard so many stories about and already loved so much. He was just as wonderful in person and I expected. As soon and I got home I jumped right back into the work scene. It has been really exhausting but worth it. 

I went to girl formally known as Megan Haley's wedding yesterday. It was so lavish. It was so her. I am so excited for her and I just love Mark so much. I just think it is so crazy how everyone is getting married. I swear that everyone is. It is a new trend or something. I guess a husband is a girl's best accessory. 

Addicted

My roomies this semester have me watching SYTYCD. This gem is the highlight of the show for me. I love this dance routine. I just cannot get enough of it. 

This is another one I really like. 

one hundred and one: things i love

1. short nails

2. smiley faces on big toes

3. the first snow

4. frost on the grass in the morning

5. the smell of soil and new books

6. everything about bonfires

7. the helpless look in a hurt child's eye

8. my chacos

9. letters in the mailbox

10. regular bowel movements

11. coming home to tia and erina's unconditional love

12. the feeling i had in kenya

13. clean teeth, feet and hair

14. the color green

15. being outside

16. people in front of me that smell good

17. love texts

18. busy weekends

19. sweating to the oldies with richard simmions
20. listening to stories
21. decorative balls made out of tissue
22. some show tunes
23. spontaneity 
24. fun knick knacks 
25. lots of vibrant colors
26. fabric 
27. how green california is in the winter
28. how my house looks in the fall
29. forts in the living room
30. temporary tattoos 
31. false mustaches 
32. hanging up snowflakes during the winter
33. giggly people 
34. pictures and lots of them
35. plane tickets
36. swings
37. being able to make a difference in the world
38. when the last person finally gets the joke
39. trying new things
40. watching plants grow
41. planking
42. yard sales
43. hearing swahili
44. road trips
45. giant slides
46. thrift stores
47. not wearing shoes
48. being sun burnt
49. cream cheese frosting 
50. the zoo
51. having flowers in the house
52. my red laptop
53. all one hundred and six boys in thika
54. playing dress up
55. homemade meals
56. around the house projects
57. hair peak-a-boos 
58. writing on whiteboards 
59. long eye lashes
60. snoasis snow cones
61. blowing bubbles
62. childhood friends
63. mission call openings 
64. getting cornrows on one side of my head
65. farmers markets
66. teenagers
67. youth dances
68. hearing embarrassing stories 
69. making exciting secret plans
70. discovering new spots in my hometown
71. looking back at funny moments and they are still just that funny
72. when people think i am dating my best friend
73. when you sing a song and your voice cracks 
74. small towns
75. www.urbandictionary.com 
76. the sleepy sillies
77. when people follow through 
78. summer freckles 
79. really awesome coincidences 
80. when i go to the store with my mom
81. that song that never fails to make my heart get all giddy inside because of all the memories it is associated with
82. kids saying silly things
83. when someone you haven't heard from in a long time calls out of the blue
84. back scratches
85. cardigans 
86. moments that feel like they are from a movie
87. late night trips to denny's
88. ding dong ditching
89. winning raffles or contests 
90. new cds from the rocket summer
91. good hair days
92. oranges
93. intense idaho sunsets
94. broken down old fences that are falling over and beautiful
95. bows in hair
96. lying on warm cement
97. homemade bread
98. putting band-aids on children 
99. finding lost money in pockets
100. paper chains 
101. when boys hold open doors for me

AIDS

I know that AIDS is real. 

I know that it kills. 

I had no idea what it did to a person until I went to Kenya. 

When I got there I just found out the textbook stuff. 

I learned that it shuts down the immune system until your body cannot fight anything. 

Then eventually it kills you. 

I never saw anyone in Kenya with AIDS.

Everyone told me, "You will know someone has AIDS because you can see it."

I never saw anything out of the ordinary. 

I never saw AIDS, 

Or I thought. 

On the left of this picture is a boy nicknamed Boss.

 I lived with him at the center. 

Boss just recently was told he has AIDS. 

It is very prevalent in his body and it is taking over. 

I was there when they pulled him out of school because he was "sick." 

The boys and staff just told me that he had rashes all over his body. 

I saw them. 

I believed them.

They were just protecting me. 

Never in my life did I think I would even see someone with AIDS.

Anal Fissure

-noun [eyn-l fish-er] An anal fissure is a crack or tear in the skin of the anal canal. Anal fissures may be noticed by bright red anal bleeding on the toilet paper, sometimes in the toilet. If acute they may cause severe periodic pain. 


This is the recent story of my life. Well, not recent but recently discovered. 
You know you are super lucky when the doctor tells you that not only do you have 1 large fissure but 2 small ones too. Now my friends, that is pure talent. 


I went to the doctor here in Rexburg. They gave me these pills. 
They didn't work. 
I went back.
They said I needed to go to a specialist in California because of my health insurance. 


I went to California. 
I loved my doctor. He is a hoot. 
I he saw that I have 3 fissures. 
He called up the surgeon. 
The surgeon prescribed me 2 creams but if that doesn't work I am really lucky. 


Botox to the butt will be my solution. 
My doctor was giggling when he told me that. 
I hope you are doing the same. 

I could have included some pictures off of the internet of what this looks like .

I didn't think that people would like that. 

BART

So, this is a story from a long time ago. I was on my way home from playing with Bailey. I meant to blog it way back in the day but I just never got around to it and forgot about it. Luckily, I am a really good missionary pen pal (or use to be) and I wrote the story down for Kevin. He sent it to me today and here it is. 

Do I have a BART story for you... Ok, once I got onto the 2nd train I sat in front of this black man. He rapped the whole way home dropping the "f" and "n" word like I use "blessed". He taps me on the shoulder twice to ask which stop we were at. The 2nd time he was like, "Girl! How old are you?" I told him 20 and then he asked where I was going to. I said Fremont. Then he whipped this out, "DANG! You are one of those hot Fremont Chicks." Haha I said, "Uhh, no. I am from San Jose." "Well then where are you coming from?" "I'm coming from Concord." "Oh, that's where your black boyfriend is?" "Nope, I was visiting my briend Bailey." "Oh, you like girls." "No, I like boys." "Okay, I understand, I mean, I am from San Fran, but I'm not into guys." Me="yeah." Him="DANG girl, you have beautiful eyes." Me="Thanks" Him="What ethnicity are you?" Me="I'm mostly white and part Maori" Him="Is that like Spanish?" Me="Nope, it's people from New Zealand." Him= "Oh, I speak that language." (then he muttered some funky made up craziness) Me= "I dont think that was it." Then he slipped his phone into my lap. Him= "Have this so I can call you later tonight." Me= "I already have a phone." Him= "I am giving you this phone so I'll have a number to reach you at." Me (while handing his phone back)= "Sorry, I'm not interested." End of convo. SO AWKWARD but freakin funny. He said some other stuff but that was the jist of it. Phew... I almost got a black boyfriend. That would be crazy.