Some days are just STUPID

Monday was just one of those days for me.  How can any day that starts at 4:30 a.m., much less a Monday, be expected to be anything but stupid?  I started the day off by being betrayed by my favorite shoes.  They're purple, how could they possibly do this to me?  So apparently, no matter what the color of your favorite shoes is, once they've been worn so long that they come apart at the seems, they're no longer snow-proof.  An hour into my shift and my feet were wet.

It snowed here all weekend and the roads hadn't been cleared yet when I started driving.  It was even snowing for the first hour or so I was driving.  I slid all the way through an intersection (twice) and had to make a detour.  Thankfully there was no accident. Sometimes I'm really convinced God cares about me and my safety and my job.  About 5 minutes later, I was getting nudged off the road by a huge semi-truck and hit a block of ice.  And sometimes I'm convinced that God thinks it's funny when I freak out.  So I pulled over to check everything out and lo and behold, I couldn't open the front door.  I didn't notice any other damage though, thankfully.  My supervisor just said to take it to the lot and get another bus.

Yeah, so this bus didn't like me either.  The lights wouldn't work.  And it's illegal to drive a bus without the headlights or clearance lights on.   So they had to get another bus.

Bus #3 isn't a bus they wanted used for the day, so then a supervisor came and switched it out of that one.

Bus #4 broke down while I was on my lunch break.  Yeah, that's right, 4 buses before lunch.  The turbo somethingorother broke off while my lunch relief was driving.  He continued to drive and then hand the bus off to me all without telling me that #4 wouldn't go over 12 mph.  Yeah... so I had to get out of the bus again and check out the engine and see what the *&$@^% the problem was this time.  BTW, I changed my socks while on my lunch break.  Now they're wet, again.

So bus #5 was brought out to me.  My supervisor said I set a record for driving the most buses in one day.  I asked if I would get an award or a raise.  He said I get a pay decrease.

By bus #4 it was just a joke and I was laughing.  But I'm not going to lie, it wasn't all roses.  Words such as "I hate this bus" and "I hate my job" and "why's the snow so stupid!" and "Why does anyone choose to live in UTAH!" and "Why did my shoes betray me in my hour of need?" and of course "I just want to go home".  I think it was at that point that I wanted to call my mom.  Bad days and sopping wet feet are days for phone calls home.  But she didn't answer.  So I did the next best thing.  I went shoe shopping.

But seriously, I think a pair of waterproof boots were totally in order.  

These are the shoes. 

They were the same color as this wall.

BTW: I didn't actually hit a block of ice.  It was some stupid cement block completely covered in snow and ice.  Either way, my front door wouldn't open.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
       I am eternally grateful for those who have fought for the rights and liberties I enjoy today.  Both of my grandfathers and my dad are war-time veterans.  I also have a cousin currently in the Army.  I am so grateful and proud of them.  And more then that, I am thankful and proud to be an American.   
       I came across this quote today.  I appreciate it and hope to be a better example of it too.  

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."                                      ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

My mom was bugging me the other day asking me when I was going to update my blog.  I told her I'd do it when something worthy of talking about happens.  Still, nothing has happened.  Whatever.  I guess there are a few things I can talk about.

#1: My BABY sister has gotten herself engaged.  WTF?!?! you may say, so do I.

#2: My burn is no longer a scab or painful.  It is now a scar.  Sarcastic yay.  (however, as ugly and noticeable as it is, I kind of like scars.  Every scar tells a story about you.  Something completely and uniquely you.  Scars are even better when they have a good story behind them.  I should make something up for mine because, let's be honest, cooking dinner is so cliche'.)

#3: I just finished reading Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen.  It was so fantastic.  I laughed out loud quite a few times.  And it was interesting and I feel slightly smarter for having read it.  I'm always looking for ways to make myself feel smarter.  It's good for the self-esteem.  ALSO, double plus bonus: The main character has a thing for being a hobo too! 

#4: My mom dropped a frozen roast on her toe and smashed it (the toe not the roast).  Apparently there was a lot of blood and an E.R. visit.  While at the hospital my parents ran into our neighbor (who was there because of some reason that has nothing to do with the story, the point is he was there and that was very random) who is a retired butcher.  He told my dad that when he was in the Navy, he once dropped a whole frozen side of beef on himself.  He was out for 2 months.  I think that story makes my mom thankful that she just gets a week on crutches.

I just found out from my mom this past week that when I was about one year old she dropped an entire frozen chicken on my head.  Being vegetarian is looking good about now.   Also mainly, I was never dropped on my head as a child, something was dropped ON my head.  Ergo, no "that explains so much" statements are still not acceptable.

#5: Starting on Monday I will no longer have the annoying work shift time of Noon-7pm.  I will be getting off at 2pm.  YAY!  (that does mean I have to be in the office at 5:30am though.  I'm just choosing to look a the positive).  I really don't like working in the afternoon like I have been.  It just kills your whole day.  I always end up sleeping in and not getting anything done before work and then by the time I'm home from work , it's almost 8pm.  However, there is a really big down side to this new schedule (minus waking up at 4:30): I won't be on the Gold Route, I will be driving the regular campus routes, which I really don't like at all.  The Gold Route (G.R. for short) is the dream route of all bus drivers everywhere.  I show up at noon and don't do anything until about 3 or 3:30.  Then I drive until 7 and then I'm done.  It is because of the GR that I upgraded my phone plan to unlimited minutes; I got through so many books this summer; I took naps while on the clock; I was able to read The Book of Mormon (almost) daily; I returned all those phone calls you always say you will but don't; spent hours writing; spent hours day-dreaming; and most importantly, because of the GR, I learned that just because you may work for Goldman-Sachs, doesn't mean you're smart.  I mean seriously, the bus driver knew that 30'C was roughly 90'F (86 to be exact.  I calculating it in my head and not with a calculator) and the Goldman Sachs employees didn't.  Someone thought it was 75'F.  I felt so vindicated in that moment.

So, you might say "why are you giving up working in the lap of luxury?"  The answer is simple: I'm sabotaging myself.  I really truly am.  I need a new job and working the GR is just so simple and easy and comfortable.  So I'm putting myself in a position I will despise in order to make my find a new job.  Sometime people just need a little fire under them to get moving.  I have long known that I am one of those people.

#6: I signed up for a gym membership today.  I've been debating it for a few months now, but now that my work schedule is changing it will be a lot easier to go.  So here's to hoping I will!  I was also putting it off because of the cost.  But when I went in there today and they found out that I was a U employee, the guy told me we get a discount!  I think it was meant to be.

#7: I think I'm going to be a Zombie Cowgirl for Halloween.  I was just going to be a Cowgirl, but that's kind of boring.  You can liven up any halloween costume by just being dead.  It's a fact.

#8: I think I'm out of anything to say.  Kind of a crazy thing for me to say considering I am my father's daughter, but it's late.  I think I'll go floss.

And before I leave, here's a couple of picture from Egypt 2006.  The first one is from Luxor and the second one is with my summer roommate Kara on the Mediterranean at my favorite beach ever.

  

Burn Update: Maybe Too Gross For You

And to really gross some of you out, here's a picture of my burn from last night.

It's healing.  And going to leave quite the battle scar.  Also mainly, it does still hurt.  Mostly just when I move my wrist.

Happy 09/09/09!

My life just keeps moving along.  I got a new phone, and have yet to 'misplace' it.  Big accomplishment for me.  I've seen a few movies, gone to work, church, hung out with friends, etc, etc...

My cousin Cristina was in town this last weekend from Phoenix, so I spent a bit of time with her and her sisters this last week.  And I of course didn't get any pictures of us, just the kids.  They're cuter anyway.  

Cooper was having fun getting his hair buzzed off.  Duncan on the other hand, was near tears as you can tell from the pictures.  But the next day he saw that his church best friend cut his hair short too and then he was fine with it.  It's kind of hard to tell in these pictures, but the reason they had to get their hair cut was because Duncan and Cooper decided to cut their own hair.  And Afton's too.

Afton needed her picture taken too.  The only way to get her to smile though, is to ask her to show you her teeth.

And no load of laundry is complete without a ride in the basket.  Pulled by me.

And we will end this post with a picture of my most recent piece of handy work, a burn.  On Monday night I was cooking dinner and picked up a pan off the stove in each hand and I guess I wasn't paying attention and then I hit the inside of my right arm with the pan in my left hand.  It hurt.  To say the least.  I screamed.  It wasn't a yell or a howl or even swearing, but an all out scream.  Twin came over about 30 minutes after it happened and walked with me to the store to get aloe and an ice pack.  On the short walk home the frozen medical corn I had taken with me was no longer frozen and Twin asked me a question and I just couldn't concentrate on anything long enough to answer a question, much less a somewhat elaborate one.  The next day I talked to a pharmicist and asked what they recommended.  And then today I went to the doctor.  I got a prescription and they dressed my wound.     

Funny note: after asking me how I burned myself, the doctor then asked "do you feel safe at home?"  I was a bit shocked that anyone would assume that I was being abused at home.  He said it was just a precaution they were required to take.  I kind of laughed and assured him that I did this to myself.  I really, truly am just that klutzy of a person. 

It's My Life

I haven't been too good at updating, I've been more focused on my other blog. But I do still need to (and try to) keep this one up too. My life really hasn't been too exciting lately. Just the daily grind. Twin and I have successfully finished watching the entire first, second and third seasons of Psych in about a two week frame. We are slightly obsessed. Everywhere I go and every conversation I have, Psych quotes go through my head. It might be a contagious disease. 

     Twin pictures and Roommate Pictures.

 Twin's birthday was on Thursday. Since we've been friends, this is the first summer I've been in Utah for his day. A group of us went out to dinner Thursday night. It was pretty low key. But Friday night he had a party at The Tavernacle. It was so much fun! I've heard of it and been wanting to go pretty much since I moved to Utah but just never have. It's this bar that has dueling pianos and sing-alongs. So much fun! Most people drank. Jewel, Bang and I threw back a few Shirley Temples.  We like to keep it real.  I also realized that when you request a song and you dedicate it "to Twin from Twin on your 26th Birthday"  then everyone assumes it's your birthday too and sing to you as well.  That sort of back-fired on me.  

It's fun to make Bang Sandwiches when you dance.  It's also fun to make her dance when she doesn't really want to dance.  Sometimes it's a lot more fun to pretend to be drunk because then people don't actually realize how crazy you really can be.  Bang and Jewel know what I mean.

The group minus Julie

Today was a laid back day. I was awaken by yet another Twin text. However, I learned my lesson from last time and my text alert is so much less annoying now. I also learned my lesson by simply not responding to him until I felt like waking up. Which is exactly what I did. I ran some errands in Sugarhouse and then came home and watched TV and uploaded pictures from my camera to my computer. I went through a bunch of Photo Booth pictures I have and found an obscene amount of pictures of just Twin, Jewel and I. It's slightly ridiculous how many there are. Then later on in the evening Jewel and I walked out to Sugarhouse and met up with Julie at this new burger place. Then we walked around Sugarhouse a bit, walked Julie home, and then walked ourselves home. There was a lot of walking.

WAKE UP

I was woken up this morning by an incoming text message an hour before my alarm was set to go off. I had slept for almost 6 hours at this point and my incoming texts sound like a car racing down the street and is on vibrate (both of which I promptly decided to change). 99% sure Twin (a.k.a. Zack) sent it solely to wake me up and annoy me. This is how the conversation went:

Twin: How did you sleep?
Me: OMG! Thanks for the crap wake up text
Twin: LOL! Well, now you can get a move on things. :D (big smile with teeth)
Me: Up yours
Twin: Then my work here is done. 0:) (angel smile face)
Me: (swear word)
Twin: Are you just going to fling insults at me now?!?
Me: Going back to sleep now. and dreaming of imported high thread count sheets
Twin: Haha! don't dream about bugs or dirty sheets!
Me: UGH! YOU'RE SO ANNOYING! NOW I'M AWAKE.
Twin: OMG! Twin, you needn't be so dramatic about everything.
Me: Did you know my family is afraid to wake me up in the morning? it's a family joke that you take your life in your hands. reason #1 for Daddy Daughter Donut Day.
Twin: What was reason #2?
Me: My dad liked alliteration.
Twin: Yay! Now I am part of the joke too!

Yeah, so that's how I woke up this morning.

On a side note, completely unrelated to ever, ever, ever getting up early, I did a load of laundry, cleaned out my portion of the pantry and cleaned the bathroom (hand and knees kind of cleaning) all before work this morning.