Information Overload

Massachusetts was absolutely beautiful. It was just the vacation from life that I needed. I was able to see my future roommate/my best friend, I was able to go to the beach for the first time since I was about 6. I was able to traverse through the bug invested forests without facing death (although it felt like death considering we got lost, we were being eaten alive by every bug known to man, and we had to sneak through someone's yard to finally get out of there). I was able to go to Six Flags New England where Brynn and I melted (literally) along with everyone else there (humidity is a lovely thing), and I survived my very first minor concussion. I was able to go to church in Amherst and experience a small ward again like those good ol' Colorado days. I was able to survive Brynn's limited driving experience on freeways and highways and roundabouts. I was able to relax and forget about the fear of college and about everything that is ending and everything that is beginning. It was lovely. :)

Upon getting back to the desert (I will forever miss the lack of dirt that Massachusetts offered), I went back to work, I bought all of my college kitchen stuff (I swear it feels like I'm playing house), and I changed my last day of work. It is now August 27th. Now I can actually have a week without work to pack up my belongings for college instead of one Saturday.

Basically, this is just an information overload blog post. But there you have it.

ABC

ABC's of Me:

A. Allergies are the bane of my existence. If allergies were a person, I would beat him to a pulp.
B. I become restless if I stay in one place too long. I can only handle one lazy day at a time. Any more than that, and I start to go crazy.
C. I enjoy reading, I really do. I need to do it more often. I could live in a library. My favorite authors are Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson. I mix them up often.
D. I can not focus on writing anymore with Summer in full swing. It's just too beautiful outside.
E. I enjoy melting outside no matter how much I complain about it. I wish I could melt all day every day.
F. Dusk is my favorite time of day.
G. I make weird screaching noises when something excites me. I try really hard not to, but it just happens.
H. I have an adventurous heart and would do so many amazing, kind of reckless things if I weren't so chicken. Instead, I settle for biking, running, etc. (Anything outdoors).
I. I want to be the kind of teacher that kids look back on and say, "Wow, they really inspired me." Like Mrs. Riley.
J. I love my Opa and Oma. I envy their marriage.
K. I love swinging. I love leaning my head back and looking at the sky while swinging.
L. I can't die until I see Coldplay live in concert.
M. I also can't die until I have been on the London Eye. And gone sky diving. And scuba diving. And tried to surf. And ski. And go cliff diving. Basically, I can't die until I do everything reckless.
N. I despise driving. It's a waste of my life, and it makes it so I can't look at summer.
O. Pay cuts are the dumbest things in existence.
P. Kendals (or however it is spelled) make me mad. So does giving laptops to fourth graders and up. I am passionate about education. Kendals and electronic learning are stunting the minds of children today.
Q. My piano is my life. Just touching its keys calms me down.
R. I say cran. Not crayon. Crayon takes too long. It's another waste of my life.
S. I don't fear flying. I actually love flying. It's airports that scare me. They are so busy all the time, and they are too large. I am sign stupid. I don't understand directional signs.
T. I love my family.
U. God is amazing. I can't believe how amazing God is.
V. I wear flats, not sneakers or anything of the sort. My feet, odd as it is, get claustrophobic. I only wear sneakers when I run, etc. And I only wear boots in the snow.
W. I fear everyday situations. For example, going to the store scares me.
X. I am very, VERY picky about what music goes on my IPOD or my blog playlist. If the song has no meaning to me personally, or if the words are just stupid and the song is only good for the beat (a.k.a. every single song that is coming out these days), then I will not let it near my IPOD.
Y. Simpleness is the best thing. I don't want a big home in the future. I don't want expensive things. The simpler, the better. I just want my family with me to enjoy good times together.
Z. I treasure speaking out loud with someone in person or over the phone. Actual communication. I will forever hate texting, facebook, and anything of the sort. However, I will forever use them.

Having a Life 101

"Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me

And I'm feeling good."

Michael Buble is a genius. This song sums up exactly how I feel right now. I realized last night...I have a life!! I've never had a life before!

I work 7 hours every day. And then I go home and I find some friends and I invite them to hang out. We hang out, I get home late, go to bed, and do it over again the next day. I make plans on my own with family and go out to dinner with my great grandparents. I went on a date the other night. I'm going to Massachusetts. And to Colorado, even for only 3 days. And I'm doing a 50 mile bike ride with the laurels in my ward which requires training (hello biker muscles!). And....I have a life!!

Lately, I've been feeling very weird. Not bad weird...Very very good weird. I feel free (BOOOOOORN FREEEEEEEEEE. It's a song. Look it up.) I feel so happy, and I find myself at work smiling to absolutely no one. I smile at walls. I smile at my computer. I smile at the ceiling. I'm probably insane.

Yup.

I'm insane.

But it feels so good! I find myself initiating a lot of things more. Instead of sitting at home feeling like a hobo (which I must admit I do a lot), I invite people to hang out. I go out and find things to do with my life. I make plans. I've taken control of my life. And it feels so good!

I feel like I'm maturing. Growing up. But I feel like I'm doing it in a way where I still have fun. I'm....dare I say it...allowing myself to have fun. I feel like I can be myself more. I'm not so shy anymore. I'm not antisocial anymore. I love people! Did you know that? I didn't. People are SO nice! And I've found.....people actually enjoy being around me when I'm myself....I think....

This is the good life....I should have a life more often. :)