I love the 4th.

So many memories from past 4th of July's.

• Neighborhood parade. When I was younger, my whole neighborhood would get together in the morning and decorate our bikes and wagons. And we would ride up and down my street in our cute 4th outfits.
• Swimming with my dad's family friends at the Standard Oil Pool.
• Homemade strawberry ice cream.
• Listening to my little brother sing God Bless The USA.
• Lighting fireworks with the neighbors across the street, and seeing the dad come out in a huge, rubber suit.
• Getting made fun of for having a Barney blanket by my bishop.
• Bahama Cruise and Disney World.
• Pearl Harbor and parking garages last year.
• Barbeques.

It's always a good time. I'm so glad I could come home this weekend and spend time with my family, and being grateful to live in such an awesome place.

My 5 Year Plan. Give or Take.

Lately, I've sucked at posting. Life isn't very great at the moment, but I'm trying to be optimistic. I don't know why I just wrote that last sentance. It doesn't have anything to do with this post. Whatever. Here's what this post is supposed to look like:

PretendCollegeBestFriend (or whatever I referred to her as before) took a trip up north with the student body president for a wedding of a mutual friend. It was a 4 hour drive, and on the way up, he asked where she wanted to be in 5 years. She said she wanted to be married in a year, to a year and a half, and then she wanted 3 kids. His plans were similar, but...at the same time, not. Anyway...that was in September. In about March, she went on a date with another boy for an assignment in one of her classes. She asked him what his 5 year plan was, and he said he wanted to get married, and get the hell out of the state.

On Mother's Day, we talked to my cousin in Chili. He asked me if I was married yet, or getting close. I'm also 'babysitting' my 16 year old cousin while my aunt is at a wedding, and being there when my other cousin gets his wisdom teeth out before he's shipped off to Texas for 2 years. Today, she asked me when I'm getting married.

Anyway, lately...I've been thinking a lot about where I want to be, and what I want to do in the next 5 years, and for the rest of my life. So, here it is. My 5 year plan. Give or take. Because I'm not going to shoot myself if I don't do this within the next 5 years. I'll do these when the opportunities come.

• Go to Hong Kong to Study Abroad. The University I am attending had the chance to make a killer deal with one of the top 100 universities in the world over there, and I think it would be awesome. Because when else am I going to have the chance to go to China? Probably never. Also, another main reason for this, is when I told my mom the places that I could go that offer classes in my major, I mentioned how cool it would be to go to China. She told me that Hong Kong is a dirty city, and I should chose somewhere else. So watch out China, because I'm coming. I want to go my junior year for a semester in an effort to avoid someone possibly coming to my school that I would like to avoid. Good plan? BestFriend doesn't think so.
• Figure out what I want to do with my major.
• Find a cool internship to do next year.
• Date.
• Travel! I really want to try and go to Seattle within the next two years, because a dear friend just got his mission call there, and is leaving in September. Also, I want to road trip it back east.
• Get my degree.
• And then go to grad school. And like it.
• Sell my car.
• Spend a year in Europe.
• Buy a brand new car.
• Get married.
• Be a poor, married wife.
• Have kids.
• Have money.

The next 5 years (or so) look really busy!

So, I don't know if I've said this on here yet, but...I moved in with my grandma last week. I'm not really lovin' it. So, for the past 2 days, I've stayed at my aunt's condo with her and my cousin. It's been better. Hot, but better. Sane people to talk to is always a bonus, right?

Anyway....it's late, and so this might not make much sense. But I was talking to my aunt yesterday. She told me that my grandma is crazy (the one that I don't live with) (I already knew this.) You see, said grandma, has a lot of money. Once upon a time, my grandpa was an accountant. He knew how to budget money really well. He and grandma bought crazy amounts of stock for their 3 kids, and what would be grandkids. Grandma has been saving money, and has...who knows how many millions of dollars. Growing up, grandma would pay for my aunt from Seattle, and my aunt from Wyoming to drive near our house, and we would spend a week together, and we'd swim, and have a huge-a birthday bash for all of her descendants. It was fun, and there are many great memories swimming and playing with my cousins. And then, when I was 9, she took us on a cruise to the Bahamas. And again when I was 12, and then we spent some time in Jackson Hole, and then last summer, we went to Hawaii together. Each vacation, she promises it's the 'last big one'. So yeah, grandma's rich.

Grandma's also mean. Apparently she paid for my dad, and my aunt in Seattle to have burial plots. But...not my aunt in Wyoming. Her daughter is going to school somewhere else, and so they're staying in a condo that my grandma bought, but doesn't know about. Because she gave my Aunt money, and told her buying a condo would be a waste of money. So what did she do? Bought a condo. It's been a good thing, because she brought me two huge baskets filled with goodies, and took me to lunch and a movie twice last semester.

She's always been my favorite aunt, and I'm not just saying that because she said she would let me come over and sleep in her condo whenever I want, or because she gave me presents. I think it's because, when I was younger, and we'd visit her in Wyoming, she would let us eat ice cream for breakfast. On top of our pancakes. And that's something my mom never let us do. They always tasted better. It might also be because her kids were my age, and we were besties growing up. We were such great friends. And I have vivid memories of us at their house sliding down their stairs with all the sleeping bags, blankets and pillows that they owned. I loved going to Wyoming.

Another reason why she's my favorite aunt, is because we relate so well to each other. Yesterday, she told me about how grandma asked her what she wanted, and she said the hot tub. Grandma wrote it down, and two weeks later, sold the hot tub because she thought my aunt 'couldn't afford it'. She also told me that my aunt in Seattle has always been the favorite child. She always did things right, and my other aunt, couldn't do anything right.

Today, I was telling her about DOS, and how frustrating she is sometimes. She told me that her husband, doesn't usually pick up on people's personalities very well, but he has said more then once that he doesn't think he could be around DOS for very long, because she's really moody. She told me that they weren't supposed to have favorites, but I have always been their favorite. Ever since they first met me. I was in shock... I never thought I was a 'favorite' of anyone other then probably BestFriend and my little brother.

Let's just say...she's getting a very nice mother's day present from me on Sunday.

Boundaries

So, I'm a lot smarter than DOS, and...a few of my friends. I took psychology in 11th grade, and remember liking it. I took it last semester, and remember hating it. Why, you ask? Because last semester, all my teacher talked about was oral sex. It bothered me. So, needless to say...a career in psychology is out for me. But, I do know how the brain works, and is programmed. This is because: a) I am smarter than a lot of other people I know, and b) I blog-stock smart people, therefore, acquiring certain intelligences.

In January, my sister (who just turned 21) posted a blog about how she was pretty sure...she didn't have a prefrontal cortex. She had just learned about what it was, and it's function in a class she took at school. I, knew what a prefrontal cortex was in February. Of last year. A little ahead of my times, I think so. I learned about it not because I went to (or even paid attention) in psychology, but because I know of cool blogs that I occasionally stalk from time to time. I laughed when my sister came to this realization enough to actually blog about it. Because a) it's true and b) it's embarrassing for her to announce to whoever reads her blog that she does not, in fact, have a prefrontal cortex.

Let me tell you what the prefrontal cortex is, in case, you are like me, and either don't go to psychology, or you don't read cool blogs.* It's the front part of your brain, and it's a shield. It's the thing that helps you censor what would and wouldn't be okay for you to say, or act in certain social situations. I fully believe with everything that I have, that DOS does not have this part of her brain developed. And some days I wonder if it ever will be. Like on days where she tells DLS that she needs to go to counseling because she (DLS) is actually crazy, and DOS is just fine. Skewed perspective? I think so.

So, let's pretend that this whole, development of the prefrontal cortex runs in my family. Or, in this case, not. This is what I would say if I was my sister. And hey, since I'm anonymous, I will give initials of people who I would want to say this to. Because, chances are...they're never going to see this.

• KH: Will you please give me gas money? I hauled your butt 4 hours north, and 4 hours back to see your boyfriend. That's not a free trip, darling. Give me $10, and I'll get over the fact that you used me to see your boyfriend, who was coming down next weekend anyway.
• PretendCollegeBestFriend: Please, stop falling for boys so easily. The boys you fall for are either not interested in being in a relationship with you because they are so out of your league, or they are gay. I honestly, don't see why or how you even like them. They aren't cute, and the others are definitely, some of the biggest jerks I have ever met. M2 is using you to get some action. It's not cute that everytime he touches you, you scream. This is not just a flinch, it is a full-out spasm. And don't call me when I'm making him clean the peanut butter off my car, and tell me you think he is adorable, and that it's so cute that he's helping me clean my car after I paid $6 for a car wash that did, practically nothing. It's not adorable that he put peanut butter and honey all over my new car, and then made me pay for a freaking car wash. Also, please stop texting me everytime there is a campus event and asking me if I'm going to go. Chances are, I will, just not with you. Especially if M2 is there with you. I don't like him. I expect him to help me clean up the mess he made, after I spent 2 hours trying to do it myself. And, the texts you send me in ALL CAPS HAVE TO END. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS A REASON WHY I DON'T TEXT YOU BACK. I have some boundaries, and as a "BestFriend" I ask you to respect them. So, if I give you my phone to look at one text, please don't go through my entire inbox and read every single one. They aren't yours, damn it.

Writing that last one made me so tired, that I'm going to bed. Sorry I'm so spacy. I'll write more later on, when I'm more awake.

*You are redeemed. You're reading this one.

New Year's Resolutions

I don't like them. I don't like the thought of "A New Year, A New YOU." What the crap? You can make changes any day that you want. You don't have to wait for the New Year.

Anyway...this post is meant to be a little lighter, so I hope you enjoy it!

So, I have some goals. Most people usually do, so...let me share with you a few of mine:

• Invest in some 80's work out attire, and learn how to aerobics to fun, upbeat music. And do this as often as time permits.
• Hold dance parties in my small dorm room.
• Take some pictures while I'm only slightly breaking the law with some good friends.
• Wear something ugly everyday.
• Find said ugly things from the DI for wayyy cheap.
• Go on a hot air balloon ride.

Yeah. This is all I can think of right now, but...give me time, I'm sure I'll have tons more!!!

Aiight.

So, remember how..I was super frustrated that I had never had a car before in my life?

Well...I would like you to meet.....

CARLOS

My new car.

I love it.

I'm a little late in posting this, because I got it the first day of Spring Break. But..I just thought I would inform you that I am, in fact, now cool enough to be able to say that I have a car.

Uhm. There was a reason for posting this, but..now I can't remember. Maybe I'll think of it tomorrow.

xoxox.

Could this day get any worse?

Let's review today:
-Woke up at 7:30 to take someone to the middle school.
-Came back.
-Fell asleep.
-Got a parking ticket.
-Slept thru my class.
-Woke up to a nice phone call.
-Emailed my dad about my broken phone.
-Went to Walmart to fix said broken phone.
-Didn't work.
-Went to get gas.
-Couldn't get the gas cap off.
-My toe started gushing blood.

I'm trying to be optimistic about the day. I'm appealing my parking ticket, I got to talk to BestFriend, and a very nice man helped me at the gas station. So it's not all bad. And it definitely could be a lot worse (: