12.30.2012

Profile pictures: a critical review.

I recently went through my old profile pictures on Facebook and had a good laugh, so I thought you all might want to join me. Behold! the evolution of, well, me. We'll start with the oldest and work our way to now, yes? Yes. (And I should tell you in advance that I have 17 profile pictures so this may be a little really super lengthy. But I crack myself up with my commentary, so I'm posting them all anyway. Let's just all be thankful that I'm not one of those people who changes their profile picture every 7 hours, ok?)

*AWKWARD ALERT*

Exhibit A: 
Date: 22 July 2009
Description: This is me, making banana ice cream on Gram's porch, in sweats and a t-shirt I didn't actually tie correctly. With black and white plaid wedges into which I have neatly tucked my sweats. And a hot pink watch. 
Awkward factor: Hello, everyone's first profile pic is awkward. Solid 10.
Reason it had to go: That face, mostly.


Exhibit B:

Date: 10 August 2009
Description: Mariah and I had a lovely time at our ward youth conference smashing our faces together. This picture is evidence of my NOT wanting to slide down that natural waterfall and therefore doing everything to avoid the peer pressure to do so. Also, apparently I wore earrings for the activity?
Awkward factor: 8 for overcropping. Rookie mistake.
Reason it had to go: I had a new picture from a cooler activity with better bragging rights.


Exhibit C:

Date: 18 August 2009
Description: Won a radio contest which gave me free tickets to an outdoor concert in SLC. Took Jenna with me, enjoyed listening to The Fray, whose album I had definitely purchased and learned before going. Posted this for bragging rights.
Awkward factor: 6ish because cool event but awful picture.
Reason it had to go: Couldn't handle the blur.



Exhibit D:
Date: 26 August 2009
Description: Another youth conference picture. Here's a secret--there are at least 3 other girls on the other side of that cute Heather girl. She made it because we were the only two actually looking at my camera, I think. Plus because I love Heather. Duh.
Awkward factor: Overcropped again! Curses. 8.
Reason it had to go: Too much sweat, I think.


Exhibit E:
Date: 13 September 2009
Description: Ah, the model shot. Neon grass in the background, and a whole lotta tree bark. Bob hair which I would go back to if I didn't now think it made my head look like a Christmas ornament. Also, I loved that jacket.
Awkward factor: 9 for attempting to model.
Reason it had to go: The angle of my head. And the grass.


Exhibit F:
Date: 11 October 2009
Description: YES this is my first date. I actually think this is pretty cute because he dipped me and then I dipped him, except we weren't in love, so whatever. But look at my forearm! Also, this was one of the first times in my life that I felt skinny because I fit into one of Bri's dresses and that was not anything I ever expected to see happen. So, profile pic.
Awkward factor: I actually feel that it's minimal. 3?
Reason it had to go: Probably because either he used it and we matched (unlikely), or I just wanted another dance pic in my profile folder.


Exhibit G:
Date: 11 October 2009
Description: Did I mention I got the swine flu from this date? So that explains why there are two pictures! Because I had nothing better to do for my week of quarantine. Anyways, this one is definitely weirder than the last one for lots of reasons.
Awkward factor: Yeah this jumps up to 7 or 8.
Reason it had to go: The dance was suddenly a month behind us and I still had a dance profile pic...


Exhibit H:
Date: 1 November 2009
Description: Yikes to everything. Chose this because I was in love with my freckles. What freckles, you say? I dunno. While we're nice and close, can I just say that I have never done anything to my eyebrows and I plan to leave it that way until I die? And that I still wear just as much make-up every day as I'm wearing in this pic (which would be solely mascara). Word. I guess.
Awkward factor: FAR TOO CLOSE, so 10. But the little thumbnail square looked cute, so 9.
Reason it had to go: Needn't be explained.


Exhibit I:
Date: 3 January 2010
Description: Cool mirror at IKEA, needed a pic. Wearing my map shoes and my yellow purse and that bomber jacket which I still wear all the time and love to pieces. Underneath is my Fray shirt from the concert mentioned earlier. Irony.
Awkward factor: Meh, how bout a 5?
Reason it had to go: No clue.


Exhibit J:
Date: 17 January 2010
Description: Hey look, a literal profile! Hah! This is from one legit modeling stint because my friend needed a picture to sketch for a final project in her art class. Or something? She dressed me up as a pixie on a Friday night and we took pics.
Awkward factor: 7 because I stink at the serious face thing.
Reason it had to go: Didn't like my lipstick. I know it's ridiculous.


Exhibit K:
Date: 24 January 2010
Description: Still pixie status. CHECK OUT MY HAIR. It was super cool that night. I also happened to genuinely like this attempt at a mischievous look. It was described as "HOTT" by a friend (no worries, it was a girl friend not a boy friend), so I'm not the only one, ok??
Awkward factor: Maybe a 3 or 4. The 4 would be for trying to be too cool.
Reason it had to go: Got sick of it, probably.


Exhibit L:

Date: 9 May 2010
Description: Taken on an important date night wherein a certain boy whom I liked a lot told me he liked me too. Well, he said it first. You know what I mean. Anyways, I really just liked my hair a lot and felt the need to take a picture. Thanks be to Carolyn for sharing her skills on such an important occasion. 
Awkward factor: Well I definitely shouldn't have gone with that head tilt. 5.
Reason it had to go: Too yellow, awful lighting.


Exhibit M (only like 5 more!):

Date: 18 July 2010
Description: Hahahaha I love this picture forever and ever. I couldn't make that face again if I tried (and I've tried). Plus, my hair was at a fun length, and I was on a fun vacation, and we were in a really awesome thrift store full of junk that hipsters wouldn't even buy. Hipsters didn't even exist yet! So really, it was just pure junk.
Awkward factor: 0. [Hilarity factor: 10.]
Reason it had to go: Ugh, senior pictures came along and everyone was changing theirs to fancy portraits. I never should have changed mine cuz this is still my favorite.


Exhibit N:

Date: 24 November 2010
Description: First, I'd like to thank my sister Jenna for taking my picture against a wall that so nicely complimented my eyes. Then I'd also like to thank Gold's Gym for providing that wall. True story. This was my picture for, like, everything important in senior year. I suppose I like it, but sometimes I wish we would have done more to get a more legit senior photo shoot and therefore more options. But then most of the time I don't care because this more than sufficed. Love that dress, too.
Awkward factor: Maybe a 2? I dunno, I pretty much look the same now so I can't say I look awkward, duh.
Reason it had to go: Too profesh. Needed something a little more fun.


Exhibit O:

Date: 7 February 2011
Description: I enjoy this picture still. I still wear almost all of what I'm wearing (new watch, though), and my hair looked good that day, and it's candid! And I'm on a stool in a field, so I guess I did get senior photos after all. Hey family, remember how we hauled a couch and two stools up the mountain for these pictures? Good times, good times...
Awkward factor: 4 for my hand placement and schlumping (not sitting up straight)
Reason it had to go: The next photo was a memorial photo and therefore more important.


Exhibit P:

Date: 20 February 2011
Description: Gram and me. I love this picture and I love her. Posted this on the day she passed away because I couldn't bear admitting she was gone in words but I also couldn't bear letting her pass without public acknowledgement of her hero status in my life. Sure miss my Grammie.
Awkward factor: Solid ZERO. We're adorable.
Reason it had to go: Joe left 4 months later and was my new person to miss.


Exhibit Q:

Date: 22 June 2011
Description: Posted on the day he left, expected to remain until he returns. That boy hates being in pictures, so this is one of very few decent ones of just us two. There's pretty much nothing about it that I don't like except that date stamp. Hey look, he's wearing that jacket of Brigham's that he used to steal all the time and my hair's decently long! Our most endearing traits, for sure. 
Awkward factor: Also zero.
Reason it has yet to go: Well, he has yet to come home. But here's a confession: everyone knows that a boy in your profile pic who is not a brother is likely a love interest and that's why I haven't changed my pic in a year and a half. It's a statement, you know? But sometimes I want to change it just because my hair is way longer now and it feels stagnant to leave something alone for so long and maybe I don't need to make the same statement I did right after he left. Blog readers, WHAT DO I DO?? (I know this is not a big enough deal to ask opinions, but give them anyway.)




Whew! That was exhausting.
Two wrap-up thoughts:
1) I am really really glad that it landed on Exhibit Q because that's totally a quote from Pee Wee Herman something-or-other, which I haven't seen in years and don't expect to ever watch again, but I remember that part was funny when I watched it the first time! Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
2) If you made it to the end of this, I applaud you. Cuz I almost didn't make it myself, and it was me talking about me the whole time, which I usually find utterly fascinating (JOKE). In any case, I now invite you to post something similar because, hello, we all need to face the fact that our profile pics define us in this life (another joke, duh). But really though, I think it'd be hilarious if this became "a thing," so do it and let me know!! Pleeeeaaaasse? Thanks, you're the best.

And those are my profile pics.
The end.







12.28.2012

When it rains, it pours.

Can I just tell you about the day we've had, real quick?

:: Leaking water heater noticed this morning
:: Water working its way through half of the storage room, ruining carpet and a couple atlases but fortunately no food
:: No warm water all day
:: Sputtering toilets and faucets, dripping showers. In Briana's words, "Toilets are spewing forth much anger."

:: Frozen cars
:: My car battery is dead. It idles too low when it gets cold. Or something. All it means is that I have no transportation of my own.
:: Used Rye's to go to Jen's for the evening, couldn't see squat for the entire 2 minute drive (just kidding, Mom)
:: Her window scraper doesn't do a darned thing, by the way. I tried it.

:: Came home to Mattea having eaten a mysterious nut and ready to upchuck
:: Poor girl is presently lying on the floor by the nearest toilet
:: Also came home to frustrated people because something about "Lowe's wasn't cooperating so FINE, we'll just take our business to Home Depot!!" because it was kind of a last straw thing so we became those customers
:: And by last straw I am not kidding because oh, did I mention that Will's truck died and needed to be towed home?
:: And Dad fell down while carrying a new water heater and slipped on ice and nailed his elbow on concrete stairs

Needless to say, we're all a little a little anxious for today to be over.
I suppose lots of this doesn't really make sense if you haven't been at my house today. 
But that's ok because it's more for us to read over in the distant future and laugh, "How awful!"
Because seriously guys, I don't remember a time we've ever had such bad luck in one 24-hour period.



On a positive note, we have much to be grateful for.
The new water heater comes with energy efficiency labels and 10 extra gallons! And a discount because the people at Home Depot felt bad for us!
We have a bunch of cookies because we made some for a wedding reception in the ward tonight!
And our house is still standing!

All is well.
[Or at least, it will be in the morning.]
So good night.

12.27.2012

Turkey pics

One time, I went shooting again for Thanksgiving.
Pretty much, this is, like, totally my favorite tradition.


The turkeys:

The people:

The location:

Me and my turkey:
[That totally makes me think of that Rascal Flatts song... "Me and my gang, we live to ride, we ride to live." Weird.]

Brian and his gun:

Me bringing my lifetime "shotgun+clay pigeon" average up to 66% and then back down to 50% [poop], plus Mom:

And that's pretty much a wrap because I didn't take too many pictures this time around. If you want to see more, you can review last year's Thanksgiving celebrations because they were very similar to this year's celebrations. 

I love Thanksgiving! And my family rocks!

12.26.2012

In case you're curious what I did a few weeks ago

Let me tell you.


First, I took a bunch of tests called finals. They were stressful but it all worked out in the end through a series of downright miracles. I might share the story later, but for now, please enjoy this scanned picture of a worksheet I completed for the end of my math ed class this semester.


In the middle of finals week, my little sister's choir sang at the mall and did a lovely job. She's a right little accompanist, and I'm just so proud!

Hours after my last final, my brother-in-law became a doctor:
And the neph and I were cute for a minute while I showed him where Daddy was standing in line:
(More pictures from the event can be found on their blog.)

To celebrate the end of finals (mostly just the end of abstract algebra), I had a pizza party with some super cool friends in my major. Our host had this hilarious Christmas toy/decoration, and I need one in my life ASAP. It's just a little reindeer that bounces his way from the moon to the roof. But it's also, in a word, awesome. So if anyone out there knows where to find something that does this trick, please let me know.

And yeah. That was finals week. 

12.24.2012

Hola

Oh look, I still have a blog!
I thought for sure this thing would disappear if I ditched it for a month.
I've been real busy and stuff.
But it's not like that's a real excuse. I mean, you know, it's not like I've been out of the country or anything...

Oh wait. I almost forgot.
I just got back from MEXICO.
¡¡¡!!!
No worries, I didn't see anyone I know there. 
(Well that's a lie, I did see one person I know. But it wasn't a boy or anything.)
(So we're good.)


But anyways, I'll be back soon to show off my recent adventures and my rockin' sunburn.
Before then I just have to finish unpacking my toiletries and souvenirs and then I need to buy presents for like ten people and wrap them and give them away and then I have to send some stuff in the mail to like three different people and also I have to eat as much yummy food as possible and sometime in all that there's a Skype call that I'm looking forward to and at least I got to spend last week doing absolutely nothing so that I have a whole bunch of stored up energy for everything on the to-do list for the next two days. Right?
Whew. I love the holiday season.



Just in case I really don't have time to come back and say hi before Tuesday, I wanted to say:
Feliz Navidad, everyone. If Christmas isn't your thing, happiest of holidays. I love you all because you read my blog. 
And also for other reasons but that's the one that applies to everyone simultaneously. 
And I got you a baby sloth video as a present. 
Enjoy!

12.08.2012

Dear reader,

Well, you may have noticed that I haven't blogged in like a week. I'd apologize but that feels conceited so I guess I won't. 

Pretty much here's the deal: the end of this semester is in sight! I'm fairly certain I will hear angels singing on the day I take my last final. However, the bad news is that my level of care for my assignments/grades/future decreases [exponentially] with each passing day. For example, yesterday I showed up 30 minutes late to a study sesh with friends, and then today I totally forgot to go to two reviews. Like, I didn't even think about those bad boys until they were over. Like, they were the only real reviews I even planned to go to, and I inadvertently skipped them. 

So, ya know, whatev.

In honor of me trying to kick it in gear for the next week, however, I think I shall continue my blogging hiatus. If I'm going to not care about something, it may as well be something that affects my posterity rather than my scholarship, right?

Ugh, this is so not me

I think alls I'm tryna say is: I'll see you in a week. Or maybe right before. But don't expect to hear much from li'l ol' me for a while here because I have bigger fish to fry. 

Your understanding is much appreciated. 

With love from:
the management.