Help me pleeeeeease

Just rill quick, I need to know the most comfortable pair of shoes you have ever owned and where you got them! Especially if they were sandals. Especially if those sandals had a strap around the back.

It's because I go to work on a reg'lar schedule now and work means standing for 5 hours, which I really don't mind but apparently my feet do mind. But I don't think they'd mind if I gave them some better shoes! And I found some cute ones at Ross the other day with lots of support for $23 which was awesome, but then I wore them around the house and realized that a half size too small is really a half size too small in this case (because sometimes I can get away with it). 

So I will be returning those lovelies and crying sometime in the next 30 days, but if anyone were to make an excellent recommendation on here, I would probably cry less.


Also, while I'm here can I just say that I firmly believe $206 for a used textbook is ridiculous under any and all circumstances. 

And also, this is adorbs:
 
But please do NOT worry about yourself. Worry about me (cuz I need new shoes) and post a comment. kthanksloveyoubye

Between semesters

This "between semesters" time has been wonderful for me.


I unplugged almost completely. Except for checking/deleting emails and texts and calls on my phone, I have used very little technology. This means that I unfortunately have read none of y'all's blogs...sorry. Also, what is this "Facebook" people talk about sometimes?

I have spent lots of time with people. I worked on Thursday, went shopping with family and played with friends both Friday and Saturday, and chose to go to game night after ward prayer tonight. I was exceptionally friendly during church today since I went to new member meeting during second hour and it was packed. We had old family friends over for dinner tonight and I lamented greatly that I couldn't stay longer and chat. These social things are not normal for me! (I may write a post about this in the near future.)

I also spent a good chunk of time with my puzzle and good music, of course. 

I cleaned a lot of this house on Saturday because I had nothing else to stop me from doing so. It felt great, surprisingly. 

I bought cute clothes for summer. Picture neon, gray, and navy, and gold sparkles. Not all at once though! Gosh. Anyways, Ross and I may or may not have finally become friends. This is a big deal since I often avoid shopping at Ross because of two rookie mistakes in my earlier years. Half of that stuff needs to go back, though. Dang it. 

And I started making some excellent early-summer plans. I'm keeping things pretty low key this summer since I could potentially experience a few major hiccups in my plans, and I don't want to have a load of expectations get smashed. But I'm thinking lots of DQ, probably some extra time on campus just for fun (I love my school), and plenty of hikes-that-aren't-hikes, such as Bridal Veil and Battlecreek, in addition to some deep cleaning (of my drawers, closet, bathroom, life, etc.) and some dating and some serious ward involvement. But I mean, we're talking very low key here.


I've never used my off-school time as well as I have in this last week, so I'm just feeling pretty good is all. 
That's what I came here to say. 


But while I'm here: I know that I end every blog post with a mention of how good life is; this is because it is always true! I hope it doesn't come across as fake or conceited or anything in between. I just want my posterity (and my current readers, of course) to know that I always have more blessings than I can count or measure and that I try to deliberately look for them. I think this is a huge key to living happily and healthily: recognizing each day what parts of your life are good and being thankful for them. Quoth President Hinckley:

"Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."

And it's summer, so go enjoy yo'self some SUN.

Bittersweet. Mostly sweet.

Tomorrow is my last final for this semester. Most people rejoice over these things, but I'm kind of sad about it. 

This semester rocked. It was pretty much super easy (a needed break after last semester) and BONUS: super fun. I loved my hard math class, my education classes were interesting, my religion class changed my life, and I got a job which I look forward to every day. I also found a playlist to which I can successfully write papers, and my grades are going to turn out like I want them to (I think). I don't want this wonderfulness to end.

But...

I'm signed up for classes I will enjoy mucho mucho for spring term. I am legitimately excited to start school again in a week. 

Many of my friends are getting mission calls/preparing for missions/going on missions soon and it's very exciting. I have great opportunities for missionary work in my ward and that's also very exciting. 

In 9 weeks, a certain missionary comes home. That's a single digit number of weeks.



LIFE IS SO GOOD.
By which I mean: Life is never perfect, but I just can't deny that mine is wonderful. 

This is a Bananagram that I was proud of:

He he, it says "bum"

And these are my coworkers. We're quickly becoming BFFs.

Jk jk. But I do love my real coworkers. But I don't have a picture of them. 

The end.

HBLL Level 5

I am currently studying (AKA blogging and sending emails) on the fifth floor of the library. 

....

I really don't understand why people say to go here to get a date. NOT THAT THAT'S WHY I CAME. Stop judging me. (I jest, I know you're all too nice to judge other people.) But really though, it's not why I came. I came because all the other library areas I tried before this one are completely packed today. Must be a reading day or something.

Besides, apparently the Talmage works just as well for getting dates. This I know from personal experience.

But anyways, as I was just saying, I don't understand why it's rumored that this is the place to go to get a date. It's just as silent as the rest of the library, and equally stressful, and all around awful. It's making me remember why I don't usually study in the library. I don't see any flirting or number exchanges or even any smirks, for crying out loud. 

So for any who are wondering, that dating rumor is false. 
Remember this, dear posterity.

That's all. 

Realization

I have never in my life had a time when I have gained more perspective or felt more hope than this current time. 

Boston, yes.

But there's so much more to it for me right now.

I literally cannot suppress the feeling that:

And it's not just because I'm choosing to be positive, because I tried actively to feel sad.

But I can't not see the end from where we're at.

And I can't see that it's bad.

So I'm not worried.

I can't help but think that HOPE is my gift right now.

And I am thanking God for it and moving forward.

A Thursday post

I just wanna blog but I'm not feeling incredibly inspired, so let me just record my day.

Today I had time for breakfast and still got a rockin' parking spot.
Bonus: I was also on time for my 8:00 class.
We did group stuff in my first class. Sometimes, I prefer to fly solo. It's fine.
Then, I did not listen (not even a little bit) during geometry. I can own up to that.
But during my 2 hour break, I responded to some important emails and read a bunch of blog posts since my Google Reader exploded the day before. That felt productive.

I also went to visit Susan and we talked about, well, a ton of stuff. 
I was like 5 minutes late to my next class, but here's the thing: it didn't matter even a little bit. We, the people [of the class], wrote our final to be taken next time and then it was turned into a take-home, open-everything final. Rockin'.
So then I left that class and opened the email with the final attached and filled in my answers. Done and done.

I drove home and got stuck behind this old truck which insisted on going 25 in a 35 zone. I would have been frustrated normally but I had an extra hour today (no choir), so it was fine. Also, there was the cutest old couple inside that truck and I couldn't have been mad at them if I'd tried.
And then I was home, so naturally I played with the nephew for a while and ignored all my homework.
It was a good decision. 
I also chose to play the piano for a while this afternoon, and that was also a good decision. Our piano was tuned and voiced last week, so playing it lately is like heaven on earth.
Then we had dinner and I basically spent the evening with different family members or (at the end) on my computer. 
OH AND BRIANA MADE CUPCAKES THAT ARE TO DIE FOR.
Sorry, I just suddenly remembered that.

Anyways, today was lovely. Pretty much a normal Thursday, if you're curious.
Don't worry, I've never had homework due on a Friday this entire semester, so the fact that I didn't mention doing any in the evening (and that that is the norm) is fine. 


Thursdays are my favorite days.

I call this "accountability"

:: send letters to 3 2 missionaries
:: prep for my new job (set up training, direct deposit, etc.)
:: some homework
:: stop being a jerk about how my family is on spring break and I'm not
:: learn how to become friends with boys
:: memorize 3 hymns
:: Conference on Saturday (singing in Conference, that is)
:: stop worrying about small stuff I can't fix
:: blog about Mexico (ugh I am the worst)
:: course evaluations
:: stop getting easily overwhelmed


School stuff left: 1.5 group projects, 2.5 analysis assignments, 3 geometry assignments, and 1 paper. And I forgot last time that I need to index 50 names, but that'll only be like an hour of  my time, so no big deal.

Guys. This is the last full week of school. After tomorrow I don't have choir at all, which seriously frees up some time. And then next week it's just Monday and Tuesday of class, two reading days, and then finals. 

It's almost over! And then I get to start the following:
:: new job WAAHOOOOOOOOOOO
:: new classes that are fun fun fun
:: and summer.

Oh yeah, life is bueno.

To-do list

:: send letters to 3 missionaries
:: prep for my new job (set up training, direct deposit, etc.)
:: some homework
:: stop being a jerk about how my family is on spring break and I'm not
:: learn how to become friends with boys
:: memorize 3 hymns
:: Conference on Saturday (singing in Conference, that is)
:: stop worrying about small stuff I can't fix
:: blog about Mexico (ugh I am the worst)
:: course evaluations
:: stop getting easily overwhelmed


Dunno if you can tell but I'm a little stressed out tonight.
I really don't have any sort of extra load compared to usual but I'm having the strugs for some reason. 

The good news is that I only have 2 group projects, 3 analysis assignments, 4 geometry assignments, 1 paper, and 1 family history project before this semester is OVER. It sounds like a lot in a list like that but honestly, I am done with all midterms so it is just assignments from here until finals, and I can handle that. 

Guys. I can do this.
I probably need a glance through my inspire folder. Hang on a sec.


Oh look what I found!

Ah. It's perfect. 
Who woulda thunk it'd be Calvin and Hobbes tonight?
Not I. But I'll take it. 

The day I became a contributing member of society

Ladies and gentleman, I have an announcement to make!

I GOT A JOB.

A real job, where I have to "go into work" and stuff.

As opposed to a job where either people come to my house or I go to their house.

And I'm just really excited about it and I want to tell e'rybody but that feels a little weird so I think I'll celebrate by going to lunch with my family tomorrow because they're going to lunch anyway and yeah.