Buy Four... get Three free?!

I had my wisdom teeth taken out yesterday, and while under the influence of heavy pain medication thought that it would be appropriate to blog. Yesterday I lost seven teeth. I had 5 impacted wisdom teeth and 2 twelve year old molars removed. As I see it, that tooth fairy better pay up soon.
I am sure I have some great stories from when I was high on medication, but you will have to ask my mother for further details. My dear friend Franklynn came to visit me today, but I fell asleep while he was talking:( poor guy. But I am thankful for people who have remembered me and I will be so glad when I feel better so that I can take care of other people again.
So in the meanwhile, I am going to try to recover and you better have a great Christmas.

The Dishwasher Declaration

I am in college, and consequently live with people who don't load the dishwasher like Momma used to. Today is cleaning judgement day in humble S202, yes we have our quarterly cleaning check at 4 pm. Now, I am a clean person, like cleaning is a hobby of mine. I am so weird, I delight in gleaming surfaces and lemony scents. So while this is like Christmas coming early for me, I realize that this is not the case for everyone else in my life. As I was unloading the Dishwasher, I realized that I would love to have a Dishwasher Declaration neatly posted above my favorite sanitation appliance.

At risk of sounding like Marney click here(you should totally read that by the way... HILARIOUS)

I want to write a short list of rules regarding dish etiquette that we all should follow. Am I slightly insane? Yes, more than just a little.

1) ALWAYS rinse off your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
2) Tomato Sauce is the enemy, scrub until it is gone.
3) Baked-on stuff will not come off, but hooray for wishful thinking.
4) Orange Juice, Hot Chocolate, Dried Milk, and Sticky Soda residue also will not come off, if not properly rinsed.
5) Utensils should be placed in the basket eating side down, if your name is Mr. Fork or Mr. Spoon. If you are in anyway related to the Knife family, you should be placed eating/cutting side up, as to not dull the blade or harm the fragile plastic basket.
6) Dishwashers are mainly for sanitation purposes.

Okay that is my official statement regarding dishwasher usage. I am so glad I got that off my chest.

Stalling continued.

Today I found a website that made fun of the names typically found in Utah. There were really nice names like Brighamina and LaVar. Imagine my surprise when I found MY name, in the exact spelling. I had no idea that I had a typical Utah sounding name. This is all sorts of awesome, seeing as how I found my mother's, grandmother's, and my cousin's names on that list too(Randolyn, LaDean, and Korin). LaDean is also my sister's middle name, wow we really are a big happy Utah family. I am so glad that I do not share that peculiar honor with just strangers. Go see if your name is on it! http://wesclark.com/ubn/

As I am stalling from studying for finals, I thought it would be a nice treat to share the many things that I have found on the web. I found a website that has recipes inspired by Harry Potter cuisine http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/. This one was actually WAY cool, and I hope to one day make pumpkin juice.

While websurfing for modest clothing, I found a great site that comes complete with a no-frump promise: http://www.hannahlise.com/.
Clearly, my second day of stalling has been fruitful and entertaining.

Oh! one last thing. I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special for the first time in years today. It made me smile til me cheeks hurt.

Stalling

I am not in top form today. I am stalling the inevitable of studying for tests. I have to take a science test today, and when I woke up this morning I planned to take it at noon. And then I was going to walk up to campus at noon, and take the test at two. Then I had a Portuguese test review postponed until later this evening, so I was going to take my test at four. We'll see.

Now my stalling comes in the form of a blog. Hmmm... where did my will power go?

December 6, 2009

Today was a great day. It snowed! It is Sunday. I got to spend time with great people. I am listening to my roommate's extensive Josh Groban collection. I don't know how things could be much better. Sunday is my favorite day of the week because it is most often a time to focus on other people. There aren't many of the worldly distractions that prevail the other six days of the week, and the simple silence of slowing down can be savored. (I really love alliteration)
Today is the first day that has hit me as a Christmas season day. Perhaps it is the lights shining from other windows, or perhaps it was the first official snowfall. It felt like Christmas today because of the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I love Christmas, because it makes strangers more Christlike. Even if they just call it the 'spirit of the season', it is the true nature of Christ that inspires people to care for one another. That is what I love about Christmas, caring for others when it doesn't seem weird.
This is my last week of classes for the Fall 2009 semester. I can't even believe how fast it has gone by. Two bouts of illness, countless papers, and five batches of brownies later; I feel old! There have been highs and lows, but I feel perfectly comfortable in saying that this 18 credit semester had aged me:) AND... I wouldn't trade it for anything.

501.

Today I realized that I have 501 friends on Facebook. I have been looking forward to the day that I had 500 facebook friends for almost three years now. Wow. I must be popular. Or are some of those 'pity friends'? Nah, I am just popular. 500 is just a GREAT number. Think about it. 500 dollars. 500 pairs of shoes (maybe just me). Here is a list of things that I would 500 of:

chapstick tubes. (I always lose those!)
pillows.
books.
movies.
bagels. (Not all at once, mind you; the mold potential is horrifying.)
post-it notes.
framed pictures.
pairs of nylons.
flowers.
Christmas lights.
facebook friends.

Thank you for being my friend, whether it be in the flesh or via technology. One of my items has been checked off the list. Today, as I was counting my blessings, naming them one by one :), many faces flashed before my eyes as I was thinking of the goodness of the Lord. Really, I can now say that facebook has given me five hundred and one blessings. And really really, I can say that my friends have given me countless blessings.

Oh it is Wonderful to Me.

I love the holidays. I feel that it is very appropriate that 1/6 of my year (yes, my holiday season starts November 1st) is spent dwelling upon all of the things that bring Christmas cheer. Oh and Thanksgiving merriment as well. There are just so many wonderful things that are unique to the months turning into winter. In the spirit of my beloved holidays, I would so dearly love to mention some of the things I am thankful for.



Cleopatra Voldemort Smith
My darling Cleo - facebook friend, loyal companion and trusted family cat since 1999. The most hateful creature I have ever had the pleasure to meet, I am absolutely crazy about this fuzzy wuzzy beebo. Cleo bites everyone, growls when you get near her, and steps in your peanut butter frosting while your cookies are cooling down. She hisses at nice people and sits on your clean piles of laundry. She never purrs, showing signs of contentment is less enjoyable than showing sings of contempt. Her fur is so soft, but that doesn't mean that anyone is allowed to touch it. Cleo loves to eat plastic ribbons, and shiny gifts are often unwelcome because she will eat them. I am thankful for Cleo because she bites me less than she would bite you. She doesn't hiss at me until I have held her for 30 seconds. She sits on my laundry true enough, but she is so cute I am still thankful for her. For the 10 years of antics and tail swats, thank you Cleo for being my only family member who hasn't gotten married and left me.

Disinfectant
Dear Clorox and Lysol, I don't know how to choose between you. But know this, I am thankful for clean, streak free surfaces that you both provide. I am thankful for the lemony fresh atmosphere, and most of all I am thankful for the knowledge that raw meat germs will not get me.

Neil Diamond
I am listening to the radio right now, and Neil Diamond is singing a nice Christmas song. You have brought so much to us. Neil, if I wasn't already in America, I would come because of your song. Thank you for your spunk. It isn't everyday that you see a 60 year old man with a diamond stud earring. Unless you are Harrison Ford. I am thankful for him too.


My roommates
You make me cry. You make me laugh. You make me want to come home to our apartment everyday. And you let me make you guys sit on a couch to take a Christmas picture. That is how I know you care about me. I am thankful for Laiken, Heidi and Johannah because they teach me. They teach me love, they teach me patience and they teach me how to better serve others. I am thankful that I don't live alone. Thank you for taking that nice picture with me.