Dear Dani,

You paint your nails like 3 times a day (seriously).

In no way am I exaggerating. 

I like to think of myself as someone who takes pretty good care of themselves.

HOWEVER, I HATE painting my nails.

Sure I feel great after I've done it... but it's temporary gratification.

As Dani is evidence of, nail polish lasts all of 24 hours before you have to do it all over again because it's cracking off.  I swear.  My roommate has bottles of nail polish all over her room.  In the course of an hour while sitting in her room, it's possible AND likely that she will paint her nails  two different times.  

I love being a girl, but there are some things I will never understand. 

Dear BYU Cougs,

HA!  You really give me a hoot for a couple of reasons.

1. You love school waaayyy too much.

2. If you ever miss any points on tests, 

it's as if the world is crumbling down around you.

3. When you mess up, you have excuses for EVERYTHING!  

...and they're usually ridiculous.

Case in point:

After getting our short answer responses back in our Stats lab, some chickadee in front of me asked our TA why she missed the point (17 out of 18 wasn't good enough).  He gave her some answer in terms I didn't even recognize, and then she pouted her whole way out the door.  As she was walking down the stairs with her amiga, she said these exact words..."Well, that's what I meant... I just didn't say it."  

Hahaha...and that's why you crazy cougs make me laugh.  That's the WORST excuse I've ever heard.  It doesn't even make sense.

Funny stuff, cougs.  Funny stuff.  

Dear read the fine print,

Joke's on me, ladies and gents.  

I am officially a moron.  

Any of my roommates/friends know that I have been slaving for the past 36 hours over my Marriage class papers.  3 5pg. papers?!  Is this some kind of joke!?  

And to add to the stress, I also have to take my exam early tonight since I'm leaving in the morning for California (hard life, I know).  Anyway... I have studied for maybe a total of a 1/2 hour because I spent literally... NO JOKE almost 10 hours on my papers.  

I come into class tonight and turn in all 3 papers.  As I am passing them up to the next person, I notice how light all these papers feel. 

 Hmm.  That's strange.  How could 15 pgs per person feel light?

I look at the girl ahead of me and say, "Um.  Weren't we supposed to write all 3 papers?"

"No... you only had to choose one of the three."  

Ha.  Ha.  Hahahah!

That is all I can do.  Just laugh.  

Laugh at the fact that I am feeling like a complete idiot 

for spending hours on end researching for these papers.  

Laugh at the fact that instead of studying for my test, I spent my time writing ungraded papers

Laugh at the fact that I missed my genealogy workshop in order to finish my final paper.

Laugh, laugh, laugh.

Un-freaking-believable.  

So people... read the fine print.  Lesson learned. 

Dear 'Can I get a Hallelujah?!"

Yes, I checked the mail yesterday.

Yes, I could feel my heart beating in my throat 

when I saw an envelope from the School of Education.

Yes, I savagely tore open the envelope 

(and still am not quite sure where it ended up),

Yes, I literally screamed outside of the mailboxes of my complex.

YES, 

Yesterday both Dani and I received our letters of acceptance into the McKay School of Education Elementary Ed. Program!  

I am so excited to be a teacher... and now I am one step closer!

I've had a bit of experience with these kiddos in the past:

6th Grade Camp Counselor... and let me just say I will never teach 6th graders. 

Volunteered in an Elementary School.  My AWESOME 4th graders:

Innocent 1st graders: 

Psychotic 2nd graders (this picture does not do justice): 

And sweet kindergarten babies:

You can call me Ms. Eckel.

Dear Change Shmange,

Below you will find pictures of Ash Bash's wedding shower.  I think the whole entire time I was having anxiety because I am just so thrown off by all this growing up that's going on around me.  I mean really... my friends are old enough to get married now, boys who are actually MY age are coming home from their missions, and I am trying to brainstorm ways to earn money so I am not completely dirt poor one day (key words: one day) when I'm married.  Not okay.  

Anyway, I went home that night (this past Thursday) and started reading through some journal entries from this summer.  I came across one that really made me think.  This is what I wrote:

The older I get, the more I realize that you have to stop looking back on the yesterdays.  The past is done and gone and the future is bound to come, no matter how hard we try to push it away.  And just as one chapter closes, another one opens and because of the lessons we've learned before, we are more prepared to meet the days ahead of us. (8.22.08)

Hm.  I guess I learned a little lesson from myself that night.  Change really isn't so bad, and even if it is... tough luck.  Deal with it.  There are plenty of great things to come, and not only that... there are plenty of great things happening now, TODAY!  

As Mika so wisely sings, "Everybody's gonna love today, love today, love today.  Everybody's gonna love today any way you want to.. any way you've got to."  Mmhmm.  Thanks Mika.

and p.s. Ash...you are going to be the cutest little bride ever! 

Dear Tender Mercies,

'...the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.' -Nephi 1:20

I am always so surprised when I actually open my eyes and try to observe things around me, at how many wonderful blessings I have in my life.  Just this past week I went to Ash's wedding shower.  Her soon to be grandmother-in-law was best friends with my Grandma Sally when they were both raising their kids in Colorado.  My grandma passed away when I was going into second grade and I really can't remember a whole lot about her.  It was such a cool experience to meet someone who was so close to her.  She told me all about my grandma and the person she was.  She said that it didn't matter where my grandma went, she always fit in because she was so friendly and loving toward everyone.  It was definitely a tearful conversation for both of us but I felt so blessed to have been able to meet Anna.  Nothing awful is happening in my life, but it was just a testimony to me that the Lord knows who I am, that He's aware of me, and that He loves me.  I know my Grandma Sally was watching and smiling as two people she loved were finally able to meet.

This is Anna and I: 

The last two weeks of school have been crazy ones to say the least.  Last week I got a Christmas package in the mail from JD.  He is such a wonderful example to me of someone who truly loves the Gospel and his fellowmen.  I love hearing from him and having reminders that he's still alive and well :) 

Dear DO NOT GET ME STARTED,

So I am currently sitting in my Statistics class.  The Professor asked for someone to give an opening prayer.  In this prayer, some boy decides to thank Heavenly Father for "Barack Obama and the changes he plans to make."  

REALLY?!  REALLY?!  

You can bet I opened my eyes, my jaw dropped, and I looked at Dani and said, "Oh my gosh."  

Then following the prayer, some girls behind me say..."Did you know Obama smokes?"  Then I said "Did you know Obama wants to kill babies?  Reminds me of a man named Herod..."  

Yeah.  Yeah.  I'm mad.  These dumb liberals here at BYU feel like since they're in such a minority (wah wah wah... welcome to life -- I'm a minority in practically everything I believe) they need to profess their political views in everything... even their PRAYERS.  

For goodness sake.  

Dear Life,

Today I use my blog title as the heading for this entry.

After my class this evening, my distaste (for lack of a better word or rather for some sense of professionalism), for Barack Obama has only escalated. I have strayed as much as possible to keep this blog from becoming political, although I'm sure it's no surprise where I stand. I think I have had few moments in my life where I have been as disgusted, distrubed, and shooken up as I currently feel.

As we discussed abortion tonight and the ways that laws and regulations have been altered over the years, I was read a quote from Obama himself, announcing that his first task once in office, will be to remove ALL abortion restrictions that currently exist. One of these restrictions was passed in 2003 which declared that Partial Birth Abortion would be outlawed.

Once Obama signs for this to go to Congress (which thanks to the overflow of Democrats will pass) ALL RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION will be removed.

For those of you who do not know what a partial birth abortion actually entails, I will spare you the details. Wikipedia it or send me an email if you feel so inclined. However, I will not be broadcasting such an awful procedure on my blog.

I am disturbed. I don't know a better way to put it. I don't agree with basically anything Obama has to say... but I had been so focused on his views of socialism and "change" I didn't seem to realize how much change I really could believe in. Oh he's changing this country, alright.

So yes, this blog is written to life. Written for all the precious lives that will be lost because of a so called choice that our soon to be President will not only allow, but feels so strongly about it that it's the first change he plans to make. This 'choice' is not whether you want the child or not. Rather the choice takes place long before the moment of conception even occurs. The choice is whether you will engage in sexual intercourse or not.

I feel so sick inside for the way this world is becoming.

Dear Airport Bathrooms,

HA HA HA.

Of course.  Why should I be able to maneuver my body (and think to myself... have my love handles really become this wide?), back pack, carry-on, and winter coat into one stall?  That would just be plain silly.

You're right.  It's not even really that necessary for the thin layer of plastic wrap on the seat to actually switch with each individual use.  And it's definitely not a big deal that I get splashed by your infested water as your automated toilet tends to flush on a 12 second basis.

My favorite however, certainly has to be how the automated sink squirts out a thin stream of water for a good 1.2 seconds so I can wave my hands like a darn fool in front of the sensor in attempt to wash off the rest of pin sized drop of soap your dispenser so generously gave.

What happened to the days when I use to be able to control when I wanted the toilet to flush, the temperature of the water and length of time it would run, or even the amount of soap I could wash my hands with?  Psh.  Technology...

HA HA HA.

Airport bathrooms... you really give me a chuckle.

(But hey, I didn't even have the option of flushing a toilet in Peru after 10pm... so I guess I won't complain that all I need to do is remove my rear and you'll do the rest).

Dear University of Utah,

You were the first college to accept my application.  You were the first University to give me hope that I would actually attend college, in fact.  

And tonight, you gave me hope yet again.  

Only this time, it was a different kind of hope.  It was a hope that the underdogs do in fact stand a chance against the big guys.  In turn, reinforcing my hopes for a big win on Monday evening as The Ohio State University Buckeyes take on the Texas Longhorns.         

Sure I have PLENTY of -- borderline obsessive -- Buckeye pride, but I can't help but be nervous considering our history with these last few years of bowl games.  To add to my jitters, it's been reported that both Boeckman and Pryor will be rotating in and out.  Make me lose sleep a little more Tressel.  Come on.  

Regardless of the outcome, I know Tuesday morning I will wake up still proud to be a Buckeye.  My pal in AZ says the Buckeye fans are already packing the state with stickers and signs covering their vehicles... we are awesome. 

 But hey, the Utes really gave me some hope tonight.  Let's just hope my Bucks feel the same way.  So Longhorns... move over because Tressel and his boys just came into town.  

Dear Dick Clark,

The best part about ringing in the new year for 2009 is knowing that this year I'll get to say JD gets home "THIS July" instead of "next July" ...or worse, "not this upcoming July, but the one after it."  

Is that pathetic or what?  Regardless, I don't care.  My best friend is not only coming home, but gets to meet all my girl best friends!  I get to talk about life, the gospel, and what I've been up to not just to a recorder, but face to face!  WOW.  2009 is finally here.  Unbelievable.  

So, even though I'm not New Years Eve's biggest fan, this one was fabulous because not only did I sit at home with my parents watching Prison Break (episodes I have already seen, mind you), scratch little Blizzard's furry back and remind him he's "such a good dog" nearly 73 times, drive all over town looking for somewhere to eat at 10:30 at night and finally settling for Arby's, watch Matthew (something or other) in Las Vegas perform a life threatening jump on his motor bike (although that was certainly a sight to behold), and sprint down to the basement with my parents just in time to count down for a good 10 seconds until the ball dropped, BUT I also get the satisfaction of knowing my best friend will be home in 7 months more or less.  

So, Dick Clark... thanks for making this year special.  A night with the rents all to myself and some sweet highschooler's taking over my basement is just what I hoped for.  

Happy New Years 2009, all.  

...now on to creating my resolutions.  I'll post shortly.   

Dear Daniela,

These are my best friends.  You may know them as "the cheetahs."  

But today, I want to talk about one of them in particular:

Dani Marie Stolworthy... she is a babe, as you can tell.

I mean, you could say we're like... pretty good friends.  

We've traveled the world together.

We freaking roughed it in a third-world country.  

If that's not true friendship,  I don't know what is.

But the point of this post, is not to tell you all how much I love Dani (although I am quite fond of her).  Rather, it is to publicly announce that I am OK with her having a boyfriend.  Let me redeem myself, I would LOVE for Dani Deej to have a love interest.  It's just... okay, fine... I'll just get out with it: I don't want her to get married!  

Yeah, fine.  I said it.  

But really people.  Life has thrown a lot of curve balls at me lately and so that would just be the last straw.  So, yes.  Maybe I am a little hesitant to set her up on dates, but I will let love run its course.  Dani, your top five will be coming to you quite soon -- but please promise me you will wait longer than 3 months before engagement.