A Song That Makes Me Sad: You Are My Sunshine

Apparently as a child I used to cry when my parents would sing this to me. I don't remember this at all because I was really little and had no good reason. Now this song makes me think of the fact that childhood is past and I can't go back. Don't get me wrong, I love some things about being an adult and semi on my own and I love being at college and growing up, but sometimes I am sad for the times when I was small enough to be held in someone's lap.

Good thing this song doesn't always make me sad! This is one of my favorite actors in one of my most favorite movies when the girl that wants him is trying to figure out what instrument he plays. Such a good scene (start at about 59 seconds in if you just want the song).

Weird Dreams

So, last night I had one of the weirdest and most upsetting dreams. This girl:

and this girl:

kept switching back and forth between each other (meaning in the dream they were the same person but sometimes the person was Sarah and looked like Sarah and sometimes the person was Heather and looked like Heather). This person was getting married and the wedding was super weird. At the beginning it was Sarah and her wedding was like a musical (complete with costume changes) and was happening in the Manavu chapel. I wasn't part of the wedding party, but I was doing a lot of helping out, especially when in her first costume of the wedding the sheer black fabric showed her hot pink bra and underpants and I went to help her cover up.

Later it was Heather and the wedding was almost over I think and was moving more towards the ending which would be the temple ceremony. For some reason there was a big fight over who was driving her there and it was dramatic and kept getting on my nerves.

Then the person was Sarah again and I was helping her dress into her actual white wedding dress. Finally the wedding was over and everyone was shaking hands and everything except Sarah's parents weren't her parents, they were Marci's parents. Ok, that's confusing: Mark and Margaret were Sarah's parents at her wedding.

During this whole thing I was a little bit cold and a little bit anxious and kept waking up and freaking out.

Also, I did pick that particular picture of Sarah and me because my hair is so great in there.

A Song That Makes Me Happy: Wannabe

Sure, there are tons of songs that make me happy, but this one came on my shuffle while I was dancing around and straightening my hair today. Do you know the feeling when you get all giggly and are trying to speak or sing at the same time but you just laugh instead? That's what happened. It could be that I'm giddy like a kid at Christmas because I went bike shopping today and have narrowed it down to two (more on that when I actually purchase next week).

When I was a kid my sister got the Spice Girls cd for Christmas one year. That same year we got a trampoline and it was awesome. We jumped ALL the time. There were about a million games to play as four girls with a trampoline (and a little brother too small to really get on). We played a version of dodge ball with the neighbor kids. We tried new tricks. For awhile we got really into playing with this giant ball of my brother's (the kind you use for crab soccer) while on the trampoline. There were many summer nights spent sleeping on the trampoline (which is NOT a good idea in the east where it's humid and the dew gathers and runs into the pile the four of you have inevitably ended up in and then all of you are wet). Like most activities jumping on the trampoline was much more awesome when done to music. Our favorites were Backstreet Boys, Barenaked Ladies, Coolio, Mariah Carey (Fantasy anyone?), and Spice Girls. It was such an incredible couple of summers.

Besides all that, the song is just so much fun. It makes absolutely zero sense, of course. I definitely know all the words. And let's not forget that this happened on Halloween sophomore year.

(yeah, my camera was bad at dates for awhile until Sarah fixed it)

Least Favorite Song: Sweet Escape

I pretty much just find Gwen Stefani completely obnoxious almost all of the time and this song with all the "woohoos" and repetition makes me change want to jump off a cliff.

Freshman year we used to go to dance parties basically all the time. It's a lot easier to go to a lot of dance parties when you're a freshman because the on campus ones are fair game (without being creepy). Apparently being at BYU means that not all dances can just play a steady stream of hip-hop with the occasional techno beat mixed in. Not to mention BYUSA outlawed "Walk It Out" at all dances they sponsored (which was most of them). All of that combined together means I heard this terrible song way too often. I usually used it as my cue to go get some water or a crappy cookie from the snack table.

All of my complaining aside, I loved freshman year. It wasn't without it's problems and definitely had plenty of drama, but I think life was simpler then. I know that sounds cliche and kind of stupid to say about a time that was just over two years ago, but I knew where I was going then. I had three more years in college and knew where I would be. Now all of a sudden I'm a senior and have next to no idea what I want to do with my life come April.

Potassium 2.0

I got my blood level checked yesterday and my potassium level hasn't even changed from before the infusion a couple weeks ago. This means I get to go back tomorrow for another potassium infusion with even more potassium which means even more time chillin' in the hospital. Last time they told me 3-4 hours and I was there just over 5. This time they told me at least 5 hours.

On a different note, I spent a lot of time today reorganizing my bedroom and doing all the little clean out the drawers type of stuff as well as this great project. It's not perfect yet but it's a work in progress.

My Favorite Song: Any Given Day

Who really can name just a single favorite song? That's awful. I really don't like this one. One of my most favorite songs is Any Given Day by Carbon Leaf. I've loved it basically forever.

Something about this part of the lyrics:

I window shop for you in my mind
A flannel shirt at the five and dime
A lether coat cut big city style
Boots from plastic crocodile
A pinecone dipped in glitter glue
A penny 1942
A necklace with a cheap green stone
Barefeet, cold sand. Chill to the bone

resonates with me for some reason. It just seems like he's picking out the real gifts that mean something even though they're probably cheap. I just love it.

When I listen to this song I often think of the small main street in my hometown that still has a sign for a real five and dime that isn't there anymore. I'm glad in some ways that I don't live in such a small town with such limited options anymore, but I do miss it sometimes. Things like the fair and the tiny schools and the slow speed limit and the little mountains of Virginia surrounding that little town in the valley just make me happy. Now that my family lives in Northern Virginia in a town that isn't really a town (just a county) and really only exists because the interstate goes through it, I miss those small town charms.

Music Whatsit

Ok. I'm giving in. I'm going to do the music challenge, but it will be a little different from Sarah's and Britt's style (but still similar). You'll see (it's not a big surprise or anything, but I don't feel like typing out my explanation when it's not even that big a deal). Anyway, in case you're interested here's the thirty day list.

Note: if anyone can please figure out and tell me what the default font is in blogger I will be your best friend.

"It's the 30 day music challenge. Everyday for the next 30 days I'm going to dedicate a post to a certain song, according to this list:"

Day 1 - Your favorite song

Day 2 - Your least favorite song

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy

Day 4 - A song that makes you sad

Day 5 - A song that reminds you of someone

Day 6 - A song that reminds you of somewhere

Day 7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Day 8 - A song that you know all the words to

Day 9 - A song that you can dance to

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

Day 11 - A song from your favorite band

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you're angry

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you're happy

Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad

Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

Potassium Infusion

If I already talked to you (Sarah) you probably want to skip this post because it will be boring for you.

Because of my issues with almost passing out and ending up in the emergency room I went to see a doctor and have been getting some blood work done to figure out what's wrong. Turns out my potassium is pretty low. Lucky me, I had the beautiful opportunity to go get a potassium infusion (meaning an iv dosage of potassium) over the course of just over five hours.

I got to the hospital and was put in a room next to a middle aged guy and his wife. He was watching Family Feud and then Loony Toons and his wife bought him Sensuous Sandwich for lunch.

Apparently my doctor had the potassium mixed abnormally strong so it had to be mixed with that saline stuff that they give you to hydrate you or when you go to the emergency room or whatever. The straight potassium without the saline being pumped in at the same time (yep, I got two pumps) burned my veins like fire (it happened at the end when they thought there was already enough saline in there so that it wouldn't hurt. They fixed it shortly thereafter.

I watched a lot of daytime television during my visit. Let's Make a Deal (Wayne Brady, not Monty Hall), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Inside Edition, Family Feud, Grounded for Life,...I think that's it. I also texted Sarah to death. Poor Sarah.

They ordered me a lunch in the hospital since I was there forever. Hospital food is not good. It was some sort of chicken turnover with gravy and veggies and milk. Milk just like in elementary school which gave me a chuckle.

It was kind of sad to see some of the other people in there getting chemo/radiation. The middle aged guy with his wife and the tall bald guy that was no older than me and the sad sick old people. My problems were small in comparison (even though I was in there for a longer period of time than most).

Moral of the story: my potassium is hopefully better now and I hope I never have to do that again even though everyone was extremely kind and the nurses were awesome. Sorry for no picture.

Quick Story

I wish I had an awesome picture of Gabe to go with this post, but i don't. Sorry. Hopefully my plethora of pictures in my last post helps make up for it. I just wanted to share a story that my sister told me about Gabe. Gabe LOVES Jesus. I mean it, more than any other little kid I've ever seen.

He walked into Wal*Mart with his mom and saw two ladies fully veiled. Not just head coverings, but the whole shebang. Immediately Gabe turned to his mother with awe, "Mom look! The shepherds!" She was confused and trying to get him to stop pointing and asked what he meant. "You know, Mom, the shepherds! They traveled a far far way to see the baby Jesus!"

Hilarious, and touching.

I Broke My Face

Once upon a time (July 19th) Sarah and I were going to see my favorite band Carbon Leaf at this tiny little venue in good old SLC.

During the opening act I started not feeling too well so I went to sit on a bench outside. Then I thought I might throw up so I headed to the bathroom. On the way across the parking lot I almost passed out. I tried to catch myself on a planter (you know, a thing that has plants in it), but in my woozy state I missed and hit my face instead. It was bleeding pretty bad. Someone went and found Sarah who drove me to insta-care. In case you didn't know, insta-care is crappy and told me immediately they couldn't do anything and because could have hurt my head i got transported in an ambulance to the emergency room.

Possible head injury means backboard, neck brace, and being taped down.

I was confused and delirious at this point so I smiled for my mom. This was after they had cut off one of my favorite shirts (Reading is Cool, Paperbacks are Hot) and my only white cami. that is my unhooked green bra that you see in the picture.

I had road rash and basically split the top part of my left nostril from the bottom part. Oh, and I busted my tooth and had to get a filling (a few days later) and still have a gum issue right now. It's kind of...pushed back from where i busted my mouth pretty good.

After many hours without, I finally got some pain medication (dilaudid for the win), the ER doctor told me he couldn't do my stitches, we waited for a plastic surgeon, and he pumped my face full of novocain (or something like it that hurt like the dickens going in) and stitched me up. 20+ stitches in all, both inside and outside my nose. Sarah held my hand.

When I woke up the next day I looked and felt like hammered dog s*** (that's a phrase my dad loves to use).

I thought I might get better with time, but sometimes things just get uglier and uglier. People kept telling me I didn't look that bad. Sometimes I just wanted people to say "Ooh. You look nasty."

I think that yellow eye makeup may be in next season. Anyone with me? (Note: I took most of these pictures myself shortly after waking up so my mom could get progress on my face).

I eventually did start to look better, but the stitches were still itching my face off.

But then I got the stitches out!

As of now I still have a kind of swollen lump on one side of my nose, but it doesn't look bad. the only problem is something with the scar tissue is making my smile weird. Maybe I'll take a picture and blog about that soon. Or just post a picture. It's a really awful smile.

I just want you to know that Sarah is amazing. Everyone should have a friend like her. I fell just before 8pm and Sarah stayed in the ER with me until after 2am. Like I said, she held my hand during the novocain shots and the stitches, and she only left when I almost threw up. Then almost three weeks later she spent another several hours in the ER with me. There is no way for me to ever show my gratitude to her adequately or to ever repay her for what she did.