Saturday, August 29, 2009

Breaking the Stereotype

Oh crazy life. Well I'm mostly moved in. Oh, did you all know that I moved in with L7? Well I did. It's fun. L7 even gave me a super cute cuddly welcome present. I love sisters! I took a break from my unpacking to go to a special lunch.

There is a family in the valley who lost a son fighting in the war about five years ago. Now, every year they have a Ride for the Fallen. It's a fund raiser of sorts to raise money for scholarships. It's a really neat thing. I know many members of this family so I decided to be supportive. I don't have a motorcycle, so I couldn't join the 300 riders, but I could go and pay for lunch! I went at about 2:00 because that is when they start lunch, and they were expecting the riders any minute. It took all of the bikers quite a while to get there, but what a sight!

It was amazing to see these 300 people riding for a good cause. And it got me thinking. Bikers really get a bad rap. We tend to see them as selfish, mean, dirty, and just not nice people. But today I saw 300 of them. All of them paid money so they could pay for gas so they could ride four hours. They didn't have to. They really got nothing out of it, except for some wear and tear on their bikes. They did it because they care. As they all pulled into the parking lot, they were all smiling. They were very organized to make sure they could fit all of the bikes in. Sure some of them looked rough and I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley, but they were there. They did this to serve. They broke the stereotype. It was actually almost an emotional thing for me. There was some beautiful music playing as a tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces, there were hundreds of flags lining the parking lot and sidewalks, the sun was shining... I can't really describe it. I'm glad I went.

I'm glad for people who serve. Whether it's riding a motorcycle 4 hours, or going to boot camp, I'm grateful for them. I heard some horrible stories about protesters who say horrible things because they don't agree with the war. There is a group of people who go to funerals for the fallen and have signs saying things like, "The only good soldier is a dead soldier". That makes me SOO mad! So I just want to say thanks. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for serving when there is opposition. Thank you for risking your life. Thank you for leaving your loved ones to help keep me safe. Thank you.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

It's a Case of the Nerves

Just a quick funny story.

Yesterday at work I tried to be a good employee. We were running out of important things like cucumbers, green peppers, and onions. I entered the walk in fridge to get these tasty vegetables. I have this really bad habit when I walk into the fridge. I kind of enter my own little world. I don't just hang out in there for hours or anything, but I normally spend a few extra seconds.

Some of my best thinking has happened in the fridge. I know, weird. As I was stacking all of the contaniers, not really paying attention to what I was doing, one of my co-workers opened the door and said "Hi" or something. She didn't say anything too loud, or scary. But man did I jump!

A little jump, a little scream and suddenly we had cucumbers and green peppers all over the floor. Apparently I need to find a new thinking place, cause I can't be throwing food on the floor all the time. Yeah, pretty much I'm lame, but it was funny!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Dude, I'm Not Even a Real Student...

Classes at the local university started yesterday. That means everyone I know is super stressed. Worried about fitting everything in that they need to, getting books, understanding teachers, doing homework, balancing this with everything they want to do, but now can't because summer is over. You know, all that jazz type of stuff. I've seen this coming for quite a while and I've been a little internally snotty about it. I've been in school all summer... ok, maybe I've been a slacker and haven't done as much homework as I should have, but I knew things weren't going to change that much. No stress for me! HA, HA, HA!

But I, being the type that doesn't like to be outdone by anyone....

Ok, you'll remember my last post where I freaked out for ever. I have the nicest, bestest, kindest, most charitable parents in the world. As a result, Saturday morning I got to go pick up my new car. Car doesn't have a name yet. Heck, I haven't even picked a gender. When we picked it up, Mr. Salesman informed me that when they had detailed it the night before they left the lights on so the battery may have some problems. "Just let it run for a bit," he said. So I did. I drove my friend around a little, and let the car run. But it didn't really start very well. And each time it had a harder time starting. Until I got in it Sunday afternoon to go worship. It wouldn't start at all. Saturday I had given Mech his car back. I was going to be right on time to everything on Sunday, but apparently that wasn't an option. I got out of my car, picked up my things, got on my phone and started walking the 4 blocks to Mech's house. He told me that I could use his car again. But now I was running late. So I was powerwalking, in heels to get the car. Yep, I totally got blisters. It is now Tuesday, and Car still isn't running. Daddy-o wants me to take it to a place to see if it's the starter.... but it won't start so I can't drive it. Lame!

So I'm dealing with car stuff. And I'm moving. As in Saturday night I will be sleeping in my new place. I am so not ready to move. I had a plan, but it's just not working out. (lack of real car could be a big part of that) Moving always stresses me. Changes stress me. So I'm stressing.

Then there is Scuttle. He's cute. We have fun. He no longer has a job that means he is gone for days at a time. And I like him. That means I want to see him pretty much every day. Oh, and he seems to want to see me every day too. Isn't that cute?! Except for the part where I'm going through lots of changes right now and already stressed. Yes, he's good at de-stressing me, but I should probably be doing something really good and productive. Well, we did do homework for 2 hours together yesterday. So that's productive. But there is always a little bit of relationship drama. Not really with us, cause we're all good. The drama is from everyone else. We've been dating almost 6 weeks. (Hey, it's a transfer! I like thinking in transfers!) Apparently anything over 3 weeks means it's time to cue the marriage jokes. REALLY????!!! Hello! 6 weeks. That's nothing. That means nothing. Get over it! Stop it already. I don't like the pressure. And Scuttle doesn't like it either. I'm about ready to never go to any sort of social thing with him. If we don't do things with other people then they can't crack jokes cause we aren't there. See? Eh? Good idea? Ok, no. It's totally lousy. But I am tempted.

So here I am, thinking that this will be a stress free time of life. I'm not a REAL student. I'm doing on-line school. I have time... and yet, I'm stressing. I guess I should get used to the stress option. Although, my friend found out yesterday that if you're in Europe you can often fly Internationally for only $30 a ticket. Maybe I'll just teleport to Europe and then vacation. Ignore all of the stress.... OHHH that sounds great. I'll send you a postcard from Sunny Spain!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Stress and Blessings

It's official. I'm back in my slacker blogger stage. Sorry friends! I'll work on it.

I spent quite a while looking for a great video that illustrated part of my story. Unfortunately I didn't succeed. What story is this? The death of Hexadecimal. It's tragic really. My car is dead. She sits at my friends house. Barely a limp inside of her. I didn't know that I could be attached to a car. But I really am sad about this. And stressed. But even though I don't have a car right now I still feel very blessed. Let me tell you about the events surrounding Hex's death.

I went to a farewell Sunday. It was for one of my sons. (That needs some explanation. I'm in Institute Choir. They organize us into families to help keep track of everyone and foster a social environment. I was made a mom of a family. Hence having a son.) I am so excited for this son/friend of mine to serve his mission. He's going to the Greece Athens mission. I learned that this mission covers all of Greece and has exactly 5 branches in it. That translates to a lot of people for him to teach! There are a TON of people there who need the gospel. So after telling my son that I was dating his father, (that was really fun. He was very surprised and thought it was a joke at first. HA HA.) We (meaning Scuttle, another friend and I) left. It was a happy drive until we encountered an accident on the freeway. Hex then started to have problems. But I had no way to fix said problems and she was still moving forward quite well so we continued to travel. We made it up the first big hill up the canyon one must pass through to get back to my house. Then as we started up another hill Hex started making funny noises. And smelling funny. But she wasn't running hot. I was so confused. Then I realized that despite how much I was pushing on the gas pedal, she was slowing down. Oh dear. I pulled off the side of the road and wanted to cry.

This is when I became very grateful for cell phones. I made one call and got us a ride out of the canyon. (Thanks sis!) I then sent a text to a friend who was still in Church. Let's call him Mech. That's short for Mechanic. He's good like that to me. Mech and a friend then spent the rest of their Sunday evening getting Hex off of the mountain and getting her to start again.

Side note, I then took a cute picture with Scuttle. Well, not super cute because we were both SO tired and our smiles look pasty. But our clothes are cute. You can't see our clothes, but trust me, they are cute. :)

Mech and I spent a few hours and $140 doing all we could to breathe life back into Hex on Monday. All to no avail. She's dead. It's official.

So there has been a lot of stress. I really need a car. But I do need to keep telling myself of all the blessing that occurred through this.

1. Having Cell Phone Service: Really, I was in the canyon. Who has cell service in the canyon? I don't normally. But I did. So we didn't have to sit on the mountain forever.

2. (Warning intense smultz ahead) Scuttle's Support. I was really freaking out while sitting in the car waiting for L7 to come get us. Scuttle doesn't know anything about cars. But he tried so hard to help. He opened the hood of my car and remembered to turn on my hazards while I just sat there not knowing what to do. Then he tried to distract me with a game. When he realized I just wasn't up to it he stopped that. And then he just held my hand. I know, it's a little thing, but he was just doing what he could to support me. And I really appreciated it. I've been sick for the past week, and he's doing all he can to take care of me. Sick, stressed and freaking out. He just keeps being there and helping me. He doesn't do anything big. He's just there. Ok, sorry, end of the shmultz.

3. Sisters willing to drop everything for me. I don't know what L7 was up to when I sent out my distress call. But she was there picking us up in her very nice running car in about half an hour. That means she left her house very quickly after I called her. Thanks for dropping everything to come save me!

4. Mech and all of his work. Really. If I had paid someone to go tow my car to a shop and then the Mechanic who worked there it would have cost me close to $1000 to get Hex even moving again. But instead I had Mech and his friend. They were willing to work on Sunday. The ox was in the mire. And they did it because Mech is just that good of a friend. I had to pay for parts, I owe Mech a home cooked meal, and Mech's friend just wanted some doughnuts and chocolate milk. I feel very blessed to have a friend who would do all of that for me. He totally saved my hide. Oh, and to top it off, he's letting me drive his car today. Just so I don't have to walk to work. He has a dirt bike so he's freezing, but now I don't have to walk. What a good heart! I love my friends.

5. Loving parents who care about me from 4 states away. I called my parents crying a few times. I don't know exactly what is going to happen, but they are talking and trying to figure out a way to help me. I am so indebted to my parents. They taught me the gospel, they loved me, they taught me how to work, and they still take care of me. Even though I'm 25 and should be all sorts of self-sufficient. They love me enough to help this poor Paily girl in her times of need.

6. The Power of the Priesthood. I was SUPER stressed. I'm not a crier. But I probably cried for about 3 hours straight Monday night. My dear mother is a smart woman and told me I needed to get a blessing. Last night Scuttle and Mech served me in one more way. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood and to have good friends who I love and trust who are willing to serve me in this way. Yes there are still problems. But I feel so much better.

Anyway, there is my current life. I know, long post. Not funny at all. But there you have it. It will all work out. Whew!