Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Random Smatterings

It's 11:17 PM. I'm actually home for once. I tend to be at Scuttles till about midnight every night. So, instead of being responsible and going to bed like a good little Paily, I decided to blog about the randomness in my head.

I always get hungry late at night. This could be because I don't normally eat dinner. Hence me finishing off a good sized bowl of chips and salsa. It's better than the ice cream I was considering!

Institute is an amazing program. I am taking a class taught by a member of the Seventy. It's all about Christ. Every week I learn things that make my head spin... in a super spiritual, not freaky at all, but so empowering and testimony strengthening kind of way.

I probably don't help out around my apartment enough. So today I decided to be a good little sister and clean the bathroom. I don't mind cleaning the bathroom, but I always feel a deep desire to shower right after. Wouldn't you know it, right as I finished the construction guys outside hit something and there was no water in my apartment. I used bottled water to wash up to my elbows, still felt gross and went to work. (Did you eat Subway today? Cause I was gross!) The good news: The water was back on after work so I got to shower before going to class.

For some reason, Scuttle finds homework a lot more enjoyable when I am sitting in the room. I don't really find it more enjoyable though. But he does have a very interesting book to read for a class. I'm the only one who has read it so far. I'm about 1/4th of the way done. It's good, but every sentence starts the same way. He didn't.... He saw.... He thought... there is a lot of "He"s in there. But this book has changed my life. I have now made the very important promise to myself that I will never ride atop a train going through Mexico to smuggle myself across the border into the US. (Side note, I don't think I have ever used the word "atop" before in my life. Really.)

I once spelled fondue correctly off the top of my head. I didn't even stop to think about it.

I had a dream last night with Josh Groban in it. But it wasn't really cool, it was just bizarre. He wouldn't say anything to me. Instead he just kept handing me small animals. Birds, squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks... it was very strange.

I am totally craving a baked potato right now. With chili, and cheese, and maybe a touch of ranch... mmmmmm.

I've decided I don't so much love singing as I love socializing with people in Choirs. Really, they are a special breed. But I'm right in there with them, so lets make it a super cool special breed. See? Now it's a complement.

I wonder how many marshmallows I could fit in my mouth. I don't really want to shove them in there to find out, but it would be a cool stat to have that you could shout out at parties.

AND Jezebel was the only queen in the Bible to be eaten by dogs. Yeah, I totally stole that from a movie. It just seemed important to add.

Monday, September 28, 2009

An Amazing Weekend

I just can't do it. I tried to not greet you, but I can't. How do I start a post without saying hello? So... HELLO!

Let's talk birthday parties, shall we??

Oh, but small aside. First let's talk Friday night. Friday night was Homecoming. I love dancing. We doubled with another couple. It was so fun to dress up like a princess! Thanks to L3 and her daughters for doing my hair! Wearing a pretty dress, dancing in the arms of a cute boy... Wow... CHEESY! But oh, so fun.

Saturday was the day of excitement. It started early. I got about 4 hours of sleep. I got up, got ready, and L7 and I went driving. We had to go set up the end of the party. More on that later. After the homecoming parade almost ruined my life... (all of the roads were closed, crazy traffic, and I had 3 stops to make in 30 min!) I met at Scuttle's apartment to start the party. We were joined by 2 other couples.

I totally stole this whole thing from L4. But we had a spy party! Basically it was a scavenger hunt to get pieces of a map to go find a place that had a fake bomb we had to disarm. That was a bit of a problem. I had no idea how to make a fake bomb, but there is no way I would ever google that! First thing you know the Fed's would be beating down my door. Bummer!

L5 and L7 came up with half of the clues. We went all over the valley, and even got to bust out my rusting marching skills for a bit. Scuttle had no clue what was going on. His face when we listened to the first clue (which was a CD with the Mission Impossible music) was so funny! He really didn't know what to think, but I think he was kind of excited. I have an amazing family who helped out so many ways! And even though it was cheesy, Scuttle embraced it and boldy marched up to everyone and uttered the code word to get the next clue. Yes, L4, the code word was still Tutti Fruity. Good times were had by all.

This is where I should put in another picture, of what I woke up so early and dragged L7 to help me with. Here is our laser grid we had to climb through to get to the bomb. Oh, and what was the bomb? A bunch of Hot Dogs. They kind of look like dynamite if you squint and turn your head. (Now it just looks like a bunny... Anyone know where that comes from?) The hot dogs were connected to the Winnie the Pooh clock by pipe cleaner. It was a pretty scary looking bomb. :)

The party was a bit longer than expected... that could be because I got us lost for an hour. But it was a pretty drive up the canyon! I think everyone had fun. Yeah for birthday parties! Thanks again for all of your help! Love ya!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other

Yo mateys. I'm not sure why I feel the need to greet you every time I blog. I mean, really. Why do I need to say Hello. And I don't even say a normal "hello". I'm like this weird creepy wanna be ghetto lady. And today I am feeling very random. This could be exciting!

I like music. A lot. As in I have about 1712 songs in my iTunes. And I listen to probably 90% of them. I love to sing a long. And dance. Especially while I am getting ready. Who doesn't enjoy a nice jig with a searing hot curling iron as your microphone? I like to live on the edge.

I tend to live in extremes. As in I am either super happy and hyper, or totally exhausted and loopy, or irate, or giddy. It seems to be that I am either going full speed or asleep. There isn't a whole lot of middle ground.

I'm a talker. I know, you're all thinking, "What? Paily talks? Her mouth works?" Yes, friends, it's true. My mouth has mad skills actually. Lots of practice. I can open it and you never know what's going to come out. I am really good at getting that look. You know, the look from other people when they just have no response to what just exited my lips. They are normally smiling a bit, but they just don't know what to say. Those who have grown to love me just laugh it off. Complete strangers wonder if I should be out in public by my self.

I shouldn't dance in public. But I just can't help my self. Sometimes I just think life needs a little Ha-cha-cha. (That is said with a funny stance and spirit fingers... can you see it?) I really only have 3 dance moves. All of which look a little bit more like I'm having a seizure than dancing. I don't really care though. For some reason most dancing takes place while I'm sitting down eating. I don't get this either. I just always have a song in my head, and I can't stop rockin' out!

Now as for the title of my post.... Let's talk a little about Scuttle.

He likes music. Not nearly as much as I do. But it's all very serious stuff. Lot's of violins and stuff like that. And it doesn't have words. There is no singing along. Often I wonder if the artist is a big fan of hallucinogens. There is some crazy stuff. It makes me want to dance just a little bit. But it would have to be interpretive. And that's just a scary thought.

I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Mellow. I can finally read most of his moods. Because the amount of crinkle next to his eyes changes. Seriously, that is how I tell if he's happy or sad or angry or complacent (this is the #1 option). There is a severe lack of freaking out.

Remember how I talked about the people who just don't know what to say when I talk? Those nice people who just smile at me and laugh it off? Yep, that would be him. He does talk, quite a bit, but he puts a lot of thought into it first. As in I am getting used to the fact that most questions asked by me will be followed by at least 10 seconds of silence as he thinks. This is why people don't ever look at him like he's stupid. Lots of thought.

Dancing.... He doesn't ever have a funny little jig. He's taking a ballroom dance class. I quite enjoy that homework. So he's learning real skills, and I'm standing next to him spazzing out. He has also noticed that I tend to dance while eating. I catch myself and stop. Then he always looks at me and says, "You don't have to stop dancing..." I can't get away with anything. Mr. Observant. There is a severe lack of flighty there.

So, one of these things is not like the other. And yet, it seems to work. I don't get it either. But it sure is fun. Ok, yes, this is kind of sappy. And all about Scuttle. Well his birthday is on Sat, so I've been thinking about him. Partly because I am planning a super cool birthday party. (Thanks for your help L4, L5, and L7!) Anyway... I don't know where I'm going with this so I should just stop. But life is good!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Bust Out The Buckets

Dear People of the Land of Buckets:

I bet you thought I had gone all mushy.  Didn't you??!??  I find a Scuttle and then start talking about all of the great things in life.  Blessings, service, nice people, things like that.  Well, it's OVER!  Ok, not for permanent, but for today.  I started this blog to vent... ish, and I am going to do it today!  Ready?  Set??  GO!

As previously discussed, I work at Subway.  Its not a glamorous job, but there are a severe lack of french fries so it could be worse.  Besides, have you seen the job market out there?  And you don't know my boss.  He totally rocks my knee-highs.  Every single time I have asked for time off, he has given it to me.  And my hours right now... PERFECT!  I don't have to get up early, I can pay my bills, I get evenings off to spend with people, and I haven't had to work a Saturday in over a month.  And free food every day I work.  See, now you're all jealous.

That brings me to the problem.  Subway Customers.  Now many of you are nice.  You are polite.  You can order your sub without being too needy.  Others.... Well, lets make a list of the wrong way to handle things as a customer.

1.  Don't talk to me like I'm 9.  I know, not a hard job.  A monkey could do it.  But I am doing it.  This isn't because I'm stupid.  It's because it works with my schedule.  I know you're a Dental Hygienist/Receptionist/Construction Worker/Teacher/Hair Dresser.  Yes that takes more skill than my job.  I still have a brain.  I'm in college.  I'm smart.  Don't downgrade my intelligence.

2.  Don't tell me where to put the meat.  Seriously.  We're super busy.  We are getting all of you through the line in less than a minute each.  That means 10 people, a 10 minute wait.  That's pretty impressive.  So when I am frantically putting your sub together, I'm sorry if one piece of turkey is not perfectly folded in half, thus resulting in an 1/8 inch hang over off of the bread.  Can you get over it?  There are people behind you... we're working fast.  It's all going in your mouth anyway!  

3.  Think before you say "Yep, that's it."  If you say that you don't want anything else on your sub, we are going to very quickly close it, cut it and wrap it.  Don't blink, because you will miss our super-lightning speed hands.  Why is it every time we are almost done wrapping you have to interject, "Ooops, I REALLY need salt and pepper on that too.  Sorry."  Lets be honest.  You're not sorry.  And why do you have such severe salt and pepper needs?  That's just strange.

4.  Please, PLEASE hand me your payment.  Do you see my hand? Do you see how I am holding it out in the open position so you can easily put your 28 cents into it?  Then why are you putting everything down on the counter?  I'm not hoping to catch some random gold nugget that may fall from the sky.  I want your money.  I want your money so we can get you out of here and help the next customer.  Oh wait... they just asked for salt and pepper.  We have a minute.  But that doesn't mean I want to spend that minute picking up all of the 37 pennies you just put down on the counter. The counter is slippery.  Unless you have amazing fingernails, it is hard to pick up the change.  Really.  Why did you put it down so close to my hand.  See me?  I'm right here!

5.  Please don't expect all problems to be handled in .2 seconds.  I'm sorry that our soda fountain is having problems and the soda is flat.  Meanwhile, we have 20 other people in line.  There are only 3 of us.  That means we can't run outside and change tanks right now.  Sorry.  Drink water.  It's better for you anyway.

Most people are nice.  Most people are reasonable.  Some people are insane.  "Can I have the softest bread please?  Now will you toast it?"  "I know you're still making half of my order, but can I get that sub right now and start eating it?"  "I know that you need to ask me a lot of questions, but I'm going to stand here on my cell phone, popping my gum and twirling my hair around my finger ignoring you.. like, ok?"

AAAHHHHH!!!  Sometimes I want to jump over the counter and slap you.

That is all.  Thank you for taking all of these suggestions into consideration.