lessons learned

College Survival Guide

College life is different from home, where you pretty much ruled. You will have to change your usual way of doing things. So, here are some tips that will help you not just survive but thrive at college:

Dorm Sweet Dorm
DO label your food with your name.
DO practice roommate etiquette: Never wake a sleeping roommate, don’t use your roommate’s stuff without permission, clean up after yourself.
DO be flexible but DON’T be a pushover.

Top Five Things You Don’t Want In Your Dorm Room
Computer Viruses
Annoying Roommates
Molding Food
Wet Towels on the Floor
Stinky Shoes

Inside the Classroom
DO attend class and take copious notes.

DO become a friend with someone in your class in case you need to borrow notes or form a study group.

DO take the time to get to know your professor outside the classroom.

DON'T fall asleep and drool on your desk during a powerpoint lecture. It will be a total turn-off to that cute classmate sitting behind you.

DON'T purchase old exams from the upperclassman.

Extracurricular Activities: A Smorgasboard of Opportunities
DO read those flyers posted on the wall and attend some events. Can’t hurt when you’re not paying for it!
DO enter stupid contests with your friends like nominating your roommate as “The New Face of Teen Magazine”
DO have a hall mascot, such a big stuffed monkey, and have it show up in weird locations throughout the semester. Take photos of its travels.

HAPPY 1ST YEAR BIRTHDAY!

Wow, I can't believe our blog is a year old today! To celebrate, the two mastermind authors are going to post a special blog post later today...stayed tuned, all you college fanatics!

"I’ll take calligraphy and then I’ll make a fake degree"

A certain someone I know just completed college application #1. The college application process:
Hey, do you want some help writing your college essays?
No, I do what I want. And I don’t even want to go to college. I am going to get married straight out of high school.

Another day
How is your college application coming along?
Shut up.

Yet another day
When you write your essays, you might consider a topic that will differentiate yourself from all other applicants.
Yeah, whatever.

Still another day
Who cares about college? I am just going to live in my parent’s basement.

Only 4 more college applications to go….

i can't figure out my homework.

i give up.

the end.

I saw an interesting bumper sticker on the way to college today:

"I would rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy"

So, who is REALLY being insulted here?

You know those tall people you see drivin' around in convertibles?

How do they fit in their car once the top is on?

One stop shopping...

Those college grads, they think of everything!

College meals

College keeps me pretty busy and most weeks I end up going through a drive-thru for either lunch or dinner. Sometimes I contemplate these things as I go through a drive-thru.

When I go through a drive-thru and the person on the other side of the microphone asks, “How are you doing today?” do they expect me to respond, “I am feeling a little famished”?

Sometimes I am the only person at the drive-thru. I place my order and drive to the “second window” where an employee is hanging over the window sill. As I roll down my car window, they stick out their hand and repeat the amount I owe. When do they think I had time to gather my money to pay them? This is especially confusing to me when they don’t tell me the amount I owe until I arrive at the “second window”.

Too little:
How come some fast food places don’t put napkins in the bag?

Too much:
Where do the fast food places come up with the following ratios?
2 large handfuls of ketchup packets : 1 child-size hamburger
1 large fistful of mild taco sauce + 4 extra packets : 1 taco
9 oz of ice + 3 oz of soda : 12 oz size cup
1 pound of salt : 1 small box of French fries

Parking at my college

Located in my college town...what happened?!?

"So to spend a life of endless bliss- just find who you love through true love's kiss"

Last night I was procrastinating doing some much needed homework and I thought I'd surf the web a little...see what kind of things I wasn't learning from my classes. I was almost done when lo and behold I found a list of ways to live a fairytale! This might be my new favorite list ever. I know you were probably wondering how to do that anyway, so I thought I'd post it for you.

• Kiss passing amphibians, just in case
• Wear your hair in braids, curled up over your head
• Have a conversation with your mirror as you’re getting ready in the morning
• Go apple picking in an orchard
• Wear silver bells tied to your ankles
• Grow wild roses and jasmine in your garden
• Leave milk and honey out for the Faeries
• Pluck daisy petals, ‘He loves me.. he loves me not’
• Sing old disney tunes in the bath
• Celebrate May day, wear flowers in your hair and bathe in the morning dew
• Bring a basket of fresh cookies to your grandmother
• Give yourself a secret name that no one else knows
• Wear glittery shoes of silver or ruby red
• Go for a moonlight walk on the beach and look for mermaids
• Write your dreams down each morning in a midnight blue diary
• Tell stories to children
• Hide a dried pea under your mattress
• Help an old woman you meet on your way
• Place a single red rose in a vase by your bed
• Spend a whole day in bed, in a pretty nightgown and wait for a kiss
• Bake a gingerbread man or house
• Wear a goose feather for good luck
• Eat porridge for breakfast, make sure the temperature is just right
• Search for the end of a rainbow
• Go dancing at midnight in your living room by candlelight

This hopscotch moment brought to you by higher education...

College life... who knew it could be so... rewarding? Ah, amusing. There's the word I was looking for. Today I was on my way to class in the library when I passed a hopscotch drawn in chalk on the sidewalk. I know what you're thinking, but I suppressed my urge to play and carried on. I'm pretty much the standing hopscotch champ, I didn't want to show off. I chuckled a little and texted Melinda, when I glanced up and realized all the benches had things written in huge letters on them. "SIT ON ME." "KISS ME!".... (yes, there was a lonely guy sitting on that bench just tempting fate) so then I thought, way to teach the basic fundamentals. I'm glad to see that we aren't passing up the important lessons in life.


In an unrelated topic, my photography teacher was passing back pictures today when this girl asked: "What does O- o- f mean?" to which he replied "oh! if your picture says 'oof' on it, that means out-of-focus. But that's okay. At least I stopped using the t.p.s. acronym. You know. This picture sucks." And this girl in class chimed in: "Hurts-my-eyes." My teacher laughed, and the girl sitting next to that girl said "Yeah! H.M.Y... I mean I! I mean E! I was thinking eye with a Y!" Spelling isn't everyone's strength.

Guest Blog Post

I got this email from someone who works on my panel, and it reminded me of your blog. Apparently he hasn't learned everything he needs to in college.

"Hi curtis you told us you do not want us to come if we are sick right well I am sick today with a very bad cough um so I will miss today sorry about let me know if there is anything that I can do"

Gosh. Maybe he was just trying to convince me that he is so sick he can't speak correctly, or be bothered to put in punctuation. And yes, he is American, so no excuses there.

Anyways...

Guest blogger,
Curtis

Final Exam

I am currently in the library studying for my accounting final exam. There is an older guy at the table next to me. He has been scribbling loudly for about 30 minutes now. Every so often he takes his frustration out on his paper by crumpling it up into a wad. I keep waiting to see if he will throw it at someone. I am fairly certain he is exhibiting signs of being crazy, especially when it sounds like he is chanting to himself.

P.S. To the group of girls who just sat down at another table next to me: it's a library...ever heard of whispering? Maybe the old man will throw his paper at them.

lessons learned...

Um, I learned today that when you skip class, you should probably make sure the teacher isn't standing right there. I had an assignment due in my class that I wanted to turn in, but I didn't wanna stay for the whole class and exercise cause I don't feeeel good. So I ran in, put down my homework in the pile, and busted outta there. Unfortunately my teacher was standing at the top of the stairs and as I went down he stopped me.
"HEY!"
uh oh. busted.
"You came to my yoga class the other night, but then didn't stay!"
huh?
"Um, no I didn't..."
"You didn't? Huh. Someone that looks just like you did."
No, but I am doing that right now. Don't notice.
"Nope, I would've stayed."
chuckle from the teacher.
"Oh, if you came you wouldn't have left?"
no, not me. nu uh. "Yeah..."
bail, bail. Get outta there.

"oh the weather outside is frightful..."

ah, college life.
Today I learned that my first class of the day teacher takes attendance...but not until after the lecture, which is the first hour of class. This means that most of the class is gone already by the time she checks to see who came. We'll see how that goes over when grades come out.
In my second class of the day we talked about how purple is the color of creativity. It's a fabulous color that has so many good associations my teacher just couldn't say enough about it. But sadly, I learned nothing in that class, as all I had to do for that knowledge was ask Melinda what the only color in her vocabulary is. ( Sorry you missed out on that class, you would've loved it. )
I did however, learn something in between classes just a moment ago and that is a very important lesson: Do not trust fruit snacks out of a school vending machine. Oh, and also a good thing to know: when it feels like it's below zero outside, the inside of the school will remain chilly enough to continue wearing your jacket in most classes. Now, off to my next class to see what other useful and helpful information I can absorb...

As much as I learn in college, I must admit that I did learn some things prior to attending college. For example, how many of you can remember learning about the colors of the rainbow in elementary school? Yeah, me too. So I was puzzled and amused when I passed two high-school-aged girls chatting in front of the store the other day. One girl was commenting on the “ugly red” color of the pole in front of the building. She told her friend, “I wish they would paint this pole some pretty colors. Or maybe a rainbow. Wouldn’t a rainbow-colored pole be awesome? But they would need to include purple cause purple is awesome”.

You know me, I agree that purple is awesome. But wait, my kindergarten teacher told me that purple WAS a color included in the rainbow.


I highly recommend attending college and I acknowledge that many things learned at college build upon things I learned in elementary, junior high and high school. My words of wisdom for today: learn the basics. So that when you do attend college, you will have a solid foundation of knowledge to build upon.

roll out...

Today I learned a valuable lesson in college. When your teacher asks you to pair up in class and "spot each other", a good idea is probably to remember what you're supposed to be doing and not duck and shimmy to the side when your partner comes tumbling down at you. This may reduce glares and sarcastic comments from said partner. On the other hand, I didn't get hit, and she ducked her fall into a somersault, so I'd say it was a pretty good success all the way around.

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed."

Dear Highly Educated,
As I was responding to your last blog entry in which you yet again shared useful information you learned in college, I began pondering the vocabulary that people pick up in their common speech. My pondering was interrupted however, when my focus was brought to the guy who kept passing my desk back and forth in the hallway as he talked on his cell phone. As my eavesdropping began, I caught the tail end of his conversation which sounded a little something like this: "Uh huh. Yep. Alright. Awesome Blossom. Bye." uh....
I promptly caught his attention. "Awesome blossom? Really? This is the kind of education you are receiving at this institute? What kind of guy says 'awesome blossom' in response to anything- ever? Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was attending the University of nonsensical rhyming...can you tell me which class I can find Yertle the Turtle in, or...?" Okay, maybe I didn't say that out loud. But I sure said it to him in my head. I think he got the message though, because my intense stare as I thought these things seemed to make him a little fidgety and he went along on his way.
It has come to my realization that it is time for me to transfer. I am just not getting the same kind of education here as you. Hurry and send my transcripts to Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Slacker-School Student


"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere."
-- Dr. Seuss

My optometrist was chattin’ it up with me during my recent visit. I’ll let you have a peek at our conversation:

Optometrist: You are taking colleges classes AND working fulltime? How is that working out for you?

Me: Good. I am learning a lot.

Optometrist: I bet you are able to use what you learn in classes in your job, huh?

Me: Yep, I implement a lot of what I learn in class.

Optometrist: Wow, ‘implement’! That’s such a great word!

Me (grinning): Uh-huh.

Optometrist: Yep, implement… such a great word. You know, not many people use a lot of good words like that these days.

Me (smirking): Yeah, I learned it in college.

Katrina, I would have totally succumbed to laughter if you had been there. This optometrist has no idea all that one can learn at college, if one is so inclined.

Maybe optometrists forget the big words because every day all they hear is E..F..P..T..O..Z…

like shooting fish in a barrel...

Today on my way out of class I was walking through the parking lot to my car, when suddenly a lady jumped out from behind the car across from mine shouting "ah HA! Got one!" and quickly started typing the other car's license plate number into her little handheld gun.
I nearly stopped walking I was so startled. Glancing behind her I noticed the look of sheer evil joy shining from their faces as a parking permit enforcer man came scurrying over to join her and they carried on.
Today I learned in college that I would not be able to do some jobs, no matter how easy, because of the great loathing I would have for my co-workers.

Something for everyone

Today I was at the grocery store. I bet you already know this Katrina, since you are in college now, but CANDY CORN season is here!!!

And now something for all you trekkies:

Rookie Of The Year

There are some things I have not learned yet in college. For one- why do some people feel the need to talk so closely to your face?! You inch a little backwards, trying to be polite, and they inch a lot forward...and so it continues. What is that? Where is your bubble, you weirdo?
Also, nobody told me that heated power yoga is so ridiculously intense. I thought it was all breathing and meditating and stretching...I thought very wrong. And now I am sore.
My last item of business I would like to address is my teachers asking us to introduce ourselves with an interesting fact. What is that about? Had I known, I would've spent time coming up with clever interesting things. You can't just put me on the spot like that, you never know what will come out of my mouth!

Greetings Reader:
I am interested to hear your support for the Point or Counterpoint.

Point:
In college I often hear the professors telling the students to “think outside the box”. Wikipedia, the source of much knowledge from people who are knowledgeable, tells us that, “thinking outside the box is to think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart thinking”.

I pondered this catchphrase as I was on my way to college this morning. The man on the radio was telling me the importance of saving the environment by purchasing fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles. Then I got to wondering, “why aren’t we thinking outside the box? Are we limiting ourselves to just making some tweaks to a current mode of transportation? Shouldn’t someone be looking into the transporter as the partial solution to saving the environment? Not only could it be used for human transportation but we could also transport cargo. I’m not talking about simply beaming the image of something somewhere, but the actual object itself…” And my thoughts wandered to all the places I could visit in record time.

So, dear college professors, this one is for you…I, your college student, thought outside the box today. And I propose that Al Gore change his focus to transporters.

Counterpoint:
History (or the future) has shown that transporters can be dangerous to human life rather than the environment. Here are some documented facts:

Willy Wonka invented Wonkavision and Mike Teavee wanted to use it as a teleporter. We can see the teleporter potential was there but the Wonkavision was created for the sole purpose of shrinking giant candy bars to be consumed by television watchers around the world. Wonkavision shrunk the larger-than-life candy bar to normal size and transported it over television waves. Mike Teavee became mini-Mike after zapping himself through Wonkavision. One document states that Mike remained mini-Mike forever while the other document states that mini-Mike became thin, giant Mike after a couple rounds in the taffy-puller.

Star Trek provides us with the best example of why transporters can be unsafe. Here are some quick examples of dangers from a transporter malfunction:

• Captain Kirk was once split into two beings; one bad and one good.
  
• The transporter was once in the middle of repairs causing two Enterprise crewmen to be turned into blobs.

You get the idea. Be wary of the transporter.

Yep, every once in a while I get really random phone calls or emails while working at college. For example, here is an email I just received:

"Hi! How do I become a student in your college? Would doing so help me in any way with my family history?"

If only I had a crystal ball...but if you ask me, what you learn in college can always be applied throughout your life. Just ask Katrina about all the wisdom I have imparted to her.

"So be true to your school now..."

Ahem. As some of you readers (if we have any readers left after all our slacking...) may have noticed, we haven't done a whole lot of updating our blog. Usually I give the "this is what I learned outside of college" point of view while Melinda gives hers, but lately...well...I haven't been learning much, and Melinda already knows everything. So it's been rough. I guess this is going to take a little turn now that I'm in school, so to start of with, this is what I learned on my first day:

• People here are still desperately bringing back the 80's. Just stop. For all of us.
• Never think that slightly turning your body to the side is enough to stop your chatty neighbor. You are going to have to stand up and cross the classroom and sit over there before they might start to wonder if you didn't wanna be their new BFF.
• No matter how tall you are, someone taller is bound to sit right in front of you. Where you can't see anything. And then obnoxiously shift from side to side as you do to see around them.
  
• Pop tart lunch box holders are one of the best inventions ever.
  
• Don't wear shoes that you think are cute if they aren't practical...(someone came into my class late and limping and dragging her broken shoe on the floor behind her.)
• Never try and even go into the bookstore on the first day. If you make it out alive it wont be til hours and hours later.
  
• They don't ticket you for not having a parking permit on the first day.

So many life lessons. I know I learned. I only hope tomorrow is just as inspiring.

Today I was driving on the freeway and passed a semi truck with advertising for eggs. On the back of the truck was a list of all the great reasons that the eggs on that truck were better than other eggs. The third bullet point from the top read:

• Vegetarian Fed

I can't help wondering when I missed the new breed of carnivorous chicken. What kind of eggs do THEY lay? Sometimes I miss out on extraordinary details because I am so busy learning other things in college...

"what time is it?..."

Dear nitsuJ,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Man, you're getting old.

At least you have a sweet ride now...or at least you will when you decide to get your license. It's not your fault. I blame Utah's rules. You are such an awesome little brother. (You're still little even if you're taller than all of us.)

Thanks for always being there to throw me a punch when we take a million pictures. And for trusting me to do your hair, so I can make it look awesome.

Thanks for always being ready to pose at the last second, and for taking great candid shots and randomly emailing them to my phone. Just in case.

Thanks for all the tickets to the gun shows, and and for my amazing cotton candy machine.

Nice try thinking you could tackle me, but we all know who dominates when you do that.

Also, quit stealing the little kids all the time and telling us they love you best!

Thanks for riding on the terrifying Snow White ride with me at Disney and waiting all day for your favoritest rocket ride.

Thanks for always making us all laugh.

No thanks for programming Zac Efron as your picture ID in my phone and not telling me, or setting him as my phone wallpaper. (Get your head in the game.)

Also, no thanks for getting pokerface stuck in my head or that other song. You know the one I'm talking about. (I turn away from the microphone to breathe). Or that other one.

Thanks for laughing at all the amazing Disney jokes with me.

Thanks for always asking if we'll feed you grapes and things. Not that I will, but it's entertaining anyway.

Thanks for always reminding me to watch your YouTube channel in case I forget.

Thanks for going to some concerts with me, and also for making those awesome friends at this one.

Thanks for not shooting me in the bum with your airsoft gun anymore.

Thanks for taking crazy pictures when I ask you to, and for dressing up awesomely.

You're awesome. Happy 17th, noob.

"better late than never..."

Happy July 4th! A little late.
We decided to celebrate the 3rd by going down to the uber-exciting main street carnival in Provo. Actually...I had no idea it was such a big event. There were tents lining the streets- we passed one tent with rock band set up and projected on the wall, and another with movies playing inside. There were people everywhere as we meandered along the streets seeing what there was to see. I was just admiring some glow-in-the-dark jewelry on some passersby when I looked up and saw it lit up in front of me...almost as if calling out- signaling to me. The Tornado. "oooo!" was all I could manage, as I was sucked in for a closer look. Before I knew it, Melinda and I were handing over our tickets and climbing in. We spun and spun as fast as we could spin as our little bubble moved up and down and around the hub. I let go and held my arms out to feel the rush of the wind, but then the girls with us yelled out "we're slowing down!" and we valiantly started spinning the wheel again.
After the ride we crookedly stumbled across the sidewalk...and our eyes fell on the Cotton Candy shop. Fresh Cotton Candy on a stick! MMMmmmmm. Scrumptious. That was gone pretty quick. Somehow after that we found ourselves involved in the biggest something-or-other hug in history...or so they claimed, and we were parading around in a birthday entourage and serenading the birthday people wherever we went. We ended up at a house where put-you-on-the-spot games suddenly broke out, to which we calmly insisted we would sit and judge, rather than participate, (thank goodness for siblings just as non-outgoing as you) and enjoyed the heavy rain and lightning flashes outside before turning in for the night.

Dear co-author,

TAG! You're it!

Signed,
other co-author

My new ice-breaker story

Today was another whirlwind day at the office. It’s funny how sometimes something happens that forces me to slow down. Like today. The elevator broke down. While I was in it. That’s right folks, I was stuck in an elevator while I supposed to be conducting a meeting.

A large group of people exited the elevator on the 6th floor and the doors closed to continue up to the 7th floor. Just as the doors shut, the computerized female voice came over the intercom to announce, “There has been an electrical failure. Please press the alarm button.” And then the keypad went dark. I was obedient though and pressed the alarm button. Sure enough, an alarm-sounding high-pitched ring reverberated outside the elevator to announce to the world that someone was being held hostage inside the elevator. Must have scared the living daylight out of anyone remotely near the elevator. But it did nothing to really help me.

I pulled out my cell phone and called my office to tell them of my predicament. I could hear the secretary on another phone talking to the electric office: “Yes, that’s right, she’s stuck in the elevator. On the 6th floor. Yes, she tried pushing the alarm button. No, it didn’t contact anyone from the elevator company. Uh, yes, I know what the alarm button is SUPPOSED to do but it didn’t work. You don’t know how to fix the elevator?” Click. I lost connection.

Having nothing else to do, I sat on the ground and took in the details of the elevator. Six dim lights overhead. Seven buttons affiliated with each floor of the building. One alarm button that didn’t work. Decent ventilation system. Metal railing located about 1/3 of the way up the wall, just close enough to the ground that my head hits it if I try to lean against the wall while seated. Huh, relaxing against the wall is out.

Oh, my phone is ringing. “Hello? Oh, the people from the electric office are coming to take a look? Great! Also, can you please go to the meeting room and let them know I will be late because I am stuck in the elevator? Thank you. Bye”

About twenty minutes passed and I heard someone outside the elevator. The elevator door pinged and suddenly opened. I felt like an idiot sitting on the floor and I smirked at the two students who had exited the elevator early and were now returning. They looked down at me and proceeded to enter the elevator. I scrambled to my feet and told them they might want to reconsider since the elevator hadn’t moved since they exited. I mean, really, were they thinking that I just liked to hang out in the elevator? That maybe they caught me in the middle of a little afternoon siesta?

We tested some of the buttons on the keypad but nothing worked so they decided to wait. I hurried on to my meeting but was amused by the turn of events that forced me to pause in the middle of a busy day.

Peculiar calls we received in our office this week:

“Hi. I make cool rugs. Can you tell me how I can sell them?”

“Hi. I am helping two businesses come together. Can you tell me what that is called? Merging? Yeah, I am looking for a different word. Can you Google that for me?”

“Hi. I was watching Channel 2 last week and saw a really cool commercial for the fireworks show on your campus. Can you tell me when that commercial will be shown on Channel 2 again?”

I was in the store aisle looking at something on the shelf the other day. As I stood there I glimpsed a female my age to my left. I pondered over what to purchase and suddenly a little boy, probably about 5 or 6, appeared at my right. He was holding a toy and chattering away while staring at it. “Mom, look! Mom, can I have this? Mom?” I smirked and took a step backwards so he could pass by me. But he followed me and moved in closer. Still staring at the toy, “Mom, can I have this? Look Mom! Look what it does!” Holding back my laughter, I stepped to the side. He followed. So I quickly stepped around the corner. He finally looked up, noticed he was alone, and padded off towards his mom.

Today I passed a group of girls walking in the opposite direction. I came across a straggler when I rounded the corner and she started talking to me about washing windows. When she finally glanced up, she blushed, muttered “Oops, sorry”, and hurried off towards her friends.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I get embarrassed for other people. Does that ever happen to anyone else?

I didn't learn Blogging in college...

From the world's worst blog updater, me:

These are funny phrases I recently heard around the office:

“What?!! You don’t want to run a marathon? Do you have the Miss Piggy syndrome?”

“Hey, this person on the phone wants to know if we can recommend a way for them to learn typing skills.”

“I wore a mask when I visited all the offices today and for some reason people are freaking out now.”

Birthday Club

Dear Special K,

Today you join the birthday club and are a member for only one day a year. Let's take a quick look back to those beginning years:

I have many great, fun memories with you. I wanted to share some things I have learned

from you along life’s journey. Twenty-five thoughts because you are 25 today!
1. Laugh a lot.
2. Be kind.
3. Forgive others easily.
4. Invest time in others.
5. Always have someone around to fluff your hair before the photo is taken.
6. Laugh some more.
7. Sleepy time is important. Especially when camping – go to bed with the sunset cause the sunrise will certainly wake you up.
8. It’s OK to be selective about who you date.
9. Family will always be there for you.
10. Clothes shop with a friend so you can swap opinions.
11. Be open minded to new adventures.
12. You can go anywhere and have a good time if you are with a sister (brothers too, but it’s a little different).
13. Be honest when someone asks you for an opinion.
14. Sisters can swap clothes but not contact lenses.
15. Sometimes it’s nice to just “go with the flow” rather than create an agenda.
16. Put a little extra time into getting ready in the morning and you can emerge looking like a movie star!
17. It’s ok to have a singing mermaid as your hero.
18. It can be fun to express your personality. Like encouraging me to get a purple lappy-top!
19. Smile at people. It makes them feels significant.
20. Sometimes a good song captures all current emotions.
21. Giggling late at night is acceptable.
22. Pop-tarts are a food group.
23. Constantly texting does not cause thumb cramping.
24. A good memory = sharing funny childhood stories at family reunions.
25. Do your best to make others feel at ease

Happy Birthday!

P.S. For a special treat, here are some photos from the photo shoot you referred to in an earlier blog post (ok, so they aren't the milk ads, but I guess we did multiple shoots):

Love ya, little sis'! ~Your protector, Minnie