Take a Greyhound, It's a dog gone easy way to get you down

Hey Katrina, I was reminiscing about our 30 HOUR bus ride from Orlando to Nauvoo. Just a little note to jog your memory:

Boarding the bus at dawn’s early light in Orlando was a little bit nerve-racking, but the bus station was fairly empty so we were at least able to get seats next to each other. I think we were both so scared about sitting next to someone who hadn’t bathed since last year that we sat together even though there was room to spread out a little. Knowing that we wouldn’t be able to fend off any bandits, we also opted to keep our backpacks at our feet rather than overhead. Our other luggage stayed under the bus. We were off to Nauvoo to help Uncle Peter in the restaurant for the summer.
Remember the signs warning us to not drink or eat on the bus? We had plenty of snickity-snacks to curb our hunger but tried to eat them sneakily the entire time to avoid the supposed wrath of the bus driver. And let’s not forget about stopping at other bus stations. Terrifying. I am not sure if the one in Atlanta or St. Louis was worse. Atlanta was so hot and crowded. We made it back on the bus in time to pick a seat near the front (to avoid the bathroom smell at the back) but then that couple sat behind us that probably hadn’t bathed since, well, I don’t even want to guess. Far too long ago. Just keep your arm down, buddy! And no, I don’t want to make small talk with you. Quick, Katrina, pretend to be asleep! And by the time we got to St. Louis, I was scared we would miss the announcement to return to the bus…Katrina, did you hear them call our bus route?....Did you hear it this time?
Trying to sleep at night was kind of hopeless. Not only were two chairs too short for a bed, but we would wake up every time the bus stopped. Finally, we arrived! Shower, shower, shower. Can’t get enough soap. Anybody got a pumice stone?

I look forward to your version!

Lunch Bunch

When Curtis graduated I was really sad because I wouldn't have any siblings to visit me at work on campus or go to lunch with me. Curtis would drop by at random with a Jamba Juice for me and we would chat for a couple minutes until his next class. At other times, we would meet for a quick lunch in the CougarEat.
Thankfully, Jason decided to start school in the Fall. He will drop in every so often and we will eat lunch together. Today we ate lunch together and I shared with him my newest discovery: Dora the Explorer Animal Crackers. I discovered them a while ago and I think they taste just like McDonaldland cookies used to taste. He agreed. And ate some more. Who can have just one?
Thanks for visiting me, lunch buddy!

Dining for Dummies

I do not profess to be an expert in the field of dining, though my friends say I have quite the extensive knowledge. So I thought I would put together a little list to benefit the readers. The following are must-haves if you ever visit these eateries:

1. Yoasis: Frozen Yogurt with Fruity Pebbles and Strawberry toppings
2. Carl’s Jr.: Chili Cheese Fries
3. Jason’s Deli: French Dip Sub (a.k.a Beefeater)
4. Spark Lounge: Shirley Temple with Cotton Candy garnish
5. Kneaders Bakery: Cream Cheese Brownie
6. Apple Spice Junction: Scones
7. Sconecutters: Navajo Taco
8. Carrabba’s: Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
9. Creamy on Ninth: Mint Brownie
10. Great Harvest Bread Company: Spinach Feta bread
11. Jamba Juice: Pink Starburst (by request only)
12. Magleby’s Fresh: French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup
13. Red Robin: Artichoke & Spinach Dip
14. Simply Splendid: White Chocolate Popcorn
15. Brazil, Brazil: Coxinha
16. Mimi’s Café: Carrot Raisin Nut Loaf
17. Pizza Factory: Creamy Chicken Pesto (the Snickernoodle Skookie is a great dessert)
18. The Purple Turtle: Halibut and Fries
19. Stan’s Drive-in: nothing unless you hope for food poisoning
20. My mom’s kitchen: pretty much anything, but I tend to favor beef stroganoff

Any other suggestions?

Things I still don't understand even after college:

Why is it more expensive to purchase bottled water than soda?
Why do some women pluck all of their eyebrows off only to draw them back on?
Who invented the word “man-crush” and can’t we go back to using “admire” or “look up to”?
Where did the phase “butterflies in my stomach” come from and why?
Why would men rather drive around lost than ask for directions?
Why do some waiters ask you if you like your food before you have even taken a bite?
Was someone’s actual name “mud” and was he a bad person?
Where is the “World of Hurtin’” located? Is anyone there besides Curtis and Justin?
Why do men that are going bald grow beards? Are they compensating?
How come my laptop battery can charge simultaneously while I use the laptop but my electric razor can’t?
Why do people choose the bathroom stall next to you when the entire row is empty?
Why can people listen to a staticy radio station but not watch a staticy TV?
Why do people actually touch the glass when pointing something out (car windows, computer screens, bedroom windows)?
Why does Katrina repeat the time in her head after glancing at a clock?
And finally: How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

"We are Fam-ily..."

Bahaha, Mom started a blog. First Facebook, and now this. She's being sucked in...of course, I tried to comment, but it wouldn't let me. Rude. But hey, we've got another follower. ;)

NPV, EBITDA...Say What?

Today I skipped class. Not because I don’t enjoy attending that particular class but because the syllabus forewarned us that we would be called upon at random to answer questions about the reading. Even after staying up late and getting up early to read and re-read the homework, I still didn’t grasp the concepts. So I skipped.
I wish I could have also skipped my study group this afternoon. I truly felt entirely lost but didn’t want to ask for help because we were trying to complete the assignment before everyone’s next class. However, knowing that I could potentially be called upon during the next class to explain the completed assignment, I contacted a couple people and requested help. Understandably, most people were already busy doing their own homework. Feeling totally helpless, I finally opened my assignment to try to muddle through on my own. The tears finally came as I realized that I just couldn’t teach this stuff to myself and had nowhere else to turn.
I had reached breaking point. At times like these I think that sometimes Heavenly Father is reaching out to me, just waiting for me to turn to Him but allowing me my agency. I prayed. I certainly didn’t know what would happen because there was no way to receive revelation just to understand the assignment. And just at that moment of hopelessness, my phone chimed and a friend said that his class had ended late but he had time to help me if I still needed it. I gratefully took him up on his offer.
This friend will never know that he was an answer to prayers or even how much it meant to me that he took 30 minutes out of his evening to explain some basic concepts to me. I can only hope that by my helping others, I can also be an instrument in the Lord’s hands.

"Go Shawty, it's yo' Birthday-We gon' party like it's yo' birthday..."

Happy Birthday Melinda!

Since my sister is now officially 31, I decided to write 31 things about her. I should have probably started this list awhile ago, since it takes me forever to write these things...but as my mother points out to me often- I've got lots of time on my hands. In this case, all night. So here we go:

1. When we were growing up, Melinda used all sorts of sayings I'd never heard of. She was always randomly spouting off things and I, as a young adolescent, always had to stop her and ask, "what in the world did you just say? What does THAT mean?!" The first time she used the phrase "word to the wise..." I laughed and used it for weeks, referring to her as my wise tutor.



2. One time Melinda and I played hide-n-seek at the school behind our house in California. She dripped a water trail I was supposed to follow, but it evaporated before I started searching. She didn't hear me calling for her, so eventually I just went home and left her hiding...I felt really bad until she eventually showed up.



3. Melinda wasn't really into Barbies, but I remember her playing a game with me once and she was Skipper and I was Barbie and it was Skipper's first day of school. That's all I remember-oh, and Skipper had on a yellow shirt- but I remember being excited we were playing.



4. One time I called home to ask if I could bring some people over to hang out, and Melinda was the only one home. I really wanted them to come, so Melinda gave in and said, "Just give me 20 minutes to clean the house!" She had it spotless when we got there, cause she knew I was excited about it and wouldn't be allowed to have anyone over if it wasn't super clean.



5. When I as little, at some point or another Melinda and I had bunk beds. She used to write stories and draw pictures on pages and float them down to my bed for me.



6. Around that same time, sometimes I sucked my thumb. One night Melinda sent me into my Mom's room and said: "Go tell Mom: "I need some of that stuff for my thumb" " (referring to that nasty stuff to make kids not want to put their thumb in their mouth). I diligently walked into my Mom's room and said "Mom. Melinda says she needs some stuff for her thumb." My mom was confused, and I just shrugged.



7. Melinda used to dress me up and teach me dance moves to songs so I could perform them later. I distinctly remember dancing and lip synching "Wild Thing", and years later, the Genie's song from Aladdin.



8. The only reason I was in choir in middle school was because Melinda was and I wanted to be like her.



9. One day Melinda dressed me up and put makeup on me and gave me a glass of milk to shoot some milk mustache "Got Milk?" pictures. She told me to be serious, but to make my eyes look like they were smiling. So I learned that trick when I was...ooh...say, 7-ish. Beat that Tyra Banks. Signature pose, my foot. I wonder where those pictures are...



10. Ever since I can remember, Melinda has been the pro primper for photos. If you ever need a super cute photo, make sure Melinda is around to give your hair a little fluff.



11. Also, if you ever need to know a rule of dining etiquette, She's your girl.



12. Speaking of which, if Melinda is planning the meals on a trip you're going on, you know you're in for some fine dining. The last camping trip I went on- while the scouts next to us kept eating their measly slop, Melinda was preparing us a fine meal- complete with teriyaki and rice, beef stroganoff, rolls, hot chocolate, juice, pop tarts, smores, you name it. That's how we roll.



13. When I dislocated my shoulder at school and didn't have anyone to come pick me up, Melinda borrowed a car as soon as she found out and came and took me to the ER. She made sure I kept it iced after that so it wouldn't get so sore, and because her opposite shoulder had the same problem, we sat with an ice pack pressed between our shoulders and laughed at our misery.



14. For my Senior Prom, I was gone all day with my group hiking up to a waterfall. When I got home I hardly had any time to get ready, but Melinda had come down from school and had my dress layed out, shoes and jewelry for me to wear, and got my hair done for me just as my date arrived. She was like wonder woman, I don't know how she did it.



15. We always called Melinda "Mom-Linda" growing up because she was always enforcing the rules and being responsible. She would get so mad when we did...sorry about that.



16. A few years ago at Christmas, Melinda let us all know that Purple is the only color in her vocabulary. I'm not sure where that came from...but it sure makes it easier to pick stuff out for her.



17. Most of the time when Melinda and I are texting or IMing, I wind up laughing out loud. We crack ourselves up when we're talking.



18. Melinda made up a song years ago to wake me up in the mornings when I would sleep in, and she would (and still does if the situation presents itself) come in my room and start singing it to me loudly as she opened the blinds: "OOOOoooooh Katrina likes to sleep all day...." It beats an alarm clock. And it's true.



19. I was always very jealous of Melinda as I was growing up, because everyone would always come up to me and tell me how wonderful and beautiful she is. One time I told my Mom that while that was all well and good for Melinda, they should just tell her and quit telling me. She explained they weren't leaving me out to be mean, and I felt a little better.



20. Melinda knows all sorts of things about all sorts of things. Whenever I ask her after a particular impressive tidbit how she knows these things, she always answers matter-of-factly, "I learned that in College." If that's true, it's remarkable what one can learn at college. If one is so inclined.



21. My mom always says Melinda is the thoughtful one. She's right- I don't know how she does it, but Melinda is always thinking of things to do for other people just to be nice.



22. A couple years ago Melinda planned the camping trip of all camping trips and she and Jason and I went to The Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Moab and camped and hiked for...a long time. She planned everything...I mean...we had meals, hiking shoes, camping supplies, maps, we were fully loaded. It was awesome. We even got to take a helicopter ride over The Grand Canyon and go rafting. Nobody plans a trip like Melinda.



23. No matter how small of a fraction of sun is coming through the clouds, if we're outside Melinda will claim she is "working on her tan." Poor girl. She's still in denial. If there is any real sun while she is out, she'll be redder than a lobster.



24. If you ever let Melinda borrow your camera, you'll get it back with 30 pictures of the scenery.



25. Melinda used to make us do practice fire drills when we were all little. We'd have to run and touch the bedroom door, (we never got away with running out the door, it was always hot in her drills) stuff a pillow at the bottom of the door to keep out smoke, jump up to the top bunk, and open the little window up there to climb out. I'm pretty sure this exercise was timed, but don't quote me on that. Make no mistake, we were prepared little kids if nothing else. Melinda was making sure we all got out alive.



26. When Melinda first got back from Brasil, I caught her in the laundry room smelling the clothes. She was fascinated by the smell of detergent.



27. If you're ever giving Melinda directions and you're in the car with her, point. If she's giving you the directions, don't listen to the direction she says, watch the direction she points. I'm just saying.



28. One time Melinda tried to fool herself and all of us into thinking she was a Vegetarian. I'm not sure how long she thought that would last...



29. If you ever want to know if a big storm is coming, just hang around Melinda and see if she starts to limp. Her knee tells the weather.



30. Also, if you ever need a sugar overload, ask Melinda for some pizza brownies. Mmmm...my mouth just watered a little.



31. "one?"

Well...it's time for bed. Happy Birthday Minnie :)