In the past decade...

I recently volunteered to take over the planning of my 10-year high school reunion. For a graduating class of 44 people, that is not any exceptionally difficult task, and we all know how I love party planning! Getting in touch with all these people after so long has been very interesting. There is this little tiny part of me that wishes I had a family to show off too. But most of me is just so happy to have done so many amazing things!

Since I graduated from Kitscoty High School (yep, that's me back in 2000), I have:

• had 8 different full-time jobs
• performed in 4 stage productions
• fallen in love four times and had my heart broken just as many
• visited 10 countries; 3 by myself
• gone to Disneyland, Disney World, and Disneyland Paris about a billion times
• learned fluent French
• welcomed 2 more nephews into the world
• played bridesmaid 3 times; twice in pink!
• lived with more than 80 different roommates
• lost one of my best friends to cancer
• overcame my fear of ocean life and cuddled up to a dolphin
• caught 2 bridal bouquets
• received my endowment
• attended 14 different temples
• had major dental surgery and braces
• earned an Associate of Science and a Bachelor of Arts, and was accepted to graduate school!
• served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• explored 15 states
• put my feet in 7 major bodies of water: the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean sea, the Adriatic sea, the North sea, and the Dead sea.
• cut my hair super short twice, and donated it to Locks of Love
• dressed as Tinker Bell for Halloween 3 times
• appeared in a press photo and on Quebecois TV riding a Segway at Disney World
• eaten alligator, guinea pig, rabbit, frog's legs, escargot and alpaca meat, among many other international treats
• helped renovate 2 houses
• been to the top of the Eiffel Tower 3 times
• worked for the Mouse on 2 continents
• met thousands of amazing people including the best friends I have ever known

AWESOME. And it's only 2010! Let's see where the next 10 years will take me!

So speaks the geek

Looks like all my brother's nerdfests have paid off. He has a YouTube channel (blueskymaller)and has been making videos on a pretty regular basis lately. He is actually a very creative guy and seems to have a knack for these short videos. They may be a little random, but they are so much more intelligent than the stupid videos of people dancing like idiots or ranting about insignificant things. At least, that's what I think. See for yourself:





Maybe someday we'll track down the Croc Hunter videos he made when he was 7. I'm telling you, this guy's got potential.

Thank you sir!

I am grateful for men who are secure and devoted enough in their own marriages to their awesome wives that they can give a sincere compliment to a single gal like me, with no strings attached. That's all :)

Another 'Bachelor' bites the dust

Just heard that Jake and Vienna have broken up. Can you say, 'I told you so'?

That makes 13 failed relationships as a product of that ridiculous show. In fact the only actual marriage was with a runner-up... The similarly themed Bachelorette show is currently 2 for 5.

So what does this tell you about dating in the artificial reality created on these shows? That it DOES NOT WORK. It may be entertaining for the love-sick who like to sit at home and watch other people's fantasy lives instead of living their own, however it is a really sad way of messing with people's emotions on national television.

But hey, who am I to judge? Each of these people were consenting adults who willingly put their lives and emotions on the televised chopping block. Maybe they are the desperate ones, unwilling to work and wait for love like the rest of us. At least they each got their 5 minutes of fame, though I can't say I want the reputations they have earned themselves with millions of people who don't even know them.

As for this most recent failure, I'm not so sure that Jake is the Captain Amazing we thought him to be at the start. Doesn't take long for the true colors to show, huh?

Pretty sure that when Jake said things like:

"I have a successful life, and live in a nice home, but it means nothing if I can't share it with someone."

What he really meant was:

"I just wanna get some. A lot actually. With lots of women who look like supermodels and are constantly throwing themselves at me. Yep."

Then he tried to pull the wool over our eyes with sweet stuff most guys would never say, like:

"I'm not looking for the most beautiful girl. I'm looking for the most beautiful heart."

and

"Love is perfect, it endures."

Gag me. How did we let his excessive sentimentality fool us? Maybe he should go into showbiz. Looks like he has a knack for acting.

How about this one:

"Nice guys don't finish last. Nice guys just have to wait a little longer sometimes."

Well Jake, time to prove you really are a nice guy and look for love the old-fashioned way, just like everyone else.

Oh this show just makes me sad! Yet at the same time, I am so grateful that I can be happily single and hopeful for real love and friendship in the future. I don't have to join a competition to get a husband, nor do I have to sit at home watching some melodramatic show and dreaming about Mr.Right. I can just live! And I know he'll show up eventually :)

You know what's cool?

I have been so busy and productive with so many different projects lately, that I hardly have time to count my blessings, nevermind worry about what I lack! I feel great! I am energized through the limited sleep, and I smile through the pain of my messed up back because everything I am doing is so valuble and rewarding :)
The best part is that I don't have time to be lonely! I am surrounded by good people, and we are working together to bring about great things for other good people. (although I do owe some catch-up phone calls to many of my dear far-away friends.... I have not forgotten, promise!)
And every so often I get in a random episode on DVD to remind me that cute guys like Finn and Chuck and Clark and Jim exist out there (at least in TV land), and someday I'll have one around. But I simply don't have time to think about that right now! Isn't that awesome?!

Hope Floats

It has been the theme of my year. (check it) We have had hope for Haiti, hope for change, and hope for a cure. I cannot escape this word and all that it represents in my life right now!

I found this rock on my visit to Utah a few months ago, in a shop devoted to free trade and empowering local producers all over the world. It has this beautiful word etched into it by hand.

I now work for an amazing organization, Habitat for Humanity, who's motto is 'Building homes. Building hope.' This experience has been enough to warrant a post of it's own!

And a few weeks ago, I attended the Relay for Life all-night fundraiser in our town. It was the culminating night of a campaign to raise money for cancer research; bringing together survivors, families, and an entire community in the celebration of life and the battle against cancer. Though it was a chilly night with drizzly rain that turned into snow by morning, it was a beautiful reminder of all the reasons I have to hope.

At one point, I walked alone around the lake where all the tribute luminaries were lined up along the path. There were hundreds of lights representing hundreds of souls who lost their battles with cancer. My thoughts turned to all the wonderful people I have lost to this impossible, unpredictable disease. I was so full of love for the cancer heroes in my own life, and at the same time, felt so much sorrow and frustration for the injustice of their passing. Cancer is one illness I will never understand, nor will I even try. It simply doesn't make any sense. Young, perfectly heath-conscious people die of cancer everyday while chain smokers of forty years live to be a hundred. It seams to me that cancer is one of God's ways of forcing us to let go and turn to Him. Because no matter how hard we fight, if he decides it's time, it is time, and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

As I looked across the lake, I saw a few luminaries arranged in the form of my theme word. My heart lifted again. I wiped the tears from my eyes and thought back to all the beautiful moments I shared with my best friend, my grandfather, and so many other good people who were taken by cancer. I was overcome with gratitude for them, and for the tiny slice of life I got to share with each one of them. And then I felt an even greater gratitude and love for the life I have been given and the people who are a part of it now.

Life is so fragile and fleeting, and yet I am here, now with all the opportunities and possibilities in the world laying out ahead of me. In spite of all the injustice and pain, that simple and powerful thought fills my heart with HOPE!!

Island Fever

As the Marketing and Events Coordinator (nice title huh? I made it up myself.lol) for Habitat for Humanity this summer, I am working on a Polynesian luau dinner show as a fundraiser. We have had an amazing response from the community, and local businesses have been so generous in their donations of time and services.

Since I want this event to be both authentic and amazing, I have been up to my ears in research on Polynesian food, dancing, customs, language, dress, history, etc. Suddenly I am trying to learn 3 different island languages, I'm fantasizing about tropical vacations and work exchange programs to these beautiful places, and most of all, I have been mesmerized by the culture. I just want to go there and experience it all! Where, you ask? For starters: Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Easter Island, the Philippines, and then every little island in between.

And I think I need to find myself a Polynesian man... or at least a hot rugby player with an appreciation for culture ;)


Can you blame me??