33 for 33

I was sorely tempted to put "steal a baby" on this list (I've got my eye on a few of them) but I decided to keep things legal (at least for the time being).

1. read the Book of Mormon in french
2. ride a horse
3. take my mom to Italy
4. blog... regularly
   
5. run 5 races
6. get medical insurance
7. piece a quilt
8. go to Disneyland
9. watch Gone With The Wind
10. get out of debt
11. go hiking
12. meet my adorable, nice neighbor across the path
    
13. buy new boots
14. go to boston
15. learn to shoot film
    
16. form a running group (for slow people)
    
17. go longboarding
18. go skiing
19. go to an aquarium
20. go to a museum
21. have a dinner party
22. go to the Getty Villa
23. bake bread
24. fit into all the jeans in my closet
25. finish reading the Little House on the Prairie series
26. go to a pawn shop
27. go camping
28. buy from bountiful baskets
29. have a "shooting strangers" day
    
30. do a 52 week photo challenge
31. skype with a far away friend
32. memorize a few songs on the piano
33. move (to austin. or australia.)

I can't remember how old I am

Today is my birthday.

It's very convenient to start a new year and a new age at the same time. I celebrate a new year on January 1st and January 3rd. I've always loved my birth date.

Looking back on this year the thing I remember most is that I went to work. Then when I got off of work I went to work again, just at a different job. Then when I got off work again, I went home and worked more. I remember exhaustion. I remember a lot of tears. I remember feeling completely lost. I remember feeling like I'd lost myself, my sense of humor, my ability to have fun, my ability to manage my life. I remember feeling a lot like this.

But, I also remember a family I can't get enough of, parents who were more understanding and compassionate than I ever knew they could be, sisters and friends who'd walk to hell and back with me just so I'd have a shoulder to cry on, friend's parents who worry about me like I am one of their own, a bishop who let me cry about my job/financial/life situation every time I walked into his office and never made me feel embarrassed about it, a friend who loved me without even knowing my name (may she rest in peace), being able to simultaneously call 3 different people my 'best friend'. I remember Switzerland & Spain, puzzles and pictures. I remember being happy. I remember being hopeful.

Thank you, 2010.

In 2011, 33 year old me will nurture my spirituality, work less, work smarter, have more fun, lots more fun, be more adventurous, take care of my body, take care of my home and take the one big risk I was too scared to take in 2010.

The first song I listened to in 2011 and my theme song for the year:

32 for 32 - recap

1. stop putting off going to the grand canyon and go to the grand canyon already - Check! Best 4 hour drive to see a big hole I've ever taken. It's just too bad about the Frosty fob.
   
2. read "Les Miserable" (unabridged) - Fail. I didn't even buy it.
   
3. get rid of everything in my closet that doesn't reflect my true style (attempt replenishing) - Fail. I still hate almost all of my clothes.
   
4. send Thank You cards - Fail. This does not mean that I was unthankful.
   
5. quit at least one of my jobs - Check! Too bad I unquit. Now I just have to requit.
   
6. ride a razor scooter in Europe - 1/2Check. I went. I saw an old man in a suit riding a razor scooter in Basel. Sadly, I did not ride a razor scooter while there. Bitchin' trip though! Please watch this video.
   
7. piece a quilt - Fail.
   
8. go to the temple monthly - Mega Fail. At least I went once. Yes. Just once. Oh man...
   
9. learn to make stir fry like my mom - Fail.
   
10. start a beach cruiser bike gang - Check! Best damn beach cruiser gang ever. We don't even need a beach! (Thank goodness the BlackWidow blogged everything for me)
    
11. turn a photo into a jigsaw puzzle - Fail. Sad fail. But you should see my puzzle collection. I'm thinking about building a special closet for it.
    
12. throw a fancy party - Fail.
    
13. crash a wedding - Fail.
    
14. go to calico ghost town - Check! Probably one of the most amazing days of my life.
15. go to 20 concerts/live shows - Check. Too easy. Best of? Fun. And Keane.
    
16. photoshoot at the dry lake bed - Fail. Meh.
    
17. go to a play - Fail.
    
18. have a mohawk... or fauxhawk - Fail. Didn't even have anywhere cool to wear one. Then again, isn't my life just a cool enough place to wear one?
    
19. do tin foil dinners - Fail.
    
20. keep my room clean for two consecutive weeks - Epic Fail. Couldn't even keep it clean for two consecutive days.
    
21. post more pics on le blog - Fail. Ya know... cuz I didn't even blog.
    
22. knit something - Fail.
    
23. attend a photography workshop - Check! Very, very successful check.
    
24. put shelves in my storage room - Fail.
    
25. learn to play the ukelele - Check! I learned 3 chords. Which means I can play one song... which is probably one more song than you know.
    
26. go hiking in Zion - Fail.
    
27. watch a meteor shower - Fail. Did we even have one of those this year?
    
28. go kayaking - Fail.
    
29. road trip with just one other person - Fail. Unless you count driving across town.
    
30. read the book of mormon in french - Fail. Again, I say: Oh man...
    
31. pay off my car loan - Check! Getting the title in the mail was the second best piece of mail I've ever gotten.
    
32. go to a rave - Fail.

9 of 32.
Considering the hell of a year it was I am actually amazed and proud that I even checked that many items off my list. Despite the hell of a year it was, it was a good year. A real good year.

but i like you

him: you don't watch House?
me: nope.
him: that surprises me. of anyone, I thought you would love it because he is witty and he hates people.
me: just like me!
him: yes. except for the witty part.
me: i hate you.

favorite song of all time

and i seriously mean of ALL TIME:

i wish by skee-lo

my favorite IM convo ever

him: herro
me: que pasa?
him: asian hello
me: mexican what's up

Well THIS made me happy

*photo via here

I look forward to weekends so much more now that I don't have to work every weekend... or if I do I get to work at doing something I love.

I just looked at my October calendar and the weekends are fillin' up fast! Lovesit!

What will your 5 October weekends look like?

Things I decided today:

• I will say my prayers every single morning & night
• I will go to the temple at least twice a month
• I will study the scriptures every single day
• I will prepare my sunday school lesson before I get to sacrament meeting
• I will write in my journal more often
• I will say thank you much more often... esp to people who annoy me
• I will stop going to the store on sunday
• I will try to go to sleep early and wake up early
• I will exercise and eat well
• I will keep my house and car clean

It's pretty sad how difficult everything on that list has been for me lately and how everything on that list seems completely impossible. But, after an amazing General Conference I'm motivated and energized to be the person I want to be and live the kind of life I want to live.

As Elder Scott said, Become what you want to be by being what you want to become.

Summer? Where did you go?

OK... so the "summer of fun" kind of turned into the "summer of work" and "other stuff" that made the time pass far too quickly. Not that I'm complaining. The less 100+ degree weather I have to live through, the better.

I've got lots to blog about but I feel the need to ease back into this blogging thing. So, here's a little treat. This is what happens when you hang out with cool people on a sunday night. And might I just say, my video editing skillz are off da hook. Fer realz.




Thanks to the viral internet sensation, F*bomb, for introducing the glory that is Robot Unicorn Attack!

Summer of Fun Kickoff!

!KA-BOOM!

Know how to start of a good summer of fun?

*fireworks in the desert*

One good thing about living in Las Vegas is its proximity to Moapa. The only good thing about Moapa is the firework store. We happened by there the other night with the express intention of buying some explosives... but, shhh! They're illegal. Don't tell.

Tif got a really big sparkler.

I jumped over fire... succesfully.

Josh is a nerd. He creeps into photos. He can't jump over fire very well. Thus, it becomes imperative to shoot Roman Candles at him.

A small sampling of our goods.