A Few of My Favorite Things

Josh Groban singing "You Raise Me Up"
Westlife singing...just about anything =)
Bagpipes

Okay. Now, let's imagine that we combined all of these things in ONE SONG and the CD comes out on Halloween. Am I excited...yeah. Pretty much.


Hopefully this Link will work, and then you all can share in the joy. Pretend that Kian doesn't look like a girl (and he's not even the gay one!) and your experience will prolly be lots better. This is SO CUTE!!!

I'm Not Wearing My Consequences Today...

Sounds a little scandalicious doesn't it? You're consequences are showing! Well, if it makes me a little more reputable, I will tell you that Annie is not wearing consequences either. We are both anti-consequences today. I think I can see your consequences...

So this one time at preschool, Carson asked Miss Kirsten if she was wearing her consequences. "Uh...I don't know what that is..." [try to move on with story time]. "Teacher, consequences are what you wear in your eyes!" Oh...CONTACT LENSES! Miss Emily was teaching you about those the other day, wasn't she?

Quick Update

I get to teach Photoshop Basic and Digital Photography with one of the best teachers at work! Psyched!

Diane gave me a huge smile and said she thought I did a great job when I taught Prodev today.

My friend Ryan likes this guy at work's little sister, and this other guy at work knows Ryan--weird.

I apparently look like Cameron Diaz (yeah right)!

My eyebrows have broken out--nowhere else...who does that?

My least favorite member of my favorite boyband just announced that he's gay. We all knew it--he always DID wear too much lipstick-- but I still say sad day!

I'm tensing for the heartbreak--preschool ends this week!

It should be apple season soon!!!

I'm tired of relationship counseling and drama, and I don't want to have to go through it myself. All the more reason to go on a mission!!! =P

I caught myself singing during Prodev today...bad bad. In my defense, I've been crazy stressed.

I went grocery shopping today. Seemingly small, but it makes all the difference.

I don't have a study tree (that's for Meagan), but I do think I've found somewhere I like to study. Hopefully no one steals it and I have to pay them $20 for it. That's why I'm not telling you where it is, cuz it's secret.

Today, I almost finished reading the LAST CHAPTER in Cognitive Development! My smile extended past my ears when I realized that.

There is a book called Happy Hippopotami. I checked it out from the library on the very day that I decided that the plural of Hippopotamus should be Hippopotami. That one is for Bobbery.

Life is so good right now. I come home from school beaten to a pulp, but I like it still. It's just knocking off the rough edges, right?

Straight and Narrow

Bad things happen when you aren't where you should be. That's why we are warned to stand in Holy Places. Now that I've got you all listening, let me reassure you. I have not wandered, nor am I confessing any great transgression. In fact, my problem was not with being where I shouldn't be, but where I should. Unfortunately, where I should be was where I shouldn't have been. Making sense, huh?

So I'm not confessing any sins or misdeeds, but I am confessing a serious weakness. It's sad, really, when such a wonderful thing can turn into such a temptation. Remember the sheet music store? Yeah. Same concept, different numbers. Today I dipped my does in...the Juvenile Literature section of the Library. Ooooooh, bad. I have been there before, but it was to pick up a book that I already had the call number, and I had to get it really quickly because someone was waiting for me. Tonight was different.

I needed a book to teach an "interactive literature" in the preschool. What book? Heck if I knew. I was supposed to somehow explore the section, and books were supposed to pop out at me, and ideas start flowing...all in about half an hour. That's all I had time for. Finally I dragged myself away, after reading a particularly enchanting fairy story, and looked at the clock (both of my watches have recently departed). Yep, 2 HOURS. Do I know which book I will be using now? Nope. I just have about 9 kids' books on my bed, and I am trying to decide. I think I'm going to have to go with Corduroy. Yeah? Sorting Buttons? That's math! And threading them onto a card? Oh yeah. Small motor activities.

Anyways, Here I am writing a blog at 1am because I spent way too long delving into the glory days...sigh. And I was doing so well--pride goeth before the fall, I suppose. Now I will have to get into the whole "going to bed 'early'" habit all over again!

No, I Didn't Get In A Fight With A Cat...

I got hit in the face with the piano. Luckily the piano is okay!
It's been a long time, and I always think of things I should blog about, but I can never remember what they are once I actually sit down to do it.
I am an official member of the "Too Tall Club," where I can "do tall things, meet tall people, and eat tall food!" Excellent.
Still loving the preschool--especially Parker. Today Miss Lee put him in my group and his face lit up...I can't think of a better way to make a bad day better!
I no longer address myself as "self." I fear that I have started to call myself, "Miss Adriane" in my head.
My propensity to just sing whatever part of the "Soundtrack of My Life" happens to be playing has gotten worse! I'm not sure exactly why, but I find myself midsong ALL the time! Scary.
I bombed a test today..."And I feel GREEAAAT!!!" "Tests Everywhere!"
The best part is, I just watched "Ever After." Sigh. And I'm going to bed--RIGHT NOW!!! G'night!

My Night with the Drashnok

Sometimes, it's best not to know what a drashnok is. Especially when you hear that it "consumes human flesh" and it is "directly below the engineer's station." Uh...now it's under MY station? Zach darling, do you have that phaser ready? Poor kid, he and the first officer were the only ones allowed to use the phaser. "Why are you all running away?" Because we don't have a gun! Oh, no, little brother. You can't hide behind me this time. The annoying thing was, I had beamed it off right after it beamed on--(yay self!)--which apparently wasn't supposed to happen, because it kept trying to stick its hairy clawy hands in my face--definitely not beamed off my ship. The transporter broke directly, and then my poor captain father was telling Lo to fix the gravity! Lol...finally she fixed the transporter, and I sent him packing. "Beam him out, Scotty," I thought to myself. My favorite part (in retrospect) was when its burst through the little doors and I screamed. Then I kept on screaming because it was part of the experience. I screamed like that Drashnok was upon me already consuming. Sick. Who thinks of these things?

In other news, I have a new phone number, and a new website. I will tell you the website: webpub.byu.net/aeb88 There are only two pictures on it so far, but if I can squeeze the time in, I will add some more favorites. Don't be jealous cuz it's just Annie--her pictures are much more fun to manipulate, seeing as everyone in the office already knows her. Anywho, this is what I learned about photoshop so far--including the making of the website. Who'duv thunk?

Elder Neuenschwander

I just love his name, don't you? And he's really nice. I met him when our Stake Presidency was changed waaaaaay back in the day, when Daddy was just starting his Stake Clerk-ness. The funny thing is, now he's on my desktop wallpaper! Who'da thunk?

By popular demand, I will try to put my experience with cultural geography on paper (well, sort of), but I think you're right. It's better in person.

And hey, look at the time! I'm going to bed now (WHOAH!!!). G'night!

What Next Mr. Brad?

Guys. The kids came to the preschool for the first time today. =D I tell you what! I started out this semester counting the days until that twelve hours would be free again, and whammo! Parker is the one who blurts the title of my blog every five seconds because he's so excited to be at preschool. Isaiah is the one who told me, "That really hot slide tried to hurt my leg." Madeline goes by "Mo." Matthew got so excited when we sang the bubblegum song that he wouldn't stop talking about it--even in the middle of Mr. Brad's story. Josh is a sober young boy, with hair parted down the middle, who likes to make snakes out of play-doh. I lucked out--I got the most popular center. I want to live my life with that kind of wonder and excitement. Kind of like my little cousin, who put his hand in mine as we walked along the beach (I got a little teary, it was such a cute moment), and exclaimed at EVERYTHING--even the orange peels. Life holds one big beautiful surprise around every corner, my friends.

When I Am Old, I Shall Wear...

A sparkley-sequined flower in my hair and a dancing dress. Then I will go dancing with my darling old husband at the Murray Arts Center, where they have this amazing old-school band (with awesome piano) that plays everything from "Anne's Theme" to Rascal Flatts' "Broken Road," to Sinatra. Sigh. And when I see young people trying to dance the tango (and the girl is trying to not get the guys' sweat all over her--and failing) I will walk up to her, grab her wrist sympathetically, and then go back to dancing with my darling old husband. And it's going to be great. Am I still listening to Frank? Yes yes, yes yes.

WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Two words. Office chair. Lol. Two more words--backpack in each arm. Fast. Really fast...dizzy. Mmmm. This is something I will do in broad daylight. Yessssss.... Annie, why did you have class?

You Know You're A NERD When...

It just hits me over and over...and there are so many different sides to my nerdiness!

I was enumerating the happy things about my day, and one of them was, "I have Wicked songs stuck in my head!" I wasn't expecting them to ask which one! It took me a second to dig down to the soundtrack of my life...my heart sank. The song currently playing in my head was the prologue! Man!

I have a Palm Pilot, and it's really working out well for me. When Garth (I work with him) found out I had a Palm, he started talking about synching with Outlook and how helpful that is. Wait! They have a bunch of extra cradles just sitting in a box. Did I want one? Sure I did! I have two Palm Sync cradles...I don't know how I feel about that.

I just put my desk together for my computer (I've missed this thing so badly!), and I had to borrow some tools to do it. I'll skip the details about secret schemes and intrigues (Daddy...), but I finally borrowed Ryan Horne's tool set. You know you're kind of tool-nerdy when your eyes get big and you start explaining to Crystal that, "it's magnetic, so if you drop something, it sticks to it, and you can change the different heads, and look, this is how it works! The only way it would be better is if it was a ratchet one!" and she gives you one of those nods that tries to say, "cool" but ends up saying, "you are SO weird!" Okay, so I want a socket wrench set for Christmas. Is that a problem?

(Those three were all on the same day!)

Today, while trying to set up a bulletin board (I'm an ECE major, okay?) three of us were following the official student teacher around. We decided we were either ducklings or lemmings. I voted vehemently for ducklings--then we could shake our tail feathers. It ended with us all singing "Five little ducks went out to play..." and then THAT was stuck in my head...yep. ECE nerd. That's me.

Creeeeaaaakk..k..k.....

There are some things that I just won't do in broad daylight. I prefer, in fact, to wait until the dead of night. There's something so exhilarating about flighing high, swooping down, then rising to the top once again. It messes up my hair and takes my breath away. But I have to wait until it's dark to swing on the swings. Why, you ask? I will tell you. My rear end no longer fits inside the swing! It's not very flattering. Nor comfortable. So my joyous, exhilarating rides have become somewhat secretive and limited. Getting old is hard.

Falling Down

You know how, when toddlers teeter, and then fall over, they immediately look to their parents? If Mommy jumps up and fusses over the crash, the tot's face will likely squash up for a good howl. If they hear a "Nice one! Just try again!" they will probably pick themselves up and go tottering for a couple more steps.

I'm tired of people fussing. I'm only twenty for heaven sakes! I know you want nieces and nephews, Zach, but that's no reason for you to ask Dad to bless me to find the right man SOON in my back-to-school blessing. Yeah, everyone in my extended family, I am not married. Sad day. Get over it. I'm just fine toddling my way through life. I'm not nearly mature enough to make such a big commitment. I know that, and I'm quite content. But with all this fussing, I feel a howl coming on.

I apologize if this sounds bitter. I promise that it does not represent my true feelings. I just can't help wondering sometimes if maybe I should be more worried--since everyone else seems to be. Thanks for listening.

Bad Day

I really like that new song by Daniel Powter. And it's awesome when you had a bad day for REALS and it plays on your way home from work.

If I had subtitles for this blog, it would be "Okay, fine. I'll be your friend--if you pay me!" Keep that in mind.

So. Rotten day. I won't go into all the details, but it started last night. =P. I left my keys inside Kneaders again. That means I had to get a ride home from Amber, and I had to have someone make an extra trip with me this morning to get the car. But, you know. Whatever. Except--AAHHHH!!! Today is laundry day. My keys are at the laundry. I cannot find even the number for the laundry people. Luckily they are easily identifiable, as I am still using a bright yellow carebear as a keychain.

I got a letter from the scholarship comittee. Life just got a whole lot more complicated...but hey, it's a growing experience, right? It will be good for me. I will grow, and be a better person for it. But I felt like a failure with a capital F in big red letters. Rough.

Then I had to go to work. Ew yuck. I got to work. Oh--I got my laundry done. That is very happy news. So. Bob (my manager) spent the rest of his shift telling me that "You've never had a bad day in your life." I looked at him like, "Stupid man. I don't know if you are trying to make me feel bad--probably not. What do you maean you can read my aura?" Ugh. Or he would be like, "How much will you give me for your keys?" When I knew very well he didn't have them. but every time he said it, I wished he did so bad! Jerk.

So then, when Colleen came up and said, "Adriane," in that voice that means, "I have something to tell you..." I braced for impact. I had been terribly annoyed with her the day before, and I still tense up whenever she talks to me. "I was watching you with the customers..." Man! I am working my butt off for you!!! Interacting with the customers is the only thing I really love about this job--don't you DARE tell me I'm bad at it! "and you were amazing!" *Jaw drop* I wish I could have seen my face. I'm pretty sure it was hilarious. "You do such a wonderful job, and I really appreciate the way you suggestive sell things." By this time, my jaw was on the floor, and I was stammering my thanks to her when she said, "In fact, I'm going to give you a one dollar raise on your next paycheck." Holy cow! What did you do with the Colleen I knew? For two seconds, I considered taking back my two weeks notice. I don't think she knows about it. Lol...only I came to my senses, thanked her, turned around, and made that same face I accidentally make when beautiful men talk to me using my name and I don't want to scream.

So if YOU happen to be having a bad day ;P, hang in there. Eventually, things will look up. Something good has to happen, even if it's only an extra dollar an hour for the last 7 days you work. Or maybe you will be weeding your yard and not see a single spider! Or maybe you'll just get all of your laundry done.

Mmmm...

"Adriane, what do you when you get home from your trying, on-you-feet-for-eight-hours job? Do you fall into bed, exhausted and in pain?"
"No Larry, actually, I like to go home and write blogs and watch the Little Mermaid."

Pah ha ha--well, if Julia and Zach happen to be watching the BEST Disney movie ever, I won't argue. My one regret about Disneyland is that I didn't get a picture with Ariel. I need to go sometime with a group of friends that won't mind me waiting in a forever long line to take a picture with some strange girl in an ugly red wig. Because they will be right there in line with me. And we should go this year sometime, because they have the BEST FIREWORKS EVER!!! EVER!!!! I am ruined to city park fireworks forever. *sigh*

Well, naturally, I still have more to write, but Ursula is about to take over the entire ocean, and someone needs to be there to see that everything turns out alright. K Bye!

A Blog About Lauren

So much time, and so little to do! Strike that--reverse it (for all of us OLD Willie Wonka fans ;).

Guys. I have so much to blog about! The payamas, and the little bit of sunshine in my cynical world, Disneyland, work, getting ready for school, scary old men that make me think of Jena and her scary old men... But I don't have time tonight. Because my Dad keeps calling on the intercom, and he is sleepy and so am I. So for tonight, I will just point your attention to my sister's link on the right hand side of my blog. Because I am pretty excited that I finally got her to create one. YESSSS!!! And she is coming to college, which is weird but exciting. And none of you boys are allowed to ask her out without my permission. Um...that's all.

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

So I was sitting in the hospital with my Mom for four hours yesterday, and it reaffirmed what I'm always known: I don't want to be the grown-up. Ever. I don't want them talking to ME about the results of the test or what medications to take, or when she's allowed to drive again. I don't want to be the one in the next cubicle calling my family and telling them that "Mom's going to be really tired today...how about if you come to see her tomorrow instead" and "they let her get up to go to the bathroom and she broke her tailbone..." I don't want to answer my Mom's nervous questions over and over because she can't remember that she asked me the same thing five minutes ago--let alone the answer I gave her. I don't want to see her on her side coming back from the test with an oxygen tube in her nose, pale and unconscious. It scared me, to be completely honest. I don't want to do it again. Luckily, our worries were unfounded, and she is okay (big cheer for Mom!!!), so I won't have to do that again for ten more years, but I still don't want to be the grownup. Ever.

What If the Hokey Pokey Really IS What It's All About?!?

Well???

Someday that is going on a sign on my wall. When I get cutesy-craftsy. Which is on my list of things to do...and if I could ever find the stupid list, I would maybe get to it! =P

In other news, I should never ever ever EVER go to sheet music stores, even if it's just a quick stop to get the Wicked music for my Mom (YAY!!!). Cuz I will end up spending $40 of my own money as well...but hey. For Josh Groban? Yeah. It's worth it. Remember when it rained? Sigh. And Lonestar, my friends. Yes, I am all set.

In other other news, I'm not so sure I really like The Light In the Piazza. I know that I have only mentioned it to probably one person reading this (it's the latest Tony winner--Best Musical of the Year), but it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I do really like a couple of the songs on it, however. Thank goodness for the Library, and I didn't have to buy the whole stinkin' CD to find out.

So I'm doing the Program for our ward tomorrow, and I was finding the titles to the hymns online--you know the awesome Hymn thing on lds.org, that plays a note whenever you scroll over the different titles, and when you keep doing it it makes a song? It's I Am a Child of God right now. I liked it when it was The Spirit of God too. Is it bad if I have to play with it every time I get on?

Well, I'm off. No work for me for NINE WHOLE DAYS!!!! Yesssss..... (that was a Napoleon, please read it as such). I love you all, and miss you like crazy!!!

I Just Feel Listless, and I Don't Really...

My face is falling off, but I only bugs me when it's burning. I like my job...some of the time. Crabby boss lady likes me lots now. I have to get out of there before the tide turns again. My current life's ambition is to close faster than I did the last night. When I'm not at work, I'm too tired to do much of anything. My hair is "sensible." Granted, it was an 8-year-old-hispanic girl that told me this, but still. I bought a sparkly pink cowgirl hat. A WESTLIFE one. Excellent...nyeh...whatever. I don't know if I really feel anything anymore. Is that a problem? Am I broken? How long have I been broken and not realized it? I can't find my feelings, but it doesn't keep me from messing with other people's. Is guilt a feeling? I want to go away, but my face kind of hurts...

The Half-Blood Prince

I was right! (Said with great triumph). Of course, i was wrong about a lot of stuff too. I was glad this book was so much better than the 5th--that one was such a disappointment! I'm glad Harry finally shaped up, too. I guess I can't write anymore, since some of you haven't finished yet!