Just Admit It...

We're adorable.

Dear Future Husband,

I hereby forbid you to propose on Christmas. Do you hear me, Mr. Chester? Forbid. I'll say no. That is not a threat. That is a promise.  How about when the weather is particularly horrible and nothing special is going on? January 23?

Love,
Chess

PS. Don't even think about Valentine's Day.


(No offense to the host of friends (including my BFF) who got engaged in the last two days. Congratulations to you all!!)

Ho Ho Ho, Hardy Har Har, Ha Ha Ha!

Remember how I said I was on a quest to restore the funny? Because it's gone, gone, gooone?

I've been feeling weird this holiday season. Like the excitement isn't there. Well, it's not. Not in the way it used to be. I guess we're all grown up now at my house, so the excitement is more of a quiet kind. Not the loud, rambunctious, raucous, "Oh my gosh, wake up, wake up, it's CHRISTMAS!" kind of crazy anymore. And grown up things are on my mind these days, and I don't quite know what to do with that new development, because "I want always to be a girl and have fun," and I guess I know I can't.

But last night, I turned over in my sleep and smacked my forehead so hard against the wall that I woke up. And burst out laughing before immediately falling asleep again. Or maybe I passed out. I'll never know....

Either way,

I stand corrected.

For one thing, I'll always be a girl. There's not much I can do about that. :P

But, more importantly, there are always fun things to laugh about. 

  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!  

(and Happy Holidays to all my groupies)

Hello World...

I've missed you. Sorry that I've been sleeping lots. You must understand that I didn't sleep much the last couple of weeks. But... I got my first and last 4.0 in college!! I'm kinda proud of myself. And now I'm done with school. What do I do now? Someone find me a job. Quick!

Whenever someone asked me what I was going to be when I grew up, I said, "A graduate." But now that has happened, and I don't have an answer to the question anymore. I don't know what I want to do. My routine as a student is gone. I feel like nothing is waiting for me now. Or maybe everything is waiting for me now. But I feel kinda lost. And dismal. (When I used to be happy and hilarious.)

I'm on a quest to restore the sunshine and the funny in my life. I feel like I've forgotten how because so many unfunny, not-nice things have happened lately. I need a new attitude, but I don't know where to find one. So maybe we could make this a collaborative effort?

Can you tell me what you do to have a good time these days? What songs you like to dance to? Your happy movie? Your favorite childhood cartoon? Your favorite snack or treat? Your favorite book? Julie Andrews says that if I think of my favorite things, then I won't feel so bad, but my favorite things aren't working so well, and you are some of my favorite people, so it couldn't hurt to try your favorite things, right?

Please help!

I'm Drained, Folks.

But I am done.

If all goes well, I will be a college graduate at the end of this week.

I am so, so, SO TIRED.

Timeline of events in the last week and a half... plus thoughts... and interjections... and...and...

1. Completed a semester-long portfolio for my humanities fashion class 
2. Wrote three critical analysis essays totaling nineteen pages
3. Worked
4. Met a boy (who is roomie's boy-that-she's-dating's roomie)
5. Was flirted with more in less than a week than I have all my years combined
6. Friday night with my besties
7. Babysat 
8. Spent all day Saturday with besties and with boy
9. Spent all day Sunday with besties and with boy
10. Refused to cuddle with boy (no such thing when it's the first time we watch a movie), but he still played with my hair
11. Went to first non-Sunday church activity (FHE) on Monday where I saw boy
12. Last meeting for mentoring :-(
13. Spent rest of Monday night finishing first essay
14. Spent all of Tuesday morning and afternoon writing second essay and all of the evening with boy
15. Finished third essay on Wednesday morning
16. Freaked out because I was aaaaalll DONE
17. Worked
18. Ate dinner
19. Boy texts me all night tonight, and corners me into telling him whether or not I like him, and when I say I'm open to the idea, he makes me answer yes or no, so I am brave and say yes (even though it's not really true and I'm shaking from head to foot from being put on the spot) and ask if it's mutual, and he says, no, I just want to be friends. Sigh. Slightly bummed. Not surprised since he is a big, fat flirt. Really relieved there was no cuddling to regret. Really annoyed that he popped up in my life to frazzle me during finals week. 
20. Why is it ALWAYS finals week?
21. Good grief, why did he flirt so much?
22. What is wrong with boys?
23. Too bad he was really, really cute
24. Watched S.W.A.T.
25. Got ready for bed
26. Blogging about how I am drained
27. Stupid boy is texting me during his graveyard shift at work
28. I. HATE. TEXTING.

But...

I.

AM.

DONE.

Seven Pages...

That is all that stands between me and my B.S. in English.

And believe you me, it will be a lot of BS.

Yes, Kayce, I am starting the infamous Sinor paper.

At five in the morning. 

It will be due in twelve hours. 

But I have to have it finished in ten hours. 

Why am I up so early?

I couldn't sleep so I thought I might as well get started.

Might as well admit it was nightmare about this paper that kept me from sleeping.

I emailed her on Monday about it.

She was sooo not happy with me, but you know what? I never liked her anyway, so I don't really care! Haha! Plus, I've decided to email it, so I never have to see her face again, and I can go on my way rejoicing the moment I click "SEND."

Life is some kind of wonderful.

(In more ways than one)

Validate me.

Encourage me.

Dangle a promise of a trip to Disneyland in front of me.

Not even a real trip.

Just the promise of one!!

That would be good enough.

Dear Fellow College Groupies,

This is my last finals week ever.

(Unless I go back to school.)

Bwahahaha.

Unfortunately, I have to complete about fifteen pages of writing between today and tomorrow. Because nothing got done this weekend. Stupid friends. Stupid boys. Stupid everybody that is awesome and that I like so much more than my homework. Quit getting in my way! Furthermore, today has become lots shorter because I accidentally slept in. I is scared. Please send me messages of encouragement, because I feel a nervous stomachache coming on.

I wish you luck too. This is the most horrible/no good/bad/awful/Satanic week of the year and I feel your pain. I shall return your comments of encouragement. Be strong, groupies. Be strong.

On a happier note, I watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York this week. Best days of my life. :-)

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

If you are, please stretch this week out by a couple days, because I've been so, so tired, and I slept more than I should have, and I haven't finished all the papers I need to write. And it's scaring me. If you can't extend my week, maybe, just help me stay awake. That would be cool of you. Don't you want to be cool, God? Maybe you're not into that sort of thing. After all, I'm writing a paper on a poem where you are portrayed as a Mastiff and also Tyrannical. Silly Emily Dickinson. I don't think she realized that you really are a nice dude.

Did you know that Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is a real book? Furthermore, did you know that it's totally fine that I'm using it for my blog post because—surprise—my first name is Margaret? This is not a lie. Chess is a nickname for my middle name. But this is not a post about my names. We'll save that for another day.

Court told me that I haven't posted in a week. FALSE. If she were really a fan of this blog, she would know I haven't posted in exactly two weeks. (Sheesh.) This is not my fault. This is the fault of Dead Week (the week before finals). Dead Week is anything but dead. The "dead" part comes from the semi-catatonic state that you suffer from trying to do everything all at once and not having enough time to do it. So give me a break. But, I will post. I miss this blog. I miss you readers. I lost one of you this week and it made me sad. Tell all your friends that I really am hilarious sometimes and it's worth it to stick around.

But this is not a post about me being hilarious and really wanting to have 200 followers. That's just being selfish. This is a post about my hilarious friend Courtney and my home away from home. Or what used to be my home away from home. I was hardly ever there this semester, but I guess it's fitting because it just wasn't looking and feeling like home. And I'll tell you why.

Ol' Ray B. West. Ol' Rabies. The building that houses the English department. The building that will soon send me on my way into the real world. (NO. DON'T MAKE ME GO.) It underwent a horrible makeover this summer. The person overseeing production was a genius (and I use the word "genius" lightly) who thought that it would be a great idea if they painted each floor a new glaring neon color so that we would know where to go. Maybe FCHD and Elementary Ed. majors need color coding to figure things out, but—surprise—English majors know how to read. We don't need nasty colors that don't go with brick and tweed. And hello? "1" at the beginning of a room number means the first floor and "2" means the second. How difficult is that?

But I was content not to complain, because I knew, at least, that our nasty plaid couch in the bathroom was still safe from the grubby hands of modernists. However, my confidence was shattered several weeks ago, when Court arrived in Crumbumble's class, all six glorious feet of her soaked in awesome sauce and sprinkled in sparkling coolness (if you can't tell, I want to be like her when I grow up), and she told me in horrified tones that "our couch has been taken away!!!"

I shrieked and almost died, "Is NOTHING SACRED anymore?" You don't understand. That couch was a sanctuary. You never touched it with bare hands. In fact, you didn't touch it at all. Who knew what diseases that thing was housing? But it ensured the safety of your backpack. You could tinkle in peace, knowing that good ol' plaid couch was cradling your backpack until you came out of the stall once again.

And then, if that wasn't enough to put me in the worst mood ever (and I was furious), she hit me with even more horrible news. See, had this been last year, I would've known before she told me, but I only had the one class this time, and I never stuck around afterwards.

She said, "Have you seen the study area?" And I breathed out a low, "Nooooo..."

To my disgust, she told me that they had replaced the three plaid couches with a few plastic rolling chairs grouped around the empty space that used to have a beat-up old coffee table with old poetry magazines stacked on top. Yet another beloved spot desecrated. It was the quintessential English-majory looking and feeling place on our entire campus. The couches didn't match anything or each other, and that coffee table was the sorriest looking thing ever. But you see, they matched us.

That was where we all gathered to moan about our papers. That was where we all crammed together to review for tests and tell stories. That was where we would sneak in a nap after pulling an all-nighter because we procrastinated writing. Those couches, as Court eloquently put it, "formed themselves perfectly to the curves of our bodies."

How do plastic chairs replace the camaraderie, the laughter, the stolen hours of sleep, the sneaking glances at cute boys across the way? They can't, that's what!!

"They have turned Ray B. West from a loving mother into a one-night whore."

Amen, Courtney, mah sister. Amen.

"No, Thank Your..."

Remember that time in elementary school when you traced around your hand to make a turkey, and then you had to write something you were thankful for on each of your fingers (aka feathers)? And then your mom oohed and aahed over it and stuck it on the refrigerator?

I feel as if I were to do that, I would need to have as many fingers as Medusa had snakes in her scalp.... and let's be honest... that would be one horrific hand! Or as many tentacles as the Giant Squid in Harry Potter... but that wouldn't work, because my blessings are much giant-er than my small hand could hold. I always have so many things I'm thankful for, and though I usually just keep them in my heart and smile about them to myself, today I will write some of them down here.

I am grateful for... 


My Heavenly Father and Savior. Life is beautiful and hard enough on its own, but without faith and the gospel, it would be abysmally difficult and lacking all the glory.

My family. We have troubles. Oh, we have many. And disagreements. And misunderstandings. But we have love and we are a forever family right now, and I hope we stay that way. 

My friends. There are no words. I know so many words, and I read books full of words and passages and quotes, and as inspiring as they can be, none of them is adequate to describe what my friends mean to me.

My groupies. This means you. You have been so supportive and loving. I can always count on you to send me an encouraging word when I'm feeling upset or frustrated, or to rejoice with me in the big triumphs and the little happy things. I know things have been slow and uneventful, and I haven't emailed you all, like I wish I could, but I hope you'll stay with me and keep reading.

My job. I love my sweet kids. They drive me crazy and annoy me and they don't do their homework and sometimes they're lazy, but when they smile because I remembered their names, and they carry my backpack because they see I'm tired, and they turn to me for help that they can't get anywhere else, well, I can't help but want to do anything for them. Anything at all.

My Logan. My USU. This place has changed me for the better. I can't believe four and half years have flown by and I can smell my degree lurking about three weeks away. I liked myself before I came here, but I learned to love the person I am and have become because of this place.

And then the biggest thing I am grateful for this year comes in the tiniest, sweetest little package ever. One day, I think I'll tell you all my long life story, and how this little girl is something special. All little babies are, but for our family, she's a miracle.

I am the greatest aunt this little girl will ever know.
Actually, her only aunt. But that is beside the point. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Count your blessings, because... 

my goodness, 

they just pile up by the minute!

Bonus points to whomever can tell me where the post title comes from...

Today's Facebook Status:

If you ask me if I was there at midnight,

I will have to be rudely honest and say, 

"Now that is a STUPID question."

PS. I loved it.

Finally, Finally an Episode to LOVE!!!

This season of  glee  has been slightly rough getting through. But hoo-boy this week's was awesome. I'm in love with Darren Criss. Thank you, Court, for telling me to watch A Very Potter Musical (watch the whole playlist here).

I know, it's a little late to post this, but I don't have TV at home, so I watch Glee on campus before my night class. Which means I watched the latest episode an hour or so ago. Which means I'm in class right now. Which means I'm ignoring it. Blogging. Love me anyway.

Love this. Love him.

Happy Nine Months...

From Valentine's Day, all of you with birthdays today!!!

*snickers*

I'm an Aunt!!!

Meet little Autumn:

Born 11/12/2010 at 9:58 pm. 6 lbs, 15 oz. 19 inches long.

I haven't met you yet, baby, but I heard your first cries...

and I'm the only one that cried with you.

And I probably cried more than you.

Everyone else was being too macho.

Actually, there were so many mixed emotions,

it was hard to know exactly what to feel!

But....

All you need to know is that your family loves you.

Especially your Aunt Chess. :-)

I can't wait to see you!

I Would Like You All to Know...

That I was voted 

"Best Follower/Dancer in Logan" 

among my country-swingin' boys 

(who are undeniably the best of the lot up here).

I feel like I won a trophy or something.

Haha. I'm such a nerd.

:-)

Things I've Eaten...

Because I read about it in a children's book:

1. A tomato and mayonnaise sandwich (Harriet the Spy) -- Delicious! You need salt and pepper and a little mustard for sure, though. 
2. Creamed potatoes and peas (Understood Betsy) -- Om nom nom!
3. Orange juice and Coke (The Boxcar Children Series) -- Meh...
4. Popcorn and milk (Farmer Boy) -- Two of my favorite foods... what's not to love?!

I can't remember any more at the moment, but...

What crazy/funny things have you eaten or done 

because you read about it in a book?

Plastic or Cardboard?

It was a Thursday night at Walmart, and three of us were congregated in that aisle of special products that only women know how to navigate, a strange land wherein the male sex rarely venture. Had you been there you would've overheard a really intellectual and heated debate over which brand of tampons was the best. Suggestions, advice, and laughter were being tossed back and forth between us, and it was only during a slight lull that we noticed the stranger among us.

A relatively young man in a dark jacket and a shopping basket over his arm had shuffled silently into our aisle, just a few feet away, and stopped in front of the shelves stacked with plastic-wrapped packages boasting names like "Tampax," "Playtex," and "Kotex." His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open. He scanned the shelves and looked at his list. He looked at his list and scanned the shelves. He shifted his feet uncomfortably. May I just say I have never seen such a look of abject horror, misery, despair, and utter confusion.

Here was a soul crying out in need.

We burst into hysterical giggles.

"Should we help him?"  
 

"He's got a ring on his finger."

"Oh my goodness, his wife sent him!"

My heart took pity on the poor man and I tiptoed to his side, whispering for the sake of his dignity, "Do you need some advice?"

It was as though someone had lifted twenty pounds off his shoulders and burst the floodgates of emotion, because his whole body sagged from relief, and he blurted out in desperation, "Oh, if you don't mind, I could really use the help... I just.... my wife... don't know..."

I choked back the laughter and asked him if he knew anything at all about what he was supposed to get.

"She just said 'No cardboard,' but I don't even know what that means."

I pointed to a package of plastic applicator tampons and said helpfully, "Well, these are plastic." So maybe I was getting way too much of a kick out of this.

It was like teaching a six-year-old how to add two and two, because his face brightened and he exclaimed, "Oh! So if it doesn't say plastic, then they're cardboard?" Good job, Joey (I don't really know his name)! My roommates were watching in riveted awe at our fascinating interchange occurring right in front of them.

I recommended the large multi-pack. He said he was not to buy too many. I pointed to the smaller multi-pack. He remembered that she said something about "travel." I handed him the Tampax Compak Pearl box.

"Okay. Then that one it is!" he said happily. The sorrowful, terrified child of just minutes before was now a victorious, triumphant man. "Thank you, thank you so much! You are a lifesaver. I don't know what I would've done without your help." He tossed the package into his basket and went on his way rejoicing.

I hope we didn't embarrass him too much with the subsequent shrieks of laughter.

(Also, I think I would rock as a Walmart sales associate. HAHA.)

Yesterday Was...

What I would call a jolly holiday.

Yes, I know it was no special calendar day.... but it was just... nice. One of the nicest days I've had in a long time. One where everything just seemed to go right, and every person I ran into or heard from was just so sweet.

I woke up to two FB messages, one from my dear friend Jessika, and one from one of YSB's roommates, inviting me over for movie night later. I didn't have any classes this particular Friday, so I did a lot of homework, knocked off a required CIL (Computer and Information Literacy) exam, and had lunch with my friend Anna: we went outside the library and lay on our backs in the bright, cloudless sunshine--no need for jackets, it was too warm--and just talked each other's ears off.

Then we split up, she went to class, and I went back to doing homework, took a nap in the library while two other boys snored around me. I felt less stupid taking a nap by them, than if they were doing homework. Woke up, finished my book for class, and headed home. Dear kindred spirit Mikey texted me as I was walking, and just hearing from him put the biggest smile on my face. We planned on a Thanksgiving reunion in the coming weeks. Roomie Cort and I went to Cafe Rio for dinner, and then played Rockband with Lindsey and Roomie Shannon until 9:00 pm when everyone left to go to their respective Friday night activities.

I got to my friend's house and realized I was one little lady in a house of six men. Four of which decided they really wanted Frosties, so all five of us crammed into a tiny little car and headed to Wendy's. They were gentlemen and let me have the front seat, so you can imagine how funny three broad-shouldered guys looked all snuggled together in the backseat. When we got to Wendy's, they were all horrified that I didn't want one. Don't get me wrong, I looooove Frosties, but when I eat the better part of a Cafe Rio pork salad.... Well, they were just lucky I was able to get off our living room beanbag and over to their house...

The movie didn't start until after 10:00 pm.

And they say girls are indecisive. 

What-evs.

We watched The Bourne Identity. I'd never seen it before. Plus also, it was my first Blu-ray experience.... I know people rave about it, but.... I didn't think it was extraordinarily special. Sorry boys, and Blu-ray nerds. I still like you, and please keep inviting me over for movies anyway.

It was just a day filled to the brim with sunshine and friendship, and honestly, I don't know how it could have been any better. I think this is the happiest I've felt all semester so far. I wish I had some exciting breaking news or something extremely funny that happened (actually, I do! I'll tell you tomorrow!), but it was just a nice ordinary day, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I really wouldn't, because it was just the best!

Here's wishing you the nicest day ever today, and have a wonderful weekend.

Love,
Chess

Question of the Day:

Are Cheez-Its

"Queso-Esos"

in Spanish?

You're the Great Pumpkin, Prince Eric!

Look at my feet. Am I nervous?
Well, I'm holding Prince-freaking-Eric!

Oh yes.

I went there.

MERRY PRINCE ERIC DAY!!

I mean, Happy Halloween!

;-)

Once Upon a Time...

I had a cell phone named Clark. No, I did not name him after my country dancing teacher.

If Clark could talk, he would introduce himself as

"Kent, Clark Kent."

Sadly, he died one cold wintry night on the icy asphalt.

He decided life was too dull in my coat pocket,

and thought it would be a good idea to jump out of it

and dive off the balcony.

Just like Superman,
my cell phone was not as indestructible as I thought.

About two years ago, before Clark passed away, my roommate and the boy she was dating at the time decided to take all our apartment's cell phones and decorate the insides with unique stickers. See, when you drop your phone, the back often pops off and the battery flies out, and sometimes you get angry, so the idea was, if you had happy stickers in your phone, maybe you wouldn't get all grouchy-like and such.

Well, my happy sticker came in handy two summers ago. 

I went to Lagoon (amusement park) and I lost my phone on the white roller coaster. They took it to the Lost and Found, and when I went to claim it, they asked me to describe it. I couldn't remember the exact model, but I tentatively said it was a black Motorola flip phone. Unfortunately, they needed a little more detail, so I told them to take the back off it and look at the sticker. 

"What kind of sticker?" they asked.

I giggled and blushingly said, "Uh... Jesus Loves You."

(Know what though? He does.)

Definitions and Things to Say...

When someone leaves you hanging on a high-five:

"High-five my hand before I high-five your FACE!"

A party whose guests are nothing but English majors:

"Nerd-ist party."

(HAHA)

When your gal pal is being a wussy face:

"Woman up!"

Larger Than Life...

My friend Clark (background story here and here) and I are both from Orem. If he weren't so extremely good-looking and slightly cocky, I might be in love with him. As it is, we are just really, really good buddies.


Let me tell you how we were brought even closer together. See, it was fall break this weekend, so I hitched a ride home to Orem and back to Logan with Clarkers. Clark likes to talk. I like to talk. There's never a dull moment and always an educational adventure when you spend time with this boy.


Things I learned:
-- A few off-color jokes
-- What guys really consider in relationships (in particular, he likes a girl who has had to work in order to pay for what she wants, and doesn't spend all of it shopping)
-- A tooth implant or something can be really expensive
-- I'm known as "the short girl" at the Fun Park (where we go dancing every week)
-- Clark's and my dancing is "inspiring"
-- Those last two were told to Clark by some goofy guy at the Fun Park, who also told him he was "dreamy"
--It is never not cool to belt along to Savage Garden. Truly, madly, deeply.
-- Most importantly, the Backstreet Boys are totes better than *NSYNC


And how.


See, what happened was the first bars of "As Long As You Love Me" started floating out of the radio, and sharp, excited intakes of breath from Clark and me. 


Transcript of conversation over duration of song:


Clark: I LOVE this song!! 
Chess: I know!! I haven't heard it in ages!
Clark: (turns up the volume) I'm warning you. I'm singing every word.
Chess: Psh. Whatever, man. I was totally planning on it!
Clark: Ready?


Clark and Chessie proceed to BELT out every. single. word. With frightening accuracy.


Chess: Are we really doing this?
Clark: Oh. This is happening.


During instrumental interval...


Clark: This was the first CD I bought in the seventh grade!
Chess: I know! It's the coolest!


In-depth discussion of BSB members, all by name: Kevin, A.J., Brian, and Nick.


Song resumes, and so does the belting. 
Failed attempts to do runs.
Song ends.


Chess: *NSYNC sucked. 
Clark: Total crap compared to these guys. Except for "Bye Bye Bye."


Off-key rendition of "Bye Bye Bye."


Chess: Did you ever see the music video?
Clark: Not that one, but I remember that one where they're coming off the plane and all singing in the crowd. Oh yeah.
Chess: We are so cool.

For Your Viewing Pleasure:

Oh yeah.
I want it that way.

Erie, I Love You...

But it is NOT fair that I do not get to the be the cute roommate in this situation.

And this is my blog.

So I am saying it. 

I'm Not Lazy At All...

I just happened to watch

All Dogs Go to Heaven

Robin Hood (Disney)

Hercules

Anastasia

All in a row last night. Feature animation heaven. 

PS. My roommate and I may or may not have even made it back to our bedrooms. Just sayin'.

Things I'll Never Be Too Old For...

• Playing 4-Square
• Eating cookie dough and ice-cream at 10:00 pm
• Running through sprinklers
• Quoting She's the Man
• Giggling about boys
• Dancing
• Corn dogs
• Jumping rope
• Skipping
• Coloring
• Singing silly songs
• This blog

Please Help! (With a Good Thing)

Hello Groupies!!!

Are you feeling charitable today? How are your thumbs? Stretched and limber?

Good.

Because I need your thumbs.

If you are new to my blog, a most warm and cheery welcome to you!! The rest of you probably know that I work for USU and America Reads (a national children's literacy program). Basically, what I do is tutor and mentor at a high school and a middle school. 

We have a new literacy program here in Cache Valley called P.A.W.S. (Pursuing Academics with Success), and we are trying to help Wilson Elementary School win a $250K Grant from Pepsi. You can read more about what the program is about here (Todd Milovich is my boss, and he's the raddest guy around) and here. Last month, we were in 24th place in the running, and I need your help to launch us into first place. 

It is so easy. You just send a text. I'd be willing to bet that we all text quite a bit everyday. Haha. So all you need to do, right now, is to pull out your phones once a day, every day and text six little digits to five other digits. Like so.

 TEXT: 102480

TO: 73774

It's really important that you vote once everyday, and the best way I've found to remember is to program a daily reminder on my phone. It would mean so much to me if you could take the time to do this. I will also put a reminder on my sidebar. 

Now, get out your phones...

Put those thumbs to work!

Text!

Text right now!


Or you can go to P.A.W.S's voting page
HERE
and click the "Vote for this Idea" button near the top right.
[You have to fill out a tiny form once, but it will help you non-USA residents to vote,
and you can vote everyday. It makes a cool fizzling sound when you do. Haha!]


You know what would be awesome?
If you did both. But you don't have to.
Either one would be wonderful. :-)

Thank you so much!!!

(Those of you, my bloggy buddies... Those of you with blogs, if you could mention this contest and include the numbers to text on your own pages or even include a link that directs your readers to this post or to the P.A.W.S. voting page, I'd be most grateful!)

What's Cookin', Wednesday?

Oh my, Sunday evening was frustrating.

I had these oranges that I've had sitting in a bowl for weeks, because even though I love them, I have a hard time eating them sometimes. I also had some leftover orange juice in the refrigerator. So I thought I'd bake a cake.

This Week's Kitchen Adventure:

Ruby Grapefruit Cake [original recipe found here]

This cake comes to you from Not So Humble Pie. Love that blog. She's so science-y, and a great mom, and a most fabulous cook. Check it out! 

As you can see, the recipe originally called for grapefruit, but you can substitute any kind of citrus, so I used my oranges and orange juice. For the syrup, I used a little less than a cup of orange juice and made up the difference with lemon juice. Then I added half of a 1/3 cup of sugar to the 2/3 sugar already called for. I didn't end up making the icing, cos it was already very sweet, and what's the point of icing a cake that ended up looking like this?

If you can't tell, it fell. I was so upset. To the point where I had to tell my Mom that I had to hang up, because I was about to cry. I know. It's just a cake. But when I barely have time to do anything other than homework and work, to bake a cake and have it fail like that was like unto heartbreak.

But that didn't keep me and my roommates from devouring it by the next afternoon.

It was absolutely delicious. 

Monday...

I know.

You are asking why I am writing about my Monday on a Tuesday. Because I don't have time to write about Mondays on Mondays. Nor do I have time to write about Sundays on Sundays. And if I had had time on Sunday, I would've written you about Friday and Saturday, but I didn't. So today, Tuesday, I will talk about my Monday, on which I would've written about Sunday, on which I would've written about Friday and Saturday, if only I had time.

If I had blogged on Saturday, I would've told you how on Friday, our team beat one of our biggest rivals, BYU, in football for the first time in 17 years. I would've told you that I finally got to rush the football field. I would've told you that I pretty much ate my weight in pizza and Jamba Juice.

If I had blogged on Sunday, I would've told you how much I love General Conference. That I love going to the grocery store with my tall guy friends because they can reach everything on the top shelves. But those jerks made me push the cart most of the time because, "That's what ladies do! Why do you think we invited you?" I would've told you how much fun I had making this shirt:

(The back says, "Oh yeah. I was there.")

Picture courtesy of Garrett's phone 

If I had blogged on Monday, I would've told you how much I loved seeing President Monson at the Sunday morning general session in the Conference Center (my first time going!!), and maybe I would've left out the part where I slept through Elder Oaks' talk and ALL of the second session. And I'd've told you about the horribly ugly, most delicious cake I baked (which I'll tell you about tomorrow). I'd also keep the part where I saw Iron Man 2 for the first time.

But, it's Tuesday, so I'll just leave all of that other stuff to the imagination, and tell you that I'm really tired today. Because yesterday, on Monday, I was at school and work and school again ALL day until 10:30 pm. And then I went dancing until midnight. And then I talked to the roomies until 1:00 am. And then I chatted with blue-green eyes boy on FB until 1:42 am. So you can see why I'm slightly sleepy right now. Which stinks because I have SO MUCH HOMEWORK and a work meeting at 9:00 tonight.

Sometimes, I feel like falling over 

and 

never getting back up again.

But you know something?

I'm kinda happy anyway. 

:-)

Ballroom Beat...

Did you know that you can TANGO to THRILLER?

I didn't, but I sure found out yesterday during ballroom class!!

Isn't that awesome?

Who wants to be my tango partner?

Guest Post on Bittersweet!!

Everybody, everybody!

Today is a special day, 

because Rickers has so kindly invited me to post on his most fabulous blog!

Please come over and support him and me,

and leave him a comment.

I'm posting about Glee,

if that gets you excited.

More specifically, 

Brittany.

Also,

sugar cookies.

:-)

See This Window?

On Tuesday, I came home to a locked door and no key in my backpack. And five hours of work looming ahead of me. And NO LUNCH. This girl needs food in her tummy to be happy. She gets inordinately grumpy and upset if she's hungry. Also, she cannot keep up with 13 and 14-year-olds if she doesn't have at least a slice of peanut butter toast. Just so you know.

So I immediately thought to myself, "Perchance the dining room window is open!! Mayhap I can climb through there and obtain some sustenance!" Dropped my backpack on the porch and scurried around the corner to dining room window (see above picture). Saw the window was open. Realized the window was well above my head. Recognized there were many students walking on the sidewalk. Did not want the cops called on me because someone might see me breaking into my own house. Decided that would be my last resort.

Texted my roomie at 11:31 AM, "When do you get home?" Decided twenty seconds later that I was not going to wait like a wimp for anyone to come home and open the door. 

I was going to take care of myself, dagnabbit! 

I wasn't 22 for nothing, no sirree!!! 

Headed back to the window. If you look on the left wall, there is a water spigot. Left foot on that, big hop so right foot was braced on wall under window. Hauled myself up onto the window sill. Was teetering on my hips. Almost fell out because I was giggling so hard. Window only as wide as my shoulders. Couldn't get a knee up.

Grabbed handfuls of carpet and dragged myself in by my elbows until I landed on all fours. Opened the front door. Got phone and backpack. Came back inside. Checked phone. New text message.

11:32 AM: "I'm leaving for class in a few minutes." 

Heard voice call out, "Chess is that you?"

Gah.

Can only hope someone filmed the sight of my rear end and legs 

dangling out the window

and posted it on YouTube.

Let me know.

I FORGOT...

to go to my friend's house last night.

For the Glee premiere party.

That I suggested.

That's how busy I am!! :(

Oh gosh. 

I can't believe how much of an idiot I am sometimes.

The Day Has Come!!!

What day you ask?

Only the day I have been waiting for four months!!!

Only the greatest day in September!

Only the greatest day ever!

Tonight.

At 8:00 p.m., Glee will premiere.

The End.

Have a nice day!!

Dear Kristen Warner,

I realize you are in Ukraine right now, pretty much why we are not roommates this year. But I feel as though we are roommates, because you are taking really good care of me at the moment. You are probably so confused right now. That's okay.

But if it weren't for you, I'd be really hungry at the moment. See, my favorite peanut butter is Adam's natural creamy PB, and I ate an entire jar in the first two and half weeks of school. Can't help it. Crackers, celery, apples... they all need it, and I need them. So what was I supposed to do when the PB ran out, and I didn't have time to go to the store?

You saved me! You went to Ukraine and forgot all about the fact that you left a jar of Adam's PB in the refrigerator. How fortuitous! I'm guessing you won't mind that I've already voraciously helped myself to it.
You're awesome. I owe you one. A jar of PB if you want. Just say the word.

Chess

I'm Not Dead...

Just incredibly BUSY.

And this was supposed to be my easy semester!!! I have never EVER been so good at doing my homework in my life as I have been the last two and a half weeks. I write in a planner! I cross things off! If I weren't me, I'd ask me if I were me. That's how crazy organized I am.

Maybe it's because I don't have TV

and therefore cannot waste away my life watching the Food Network?

My schedule for today and why I can't blog:

8:30 -- stupid gen. ed. class I don't need (except I need to be full-time)

9:30 -- Help teach country swing

10:30 -- Institute (we are studying the writings of John the Beloved)

11:30 -- my country swing class

12:30 -- ultimate Frisbee class

1:30 -- eat lunch, shower, walk to work

2:30 -- work

5:15 -- get home, make/eat dinner

6:00 -- homework, homework, homework

9:00 -- DANCING

12:30 -- get home, shower, set things out for Thursday

1:15 -- go to bed, sleep for six hours if I'm lucky

I'm going to blog for reals one of these days.

I promise.

Solution to the Evil Known as a Car Alarm...

Stupid cars. And their stupid alarms blaring at unholy hours of the day. Stupid owners not coming out and shutting them off, because they can't tell if it's their stupid car's stupid alarm, or another stupid owner's stupid car's stupid alarm.

You know how it is. I know you know how it is. Don't even pretend to deny that I know you know how it is. Because we all know how it is.

I suppose a car alarm is a necessary evil. Kind of like toilet paper in a bathroom shared by five girls. Have to have it, can't live without it, but the roll has to be changed almost every day and a half. But somehow it's easier to leave the roll on the back of the toilet, instead of taking the two seconds to switch it out with the empty cardboard tube.... I mean, what? We are ALL in our twenties now!! It is NOT that difficult. Seriously.

Sorry. This is a rant about car alarms. 

Not toilet paper. Just in case you got confused.

Like I said, I suppose a car alarm is a necessary evil. So why couldn't it be like the alarm or ringtone on your cellphone? You program it with a song, one that will help you identify your own car. It should probably still be an obnoxious song, but perhaps it could have a beat and a backup vocals. That way, people can dance as they attempt to break into your car, or the people walking too close to your car won't be as scared to death when the alarm goes off. And they can bust a move too.

I think I would choose "Ice Ice Baby" for my car alarm. If I had a car. Obnoxiously catchy, and you can't help but dance. Also, it would help me keep my one silly talent honed and at the ready. Because you've never seen a 5'2" Chinese gringa rap those lyrics better than I can.

Seriously.

What would be YOUR car alarm?

Is That So?

We have a little thing on campus called Poetry and a Beverage. 

It's an open mic kinda thing.

You come, read your own poetry and/or listen to others read their poetry, and there are beverages provided.

I saw a sign somewhere this week advertising PoBev, and whoever wrote it up forgot the "v" in "beverage":

 Poetry and a Beerage 

So much for an alcohol-free campus...

;-)

Professor C. Once Told Me...

that I was a 

"model student"

two years ago.

I didn't have the heart to correct him

and tell him that I never read his assignments.

Now he is my professor once again.

He is the kind of man that makes tweed, 

and elbow patches, and jeans cool.
He is old.
He is secksy.

He remembered me on the first day of class.

I suddenly feel the pressure to actually BE a model student.

Don't you dare laugh at me, Kayce.

It IS possible.

;-)

PS. I was forced to reject poor restaurant boy on Saturday. I'm sorreeeeeee!

Believe It or Not...

But I happen to be an extremely recognized and loved (hah!) individual

on this here piece of land I like to call Utah State University.

I know, right?

If you knew me in high school, 

you would know this fact makes no sense.

Yet, it is true.

About 14,000 students live around and attend the Logan campus (10,000 others are enrolled in regional campuses and distance education). That's quite a lot of people for this tiny little town. You would have to count your fingers 1400 times. That would take a long time. So, to go more quickly, I would also use my toes. Just a tip. 

One would think that with that many people around, I would go through my day and hardly ever see a soul whose name I knew. Oh no. I can't walk through campus without saying hello to at least 10 or 15 people, or having them yell my name. 

"Chess," you say, "This is a good thing!" Oh, I don't deny that I am secretly pleased that I know so many humans. Seeing a friend watch as I flip my hair and wave to five or six people in the space of 44 seconds and hearing him/her exclaim in awe, "Wow. You know everyone!" is like a personal brand of heroin unto me. I'm just sad because I finally figured out how they all know me. Because I'm afraid more people know me than I know back.

See, I embarrass myself in class. I can't help it. Either I make a fool of myself, or my professor calls on me and I fail to deliver, but I manage to do so in a successfully humorous way. There are many variations on these humiliating situations, but one thing is always constant. People (including professors) always know my name because of them.

Typical re-introduction conversation:

Me: "I know you, but how....?"

Person: "We were in that one class where you did this.... and you said that... and I remembered."

Me: *cringe* "Oh... Oh yeah."

Then we end up being the best of buddies.

Yet for some reason, it is so hard to find people to hang out with. 

Possibly, I am lazy.

I am popular. 
But I am NOT COOL. 

:)