Sad Semester, Happy Thoughts

Last year around this time I wrote a blog about the top ten or so moments from my first semester. I started writing one for this semester...but I really couldn't do it. It hasn't been a stellar semester; in fact, it's been pretty poor.

However, I can't complain. I have a lot of things to be thankful for, and I know that a lot of people have more and worse problems than me.

For instance:

I am thankful that for 14 years, I had the most wonderful dog for me.

I am thankful that I have a brother and sister that like to hang out with me AND live within 20 minutes of my place.

I am thankful that I got this picture, a dream-come-true.

I am thankful for this football team, even though they didn't do anything for me directly. They kept me entertained for many Saturdays, though.

I am thankful for my friends, even the ones that I don't talk to as often as I should, because they are still nice to me.

I am thankful for this guy because basically all he does is be the best.

Finally, I am thankful for my parents, because without them, I wouldn't have anyone to complain to, lean on, go home to, or skype with when I'm at school. Oh, and also because they buy me things....I mean, because they brought me into the world.

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

Thursday was, as much as I hate to say it, an emotional roller coaster.

I woke up, and in my sleepiness, accidentally turned off my computer while it was still updating. Normally when I do this on purpose, nothing bad happens. However, this time, my computer would not turn on all the way.

I took a 45 minute nap to give it time to think about what it had done and fix itself. (Because what else could I possibly do for a long time? Study? Pah!)

That did not work, so I took my computer to the RFC house to do some research on the computers there. The only reasonable answer to my solution was given by a human (who was also not studying at that time.) We deemed it most responsible to take my computer to the Geek Squad at Best Buy.

I was really excited. I knew that Geek Squad could fix my computer. I mean, they installed my truck's stereo, so why would they fail me here?

I then took a full two-hour all-essay World Lit final.

I was very irritable when I left to take in my computer. Caleb suggested I eat food before I go, but nooo, I had to get my darling computer in to the Geek Squad. When I got to the front door of Best Buy, I completely forgot everything I had planned out to say to the Geek in charge.

I waited for about 10 minutes, and a guy with a soul patch came to help me. I put my computer on the counter and said, "My computer won't turn on all the way." He asked how it would turn on, and I told him. He proceeded to turn it on and see exactly what I told him. So I told him how it probably happened (my accidental turn off of the computer that morning.)

"Yeah mmm they have those warnings there for a reason. *nerdy, non-endearing chuckle* You've probably corrupted all of your files now mmmm. What you're going to have to do is order back up disks from Dell because you probably didn't set up back ups yourself mmm. That is probably your cheapest option."

What I should have said:
"Ehh my gosh like THAT is what those warnings are for? Tehehe I mean I thought I could like totally do what I wanted whenever I wanted. That totally makes sense what you are saying, will you please carry me away on your segway my knight in shining armour?!"

What I actually did:
Silently walked out of the store crying while clutching my computer.

And then....

I flung open my apartment door and swooped into my room, where I promptly pulled out, not one, but TWO BACK UP DISKS I HAD CREATED WHEN I FIRST GOT MY COMPUTER!!! I grabbed my starter manual, followed the directions, and I reinstalled every setting and feature onto my computer. All. By. Myself. That's right. This little girlie can work her way around a computer, Patchy.

But then I realized that none of my old files, like music and the photographs I had taken over the past two years, were on my computer. After about an hour of freak-out, I finally snooped far enough into my computer to find the back up files I had stored on my hard drive. (I am sounding great right about now, no?) And do you know what I did then? I dragged those files into their new home.

All. By. Myself, Patchy.

So, in the words of Helen Reddy and my mother, "I am woman, hear me roar!"

I've accomplished someone else's bucket list

I recently stumbled upon a website called http://perfectbucketlist.tumblr.com/. For all you ladies reading, you should go spend some time looking at the pictures on there, it is pretty nifty. For all you menfolk, um, just forget about that site. Basically the gist is people submit things they want to do before they die. I went through and found the ones I've already done!

Like...

Just this year!

Courtesy of my ma!

Again, just this past year.

A lovely pair of Laredos.

But only first and second generation Pokemon. Just the real ones.

Ever since I was a young lass.

It really isn't that hard.

And maybe again, someday.

This is my favorite one, and one that I've done each year for about seven years. Take that.

We Will Blindfold You and Make You Have A Good Time

It isn't very often that the girl takes the guy out for a date. For a few weeks now, I've been trying to hint to Caleb that he and his roommate should take me and his roommate's girlfriend out on a surprise date before the end of the semester.

That never happened...so girlfriend and I decided we would take matters into our own hands.

Well, we cooked a warm dinner for them, and then we blindfolded them.

After making them walk to the car, we drove all sorts of directions to try to make them forget where they were in town. They were quite obstinate though, and decided to tell us at every turn exactly where we were. We parked a decent length away from our real destination, and then led them through the streets blindfolded.

I may have smacked Caleb into a big column on accident.

Another wonderful scene from this episode:

As we were crossing a one way street on a junction, a car was stopped at a sign to turn left. Caleb screamed, "I see lights, are you trying to kill me? They are coming RIGHT AT US. Go! I don't want to die!" *Running in place*

Then we made it to the beautiful lights (remember how much I love Christmas lights?!)

Our next quest was to go bowling, where Caleb and I were thoroughly defeated twice. The last portion of our date was watching Footloose (the original version, thank you.)

Overall, I'm pretty proud of how well this went, seeing as the guys were fairly convinced that we were going to take them to see the new Twilight movie. Ha.

fRecipe fRiday!

It's been a busy week before finals. I've been turning in papers, taking tests, and sleeping way too much to compensate for all the sleep my labs caused me to miss over the semester. But I've been able to:

Go on a "date" with mah Kelsy,

Help put up a Christmas tree,

And bake...

CAKE MIX COOKIES!!!

Alright, so as most of my friends from back home know, this is one of the most easy desserts to make, ever.

Here's what you start out with: (Yes, I am watching Pokemon in the background.)

I used white cake mix, but you can use absolutely any cake mix you want--red velvet, spice, carrot, yellow, or chocolate! Start by dumping the cake mix into a mixing bowl, along with 2 eggs and half a cup of vegetable oil.

Yes. It is that easy. I added some cinnamon in honor of Christmas. Now just roll the dough into balls like you would any other cookie dough, and pop them in the oven for 10-15 minutes (or until they are light light light brown) on 350.

I ended up icing these cookies with regular vanilla icing, and they tasted just like sugar cookies.

Also...shame on Caleb. I CAUGHT YOU!

fRecipe fRiday!

I found a recipe on Pinterest that intrigued me.

SAFE TO EAT COOKIE DOUGH

And knowing how much my roommate likes cookie dough...I made it. Right now it is sitting in the fridge chilling, but I already feel fat from "sampling" (some people would use the word devouring) it as I made it.

First step: In a medium bowl, mix 1/2 a cup of softened butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar.

Next, dump in a cup of flour.

Add 1/2 a teaspoon of salt (do NOT over salt this like I accidentally did) and 1 tablespoon or a tad less of vanilla and stir that together.

Mix in as many chocolate chips as you so desire.

Tada. It's beautiful. Add a tablespoon of water and stir it in. My dough wasn't at the perfect consistency, so I added a dash of flour and about a handful of sugar to thicken it up/make it sweeter (did I mention to not over salt this?)

An Embarassing Story for the Week

Let me share with you a story of embarrassment.

Yesterday, I went to Hastings to look for the new Abarat book, for which I have been waiting for YEARS.

I looked through the "New Release" books, or whatever you call the books that were just put on shelves, and I couldn't find it.

About that time, I felt the urge to use the bathroom. So, since dear Caleb was standing 5 feet away from me, I decided to tell him.

In the most demonic voice I could manage, I looked at him and growled:

"I have to poo soooo baaaad."

About that time I hear a worker behind me say, "Ma'am, is there something I can help you with?"

"Uh...(looking wildly at Caleb) do you have the newest Abarat book?"

They did not have it in, unfortunately.

Later, I told Caleb this story, and apparently he didn't hear a single word of it. And he was standing right there beside me!!

Now for some pictures from the week:

I went to the candlelight vigil for Garrett Uekman last Monday night. It was sad to see so many players and coaches tearing up while they spoke about their friend and teammate.

We went to Cracker Barrel (where else would you see rocking chairs outside a restaurant?)

My friend repapered a stairway with old Narnia and Lord of the Rings book pages. It is fantastic.

Le Black Friday

For my family, Black Friday shopping is unnecessary and fun.

We did it anyway, heading to Wal-Mart at 9:15 to get into clumps of people settled in around $2.84 waffle makers. Let me tell you, those people are crazy. Not regular crazy, like "My friend drives 50 miles an hour in the 45 zone" crazy. More like "I have a gun and will shoot you if you take that $18 Spiderman pillow from me" crazy.

Well, I wanted a waffle maker. But I was going to be okay if I didn't make it out with one.

The lady in front of me was not going to be okay. In fact, she was quite threatening. My brother was in the clump with me to help me get what I (and my sister-in-law) wanted. He is an outgoing person, and he made a lot of jokes about how everyone was so intense for something so silly.

That lady couldn't stand it. She leaned back to her friend and said, "That boy's been mouthin' off this whole time, and if he gets a waffle maker and I don't, I'm gonna take him down."

Hol' up, excuse me?

When the frenzy began, people dived in to grab what they wanted. Unfortunately for my face, some people grabbed the hard cardboard boxes and swung them back to meet my open eye. My open eye hates visitors into its home.

Turns out there were more than enough waffle makers, so thankfully, my brother did not get cut by the waffle-maker-crazed woman.

Next we headed to Target, to stand in line for a decent two hours. There was nothing we needed at Target either, but if we were already out, why not stay out?

At midnight the line ebbed into the store at a rate of 30 people per 8 seconds (I am not making that up.) The line quickly formed into a mob, yelling at people trying to cut. One lady tried to rip my mother's arm away from me, which I responded to by yelling, "I'll never let you go, mother!"

I ended up letting her go like Rose letting Jack go off of the door floating in the middle of an ocean full of cold people. True story.

My face is okay now, even though it was smacked again by a 52" TV while I was innocently looking at DVDs. I guess Modern Family is a popular show.

Thanksgiving Photos!!

fRecipe fRiday!

Sometimes, when I get sad, I eat food. But I don't cook or bake it myself.

It was a sad existence there for a while.

But I'm back. I made shortbread! And no joke...this is a fantastic idea for if you are snowed in and only have the basics of baking.

All you need are 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 cup butter (cut into smaller chunks though.)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, get a mixing bowl, and mix the flour and sugar together (you get best results with a whisk.)

Add the butter into the mixture. Use your fingers or a processor or whatever you want to blend it. When it is mixed enough, dump it into a cake pan and press it out to fill the whole bottom of the pan.

Stick it in the oven and bake it for about 30 minutes. Once you take it out and it cools for a few minutes, sprinkle as much sugar as you want on top. Be sure to cut it up before it cools all the way too.

(I got a little adventurous and added powdered sugar or one slice and white chocolate chips on some others. I really liked the powdered sugar one.)

Here's a little picture from a few weeks back--Caleb got the chance to preach at a church near where we live. My brother and sister-in-law came along as well! We all wore blue...completely on accident.

Halloween Fun

This Halloween, I got to have a first--I carved my first pumpkin!

It was WAY easier than I expected, although my arm became fairly sore after carving out the Green Lantern symbol and a moustache man.

And then...there was a Hallo--uh--Fall Festival party at the RFC! Caleb and I went as the Publisher's Clearing House man and a lady he just woke up. Does it not make sense? You're probably under 22. Lots of other people dressed up as well, even a guy as James Bond.

At the end of the party, a few friends of mine and I set up a Haunted House. Basically, it was a dark obstacle course with a strobe light. I was quite proud of it. I think this picture says it all:

And that isn't even a staged picture.

By the end of the night, I had crashed from my sugar high, had trouble adjusting to bright lights outside of the Haunted House, and I had been shot--accidentally--with an air soft gun by a friend who thought it was a water gun.