do you feel unresolved?

you are the only scan in my life.

but this, friend, is no fault of mine!

this unruly scanner is broken

now it won't even scan a straight

stroke.

i've endeavored and toiled and i've strived

in order to get it to work

but, sadly, this scanner's decided

to be stubborn, and frankly, a

moron.

it's determined to eat all my paper

and if it defies me once more

i swear, i won't put up with this bilge.

i'm shoving it out through the

window.

now i've just had it up to my ears

and it's all that this poor girl can take

does anyone here have an asprin?

'cause my head is beginning to

throb.

now, some guys would scream or they'd cry

or they'd kick the darn thing, just to show 'em

but me? well i'm simply a nerd

i've resorted to writing this

ditty.

my dismal dehydration

Toe, heel. Toe, heel.

One foot over the other.

The width of the curb is not very forgiving,

but,

like a gymnast on a beam,

I balance precariously.

The umbrella in my hand

is only catching the wind

and tugging me to either side;

baked brown grass to my right,

and pavement on my left.

There is no rain,

but maybe when the clouds see

how I'm waiting down here,

raincoat and all,

they will take pity on me

and spare a few drops.

Look.

I even wore my plastic boots,

the gaudy yellow ones

that blister my heels

in case of puddles, naturally.

They're called galoshes,

but that word gets stuck in my throat.

It's just my luck.

There has never been

a dryer

umbrella.

love this word

cantankerous

adjective

bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative : a crusty, cantankerous old man

**************************

Don't talk to me

I'm cantankerous

I'm ornery and rude

and irate.

If I say something now

that hurts you somehow,

forgive me.

I'm just in a state.

A state of hysteria

weird, but emphatic

So please, keep your distance

For now

Though tomorrow may bring

more "cantankerous-ing"

Understand, I'm just having

A cow.

In the main,

I'm an angel

A regular gem.

Though my halo hangs

rather askew,

But remember, my dear

when bugs fly in YOUR ear

that "cantankerous" will describe

YOU.

My All Night Encounter with Mr. Potter

Last night, I decided that I needed to reread Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (That's book seven, in case you weren't positive.) I'd only read it once before -- the day after it was released -- and that was in a hurry because I wanted to know how it all ended. I read it in less than 10 hours that day and didn't remember much of the story, so of course I wanted to take it nice and slow this time as to let the meaning and events sink in. So at about eight o'clock I sunk into my cozy armchair, clad in warm pajamas and wrapped enchilada-style in a fleece blanket, intent on going to bed at a decent hour. Yeah. Little red lights and sirens should have been going off in my head about then, but apparently my family has been correct in assuming that the wiring in my brain is a little off.

You'd think after nineteen years of reading I would have recognized the pattern. So here's a rule I'm writing for myself, which I'm sure I will break in the future, but it's worth a try: DO NOT BEGIN BOOKS LATE AT NIGHT IF YOU PLAN TO GET ANY REST WHATSOEVER.

So there I am, absentmindedly munching on dry cereal, chewing ferociously at the intense parts, when my alarm clock buzzed annoyingly. Confused, I glanced over at the dresser to see neon numbers garishly glaring at me with the clear message that either my brothers were playing a sick joke on me, or that I had been sucked into this wizarding world once again. 6:30.

Not seeing any point in relinquishing the book for my bed, I quickly finished and hopped into the shower, only now realizing that I hadn't shifted positions once the entire night. My neck groaned in stiff, sharp pain as I tilted my head toward the shampoo. Ouch.

Well I'm off to bed now. No books or anything of the like for me tonight. Just a niiiiice, waaaaarm, relaaaaaxing.... zzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Ode to Kristen and Calvin

Hmmmm.

I was going to try to write a poem here, but sorry... I'm not feeling the vibe. But anyway, this post is dedicated to Kristen and Calvin in the hopes that they will not feel it necessary to get after me for my anti-cyber-social ways.

Today my mom, Becca, Kate, Nate and I went to the Springville Museum of Art. (Jake didn't want to come... he wanted to work in the yard. Of course. Who wouldn't?) As we walked through the rooms filled with Utah-born artist's work I became aware that I have learned to appreciate things in different ways. When I was younger I would have looked at most of the paintings/sculptures/etc. and yawned as I ambled on over to the gift shop, (I suppose that would be because I considered myself a great artist at that age) but taking a closer look at all of the details and colors I realized that visual art is one of the talents I'm definitely lacking in. I mean, I can draw a stick figure just as well as the next guy, but let's be honest, I'm no di Vinci.

Anyway, it made me remember a lesson we had in Sunday school a few weeks ago about having different abilities, and that every talent and trait that we have make up the whole. I don't think they were necessarily talking about talents like visual art, music or sports, but I feel like it can apply to most things. One of my favorite quotes is one from Elder Joseph B. Worthlin's talk from general conference. "The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world." I love that. (Which might be because I'm a sucker for musical references... but who knows.) It's nice to be able to appreciate the talents of others and hopefully someday I'll be able to contribute to the "vibrant orchestra" of talents as well.

Well, that's enough about that. I also wanted to show everybody this new website that my cousin Rachel introduced me to. (Angie, you might especially appreciate this!!) It's called 43things.com, and basically you can make a list of up to 43 things that you want to do, either before you die, or just whatever. A bucket list, so to speak. If/when you end up doing them, you can cross them off the list. I've made my own, and the link is on the right of the screen beneath all of my pictures under "43 things" if any of you want to check it out. (It's kind of an extension of my "To Do Before I Die" post below...)

I guess I'm done for today then. I'll try to be better at keeping this thing up to date. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Felix

Some of you may not have heard that we got a cat at the end of May, so for those of you who didn't know, I have something to say to you: we got a cat at the end of May.

Isn't he cute?

So, let me introduce you to Felix the cat. He loves balls of yarn, chasing his tail, and freaking out. He doesn't like boys in general, but he loves to cuddle with Becca, Kate and I. ((Yay!!)) He climbs all over the furniture and finds lots of precarious perches throughout the house. He is deathly afraid of the stairs and won't even go near the kitchen sink. (We tried to give him a bath once... and lemme just say OUCH!) He knows he shouldn't climb on the dinner table and play with the centerpiece, yet he does anyway. He likes being held like a baby and belly rubs. He's already been nicknamed "Motor" because he purrs loudly and for long

stretches of time. He's at least doubled in size since we got him. If we can't find him, the first place we look is IN the couch in the office. He likes to sprawl out on the piano in the front room for a nice nap in the sun.

Today I went into my parent's bedroom and found him asleep on one of the chairs in, what I thought, had to be the MOST uncomfortable position ever. But it was just so darn cute I had to take pictures! So here he is... Felix.

Chocoholics Annonymous

Wow... I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted anything here! Sorry guys. I know you were all dying to hear from me.

So I've been thinking a lot this week about chocolate. This is not really unusual; however, I've been thinking about it in a different context. You know how we're supposed to exercise moderation in all things? Yeah. Well, I have a problem, and after all these years I'm going to come out and say it.

I have a chocolate addiction.

Yes... yes... Mr. Hershey's and I have been dating.

We sell candy bars at work, and they just sit there on the desk staring at me. Of course since I'm an employee I can have one whenever my little chocoholic heart wants. AHHHHH!! I can't handle it! Today I took a Ziplock baggie full of apple slices to munch on in order to keep my

mouth occupied, and hey! I only gave in to a couple of tootsie rolls, so we're making progress here. But I'm going to need a long term solution here. I figure if I stay away from it as much as possible and treat myself to something once a week I'll be able to "Hershey's Kiss" this habit goodbye!

Wow... that was funny the second before I wrote it down.

Anyway, if you guys have any clever ideas for me, feel free to share.