Community Service

I am part of the Community Service Committee for my MPH program, and we took part in a beach clean up in Santa Cruz. It was super chilly, but when we got to walking the beach, I warmed up a bit. It was a fun filled day of service!!!

Maggots, Hiking, Paper...

MAGGOTS- AHHHHH!!! So maggots were coming out of our trash can yesterday! yuck! I happened to be making some rice (what a coincidence) and the dog (Chewy) happened to be looking at something moving on the floor. I realize it's a MAGGOT. So I pick it up, squish it, then threw it away. I then hear something in the trash move. What the X??? I look closer and there are tons of maggots coming out of the trash. I look at the floor and it it's covered in maggots as well. I go wake up my roommate ( I needed some moral support) and she helps me clean it up. Through our Squeals and Shrieks, we eventually clean up all we can. Needless to say, I didn't eat the rice I was making.

Went on a quick hike today! I wouldn't really call it a hike. It was short and sweet, just like I like them! I went with Daniel Garret (a guy in my YSA branch), and he showed me around some hills in the San Jose Area. I have to admit, looking out at the valley kinda reminded me of Provo. It was a fabulous outing! I finally got to get out and do something in San Jose. Daniel and I had some great chats... Ducks, Bird Poop, cheesy movies, just to name a few topic. It was a good morning.

I got a 97 on my first paper! WOOT WOOT! Lets hope I can keep that up. My first test is on Thursday. I have to admit I am a little nervous... who knows how hard it's gonna be. I just need to STUDY, STUDY,STUDY! Hope all goes well.

Struggling...

1- I can hold my own at conducting music. I am not a pro, but I can get up there and wave my arm around to the beat! However, yesterday at the Women's Relief Society Broadcast dinner, I just couldn't do it. The song wasn't hard (As sisters in Zion), and it was in 3/4. I get up there and just can't find the beat for the life of me. I wasn't nervous, I have conducted before... The Visalia 7th Branch has me conduct all the time. Yesterday just wasn't my day!

2- I always have the hardest time saying SOCIAL. It just doesn't come out smoothly. I ALWAYS slur that word. Today I had to give a talk. As I got the the word, I completely butchered it. I tried it again, still didn't quite get it out right, so I just flew right passed it. I am sure they got the point of the word! Also, as I was reading a story, my mind kept mixing things up- There was this one sentence that I had to re-read 2 or 3 times. It was ridiculous. Not sure why I am struggling so much. I haven't been sleeping well- so maybe it's just from lack of a good night's sleep. Let's hope I get over this quickly!

To get up in the morning only to know

that you will have to face another

obstacle takes strength.

To smile whenthe only thing you

want to do is cry takes bravery.

To act happy & laugh when you know

that times are at their worst takes courage.

To be joyous when the only good news is the

best of the bad news takes support.

To be there & help others through

the roughest times in life takes love.

- Unknown

Keep the Faith

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002.

He was born with 2 legs -

He of course could not walk when he was born.

Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive

and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him

and wanted to take care of him.
She became determined to teach and train this little

dog to walk by himself..
She named him 'Faith'.

In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

RaNdOm

While walking on campus, I saw this awful looking tree trunk. It looks like it should be in a movie. It stands out among the palm trees, so I couldn't help but notice its presence. Just thought I would share that with you.

Oh how I just love a shower that drains. The last couple weeks, our shower drain was getting slower and slower. NOT A GOOD THING. So, I cleaned it (absolutely hate to do it) and now it's draining like a champ. I don't have to stand in watter that won't go down! I feel at peace in the shower now =)

I just finished the worst writing assignment EVER- It took me way too long to understand what to write, but it it over. Phew!

Look how fames goes to your head!

You have to admit this is kinda funny! But, I must say he is a total jerk! I can't believe he would do something like that- I swear, people can be socially retarted!

Getting Caught in the RAIN!!!!!

I usually walk to the Institute building- which is just a couple blocks away (maybe a 10 min. walk). As I left my building, for some odd reason I was thinking I should drive... but, since it was a short walk, I decided not to. Why waste gas? So- as I left the Istitute building a couple hours later- IT WAS RAINING! By the time I made it my apartment, I was drenched! The Lords decided to shower me with his goodness! I have to admit, the rain did feel good.

Chewy

This is who I live with! Yes... he is definitely cute when he is sleeping! When he's awake- that's another story!!!!! I guess I consider him a 4th roommate (except he doesn't pay rent!)

Just my week...

Home

I was able to go home for the long weekend, and it was so great! Is it weird to be 25 1/2 and still be homesick? All I know is I love hanging out with my family. They are some of my closest friends. We didn't do anything extraordinary- to be honest, I studies most of the time!!! But, just being home felt comfortable. I am not saying I don't like it here in San Jose... I do- I just enjoy being home. Although, when I am home for too long, I feel the need to get out! It's a vicious cycle! All I know is, "There's no place like home!"

Sign Language

On Tuesdays, the missionaries are offering a sign language class!!! I think it's pretty much AWESOME! I love sign language and this is a great opportunity to freshen up on my skills!

SCHOOL!

SO over the weekend, as I mentioned, I studied and did school work. Most of that time was spent doing a darn paper! It's a 4-5 page paper on Experiential Learning. Well, DUMB me wrote about 3 1/2 pages on Experiential Training. Luckily, I figured out my error and started this paper with plenty of time to spare. So yesterday I went to library to finish it up- The Internet was super slow for some reason, so I was having a hard time finding the info that I needed... to top this off, an annoying lady decided to sit in the cubicle next to mine. Before she sits down she POPS open her soda can and take a drink. This isn't a silent gulp, but a loud one. I could hear the soda sloshing in her mouth and making its way down her esophagus! AHHHH. SO she nosily sits down and gets her stuff out that she needs. ALL of the sudden, she STARTS COUGHING hysterically. What the X... I am guessing the drink went down the wrong tube- I should actually know because I could hear it. Once the coughing stopped, she takes out a bag of goodies- (I'm assuming it's chips or something) and starts crackling the bag. You have got to be kidding me.. that was it-I gathered up my stuff and left! Good grief, couldn't I get some peace! Once I left, I was able to crack down and finish up the paper!

Another thing I had to do for school this week was my stats pretest. This was another thing I studies a lot for when I was home. Well, as I was taking the test, I had about 20 minutes left. I answered the last question, but I wanted to go back and check my answers because I knew some where wrong. Well... no can do- the computer CRASHED on me, and so I was left with what I had. I ended up getting an 8/10 ,but I know I could have done better! I know I really shouldn't be complaining... 8/10 is great and it means I am not gonna be "red-flagged" for the class. It's just that it would happen to me that the computer crashed on my test.

The Alders

The last little bit breaks my heart. I happened to come across a facebook status about girl from my freshman year at BYU who lived on my floor. It said something along the lines of " My prayers go out for Katie and for her loss. Hope she is doing well" I was curious as to what happened.... I got a link to her blog and last Thursday she got in a terrible accident with her husband (who died instantly) and her little baby ( who is fine). She is in the ICU recovering from a broken neck and swelling to the brain. I actually got teary eyed when reading about. I didn't know her all that well, but my heart just broke for her. She was married to her husband for about a year and her baby is only a couple months old. What a life changing experience. Poor girl... My prayers do go out for her and her family.

COUCHES... SMOKING... Holocaust Movies...and a A Good Night

A Place to Sit

Well... we finally got couches =) Woo Hoo... Did I mention they were FREE! A friend that I met in my program decided that his family didn't need them any more. How sweet is that? I can't believe he would just give me his couches. They are still in really good condition, too. I can't thank him enough... it was definitely a gift considering that I DID NOT want to have to pitch in money to buy a couch.

I HATE SMOKING!

It saddens me that no matter where I walk around here, people are smoking. It breaks my heart! Don't people know how bad it is for you????? What really chaps my hide is when there is a good looking guy smoking. It's like he had potential, then BAM- I see him put the cig to his mouth, that potential went down the drain! I am not saying they are bad people, they are just making a bad decision. They need a cigarette cessation program (there's the public health professional coming out of me!) OH... OH- I was so excited yesterday. The guy that helped us move the couches is a smoker... well, as we were crammed in his little truck, he asked if we cared if he smoked... guess what phrase I got to use- "Care if I die!" I have always wanted to use it. Totally worked too! He didn't really know how to respond, which says a lot because he is a smart alec. I felt proud to be in the Public Health field at that moment!

Holocaust Movies

I don't know why I watch Holocaust movies. They only make me have stomach aches. I FINALLY watched "Life is Beautiful". WOW- I agree, it is super good, but HOLY MOLEY the Holocaust is awful! I just can't believe people can be so MEAN- why on earth would they want to treat people like that? All I have to say is the father, Guido, was an AMAZING character. He was so funny from the get go. So full of life and love. AND, what a great father. He just kept this positive attitude for his son. He never once let his son see his pain or how afraid he might have been, even to the end. Props to this movie!

Pleasant Night:

I had a pleasant night. I went to institute and met some more people, which is a plus because last time I really didn't get a chance to talk to anyone. Then on the way home, the night was just beautiful... it was cool with a nice breeze and a full moon to boot! As I was walking, a man walks past me and says, " Isn't just a beautiful night." "Why, yes," I say. "Very pleasant!" To top it off, some man sitting by the library looks at me, as I smile a toothless smile, he says, "That smile will get you through the day, you know!" All I could say was, "Yes it can!" I didn't even give him my 100 Watt smile! SO ya, it's been a good night!