I had my first real summer adventure the other day. And it was great.
Let me first start by introducing someone special.
THIS
is Skyler J. Street.
He's pretty cute huh?
He is basically my best friend. He used to live across from me here at Raintree, but he just had to move away. That's how we met. Kinda. He was an EFY counselor like I was, but we never really met then. He claims to have recognized my voice one Sunday morning in sacrament meeting... we'll leave it at that.
Anyway, he is the funniest, most fun guy you will ever meet. Plus, he is a sweetheart and a gentlemen. The whole package? Pretty close.
Ok. Now that we got that out of the way - onto *le adventure.
Woke up early [and by that I mean like 9... hah] and this wonderful boy picked me up. And guess where we went!? You will never guess. So I will just tell you.
Golfing!!!
I know, I know.. my form is atrocious. But give me some credit! It was the first time I had ever gone legitimate golfing. I was a noob. And according to Sky, I did pretty dang good for my first try. So there, take that first time!
I'm gonna be honest. It is possible that the best part of the day was driving the golf cart. IT WAS SO COOL. I vowed to go again [maybe to just drive the cart]. No, I want to go again so I can spend the day with him, and practice my new found talent...promise...
After that, we were hungry. So he took me to lunch (gentlemen - I told you). We were up in Heber City, Utah - he took me to Dairy Keen - or more often known as 'the Train place.' There are a few [2] things that I liked about this place. I will give you a list.
1) It was yummy. And I mean, YUMMY. The shakes are too die for - or that's what I heard. The only I got was ok [crappy]. I know they are to die for though because I ate some of Skylers. He got an Oreo one. happy face. I will return to make up for the loss.
2) It had an association with Harry Potter. Clearly, that makes it onto my list of 'Best Places on Earth.'
DO YOU SEE HOW COOL THIS IS!?!! It's a model of Harry Potter land. They had Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts and everything. You can eat in the room and take in all it's magical goodness. Unfortunately, it was closed. So I didn't get to experience the magic. Another reason why I will have to go back.
All in all, it was a great day. Many new experiences to go down in the book. Plus, I got to do it all with my best friend. Which made it like, ten times better.
Here's to summer time and all the things that will [could] happen and all the love that will be found.
I did a lot a thinking the past week. And I realized that I was having a pity party and being way to depressed. It must have been finals. Yup, I'm gonna blame it all on finals. Some weird finals demon took over my body and possessed me to do things and say things that are not part of the 'normal Emily.' Thank goodness I finished my last one of Thursday. The demon left and all was returned to normal. For the most part that is. However, I vowed never to visit that dark place again. It didn't benefit me at all.
So - I hopped on the good 'ole internet to find some inspirational quotes. And you wanna know that one that I found that jumped out at me? Of course you do.
“It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.” – Dumbledore
It's a good one huh? And it is even better because it is from Harry Potter. Obviously. It really hit me though. I can't just dream about a better life. Or dream about the day I become a nurse. Because that is certainly way to far away, and there are so many things right now that I get to experience. I can't forget to do that. I owe Dumbledore a personal thank you.
And now, instead of giving you an update on my life and things that I have been doing - I am going to talk about some of the things that I am excited about right now.
1) www.pottermore.com --> If you don't know what this website is, you aren't cool. It literally is the coolest/most time consuming website I have ever been on. Basically, you become a Hogwarts student along with Harry, through every single book. Except you get to have your own adventures.
They even give you your own wand that 'chooses' you based on answers to questions you give.
This is mine. It's precious.
And then after you get your wand you head to the castle and get sorted. You answer a ton of 'this or that' kinda questions, and then the hat places you where you belong. I got put in Hufflepuff. And I'm proud of it. No regrets here.
This is the home page. I've got tons of house points huh?
I really am going to spend most of my summer on this website. It is so stinking cool. They did a great job. There are little clips from J.K. Rowling herself. She was super involved in the creation of it.
YOU EVEN GET TO BREW YOUR OWN POTIONS.
I'm telling you. Get an account. And then let's be pottermore freaks/nerds together.
2) It's SUMMER TIME. You know what that means? Lazy days. Pool. Sun-bathing. Working = MONEY. Side note on that, I got a job at my apartment complex [Raintree Commons] so if you know of anyone looking for somehwhere to live, send them my way. EFY --> I'm so excited about this. I can't wait. I love summer. Only down side is I don't get to spend all of it with my best friend[s]. (Lauren Ford & Skyler Street) <-- I love them. With all the fibers in my soul. I would do anything for them.
Also - since it is the second summer after the end of my freshmen year, that means that all the boys from my freshmen year will be returning [that includes THIS boy - whose blog I am obsessed with. You should read it, and then share it with your friends, cause they will love it too]. I am STOKED to see them all.
3) My new nail polish and the PERFECT dish set my mom and I found at Kohls yesterday.
The polish is perfect, is it not? It is my color. Though I am not getting married soon, I already know what my color/pattern [I'll let you guess...] is going to be.
Yup. That blue and black and white polka dots.
Which is why that dish set is so perfect. You can't really see it that well. But the plates and bowls are either dotted or striped. And just so you know, I'm not opposed to stripes either. That is Lauren's favorite pattern. See?
Yea. We are a match made in heaven. I know. But back to the dishes. They were absolutely fabulous. My mom was convinced we should buy them, that way I would already have a whole matching dish set by the time I got married. I told her no, but now that I'm thinking about it... I probably shouldn't have turned that offer down...
4) I passed my classes. So therefore, I will not be kicked out of the nursing program as I previously had thought. I know you don't care, but that is probably the thing I am MOST pleased about.
OK. That is all I have for now. I did just move into my new apartment for the summer. It's kinda weird not knowing any of my roommates. But it will be a well needed break from some of my old ones. Here's to new adventures!
I'm angry at a lot of things right now. And yes, I am taking advantage of the internet to complain about my rage and frustration and hurt and many other STUPID emotions that STUPID human beings have to experience. STUPID.
Sometimes I think anger is the only way to cope with things sometimes. Like, even when you aren't really mad or upset or fuming, you can find a STUPID way to make yourself livid and then it makes everything seem more bearable. I would so much rather be angry than bawling my eyes out. That way I can at least let lose a string of profanities and people are [semi] ok with it because I'm justified in doing. Because I'm STUPIDLY angry.
Honestly though, I don't think anyone ever really likes be angry. And it only gets you so far. It will tide you over for about 5 hours, maybe a couple days max. Once my days are up, I can guarantee I will be wallowing in a pit of self-pity and endless woe and misery. Is that a STUPID over exaggeration - no way.
And I can tell I'm really upset because normally when I'm only partially upset, I have the motivation to do something. Like watch a favorite TV show. Or go work out. Or go dance. Or laugh at other people's pain and insufficiencies. Or eat. But nope. None of that sounds appealing right now. All I want to do is curl up in a little ball and die. Or punch something STUPID. Either or. But punching does require a lot more effort. So I probably won't do that.
To top it all off - it's finals week. Thank goodness I have only two left. But I really don't care anymore. So I most likely won't study as productively as I should. Therefore, I will probably fail. So logically, I will have to retake the STUPID class.
I quit. I give up. I'm throwing in the towel. I feel STUPID.
It's amazing what can happen in 2 months. I feel like I've been on the world's worst roller coaster ride. And by that I mean, yea there were some great ups and some fantastic flips and some scary downs and such. However, now that I'm off it - all I want to do is get back on. Does that make any sense?
Probably not. Because clearly I suck at life and can not keep a consistent flow of people in my life nor, blog at a stable rate.
I promise once I'm no longer [attempting] to study for finals - I say attempting because I really get nothing done because I can only think about one thing - but once they are over, I will become a better blogger and I will be consistent and stable and reliable [ <-- hah that's probably a lie] but I can hope right?
I just keep telling myself, 'You can make it another day Emmers.'
Woah. Has it been a while or what?
Don't answer that. Because I know the answer. It has been. Like a whole month while.
And you know what? I'm not gonna even apologize. Multiple reasons for this:
1. There are very few people who read this blog anyway, so I don't feel like I really have to apologize at all. Who's gonna care enough to punish me? Yea that's right, that's a challenge.
B. I have been busy. End of story.
III. I have been pondering a lot of things in my spare time. And I don't feel like those ponderings need to be made viewable by the ever so privacy defying internet.
So I'm NOT SORRY for not blogging in days [42 to be exact].
Ok so updates. [These updates are more for my use in the future, when I forget what it is like to have a social life, and the things that I did/do due to the fact that school(Nursing) is taking over my life].
1. Is it bad that I have to go through the last few pages and pictures of my Facebook posts to realize what I have done over the past 42 days?
2. My roommates and I tend to spend a lot of time on our computers. Facebooking, Pinteresting, Catching up on our weekly TV shows (Which currently includes Once Upon A Time, GLEE, and The Vampire Diaries. [if you don't watch these shows, you should. Because they are PHENOMENAL. really they are. I get so worked up sometimes, I feel like there are real life]), and most recently, watching our favorite youtube clips. Enjoy two of the most recent/most watched videos of my apartment:
Yea. #winning.
3. Nursing is kicking my trash. More like, not really. But I have decided I hate this semester with tons of passion. I've heard that first semester of Nursing is a doozy, so thats probably why. Also, winter semester is a lot harder to make through anyway. BUT on the bright side, I get to do it with my best friend. AND we look freakin' HOT in our scrubs.
Am I right, or am I right?
4. I went to a [LARGE] paint fight.
Don't be jealous. It was not fun. At all.
It took at least two showers to get it all off my skin and out of my hair. And then I wear that shirt to the gym, and the looks people give me just REAK of envious rage. They probably weren't even cool enough to be invited. HAH.
5. I got married.
..........
Ok. That was a joke. I didn't. But I did look like a bride for a day. My friend works for the bridal shop Lauren James. Provo High School was having a bridal fair. And so logically, they needed models for all the wedding dresses they were going to try and sell. And once again, logically it made sense to ask me to assist. HAHA JK. But my friend did ask me if I was willing to help out. And so I did. Therefore, the statement "I got married." I didn't, but I did get to model a BEAUTIFUL wedding dress for about 2 hours. See below for proof.
I felt like Belle. Minus the
yellow-ness.
Note the shoes - I WILL wear those at my own wedding. Whenever that is. (Oh and Hannah is on the right - her
face is priceless, is it not? That is why I love her.)
6. I got a 98% on my MicroBiology Test. Take that. Can you say OWNED?
7. Uh. Ok, bear with me as I attempt to simply explain this last development of my life. When I came back home from BYU-Hawaii, I had some how developed an allergy of sorts to my dog. Which was a bummer. Because he is precious. If you don't know what he looks like already, then you obviously are not worthy of his preciousness. Anyway, I didn't really think anything of it. Just dismissed it. Moved on.
Well, last semester Lauren and I went out to dinner to celebrate our acceptance into Nursing (had I known then what Nursing [and that dinner] would entail, I probably wouldn't have celebrated[or gone to that restaurant]...) We went to a Thai restaurant on Center Street in Provo. And it was yummy. Except I had some sort of reaction to something I ate, because I spent the rest of the evening vomiting up my dinner. Not fun.
Then, just 3 weeks ago I went to dinner with my parents. And same thing happened. Something I ate made my throat close up, it got all itchy, and my stomach started to ache. Luckily it went away, and I didn't get sick. But I still reacted. To what? That will come later in the story...
So I told my mom I want to get an allergy test, mostly so I can start getting the weekly allergy shots for my dog. I don't know if you know what an allergy test means, but basically they prick you [on your back] with the allergen(s) and then measure the reaction you have to. Really, it is not comfortable.
**WARNING**
THE FOLLOWING MEDIA IS GRAPHIC.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.
Ok, not that graphic. But c'mon. That is my ENTIRE
back ladies and gents.
Long story short, this is me after about 7 minutes [you have to sit there for 15 minutes. No moving. No touching. No itching. It was pure torture] into the testing procedure. It doesn't show it too well, but I had red welts all over my back and they itched like no body's business. My back was on FIRE.
Summary of the appointment:
I have allergies. HAH, like I didn't know from the incredible irritations on my back.
I'm allergic to almost every tree, grass, weed out there.
Yes, I am allergic to my dog. And cats. And horses.
I'm allergic to shellfish. However, there is no way to distinguish whether if it is just shrimp - as I thought - or if I am indeed allergic to lobster and crab as well...
The words fatal, death, die, and dying were used to describe my allergies to NUTS.
To expand on that last little item of business - I have a fatal allergy to nuts. But to be more specific, mostly just cashews, pistachios, and macadamia nuts. My doctor told me I need to carry an Epipen at all times, and that I need to avoid nuts whenever possible. And if I sense a reaction coming on, I need to immediately book it to the nearest Emergency room. He meant business. However, peanuts did not make the lethal nut list. Thank goodness. Because I inhale peanut butter like it is oxygen.
I won't complain anymore. I will just say I'm grateful I have been lucky enough to NOT DIE thus far due to ingestion of nuts. And thank goodness it is nuts that give me that reaction. Imagine if it was something like water. Or oxygen. Or chocolate. I think I would willingly die if I was allergic to chocolate. Life is not worth living if chocolate is out of my reach..
And now, the conclusion of and reason for the title of my post.
WATCH. THIS.
It's things like this that make me realize how great it is to be living on Earth at this time. How beautiful the things around you are. The scenery. The people. The talent. The emotions. The feelings released by something this beautiful just make me want to cry. It inspires you to be better doesn't it?
So I guess the moral of my blog today, is that even though we have all these hard things going on in our lives, take the time to be inspired by the simplicity and beauty of life. Then take that inspiration, and go and do something great. Whether it's making someone laugh, or writing a song that invokes others lacrimal glands (where tears are produced) to fire up, I don't care. JUST DO IT.
Give your secrets away.
Force your way into them.
And share them.
You never know who they will inspire
to do the next great thing.
**Shout out to my girl Whitney. If it wasn't for her, my blogging habits would go down the toilet. I mean, I have to try and keep up with THIS. Near impossible if I do say so myself.
You know those days where you just struggle to make it through and be kind to those around you? So you work really hard to get a smile out - and to people on the outside it looks like you are a happy, smiling individual. But really on the inside, you are a flesh eating zombie monster and all you want to do is tear heads off and scream into the night.
Yes - in case you are wondering - that was me. Today.
It was not a good scene. I feel bad for those I interacting with and I would like to make a public [by that I mean a public via blog - which doesn't reach very many people, but I do not care] apology.
I'm Sorry.
Alright, now that that is over I can tell you that I got over it and I am doing much better. You could indeed say that I am rehabilitating from 'monster-zombie' mode. What is my solution? My medicine? My cure, you may ask?
DANCE.
There is nothing like it people. It calms my soul. I am free. Not a care in the world do I have when I dance. It requires no thought process - my body just moves to the music. It feels the beat and responds. And it's glorious. I love dance. Not the choreographed jazz, or ballet, or contemporary or any of the funky business. Nope, full on free-style, improv, make-it-up on the spot kind of stuff. To the music with the beat and the bass that just makes you lose your mind. And the music is so loud you can't hear others talk, and you can rarely hear yourself think, and your hears ring for days afterwards.
That my friends, is my kryptonite. And I am not afraid that you know it. Because it does nothing but good for me.
The movement of bodies to music on a hot and sweaty dance floor - is my happy place.
Also, a great repercussion of the evening we spent at the "Revenge of the Nerds" dance party was this conversation:
(Guy walks by me a couple times over the course of a few minutes - finally comes over and whispers, WHISPERS [mind you, we are in a LOUD clubbing institution] in my ear...)
Guy: "You have a breath-taking heinie."
It took all I had to just smile and say a quiet and simple thank you.
But what I really wanted to say to this random guy from
