a list worth doing.

I was browsing around the internet and came upon this link

"66 things to do before you graduate college"

I'll admit. I was ready to not be impressed. I envisioned things like "get so drunk you can't remember your first name" or "streak at as many sporting events as possible". Things that for whatever reason define the college experience and aren't exactly up my alley. But to each his own.

But when I took a look at the list I was impressed. And intrigued. And curious. And inspired.

It's a list of legitimate things to do. That not only will improve you and prepare you for the future, but make your college experience a little more memorable and worthwhile. Some increase knowledge, some widen your scope of abilities and talents, and some are just for fun.

1. Principles » Your Dashboard

What beliefs equate to success to me?

01. [] Take the Gallup Strength Finder 2.0


02. [] Host a Potluck Dinner


03. [] Read The Alchemist


04. [] Take a Personal Development Course


05. [] Read Rich Dad Poor Dad


06. [] Journal for 30 Days in a Row


07. [] Hold 2 Leadership Positions


08. [] Read a Spiritual Text Cover to Cover

2. Passions » Your Keys

What do I love doing and why?

09. [] Play an Intramural Sport for Fun


10. [] Volunteer for an Organization that Moves You


11. [] Take a Graduate School Course


12. [] Finish an Assignment One Week Early


13. [] Do a Public Speech


14. [] Start a Campus Club


15. [] Learn to Play an Instrument


16. [] Write a Business Plan

3. Problems » Your Fuel

What social, scientific, technical, and/or personal problem do I want to solve?

17. [] Wear a Costume to Class (on a day other than Halloween)


18. [] Do Karaoke


19. [] Write an Article for the Campus Paper


20. [] Recite a Poem at an Open Mic


21. [] Correct your Professor


22. [] Do something you’ll likely get Rejected from


23. [] Get a Grade Change


24. [] Take a Quarter, Semester, or Year off

4. People » Your Motor

Whom do I want to serve and how?

25. [] Attend a Meeting of a Group you Think Thinks Differently


26. [] Get off Campus and go Camping


27. [] Join a National Organization


28. [] Mentor a Younger Person


29. [] Raise $1,000 for an Organization you Care About


30. [] Go on a Cross Country Road Trip


31. [] Study Abroad


32. [] Visit your Country of Cultural Origin

5. Positioning » Your Lane

What do I want to be #1 in the world at?

33. [] Buy your own Domain Name


34. [] Start a Blog/Website


35. [] Start Tweeting (Follow us at www.twitter.com/nscsroute66)


36. [] Buy Business cards


37. [] Create a Resume 2.0 on KODA.US/nscs


38. [] Do your Future Job Now


39. [] Create a Portfolio of your work


40. [] Intern with Two Companies

6. Pioneers » Your Pace Cars

Who are my models, mentors, or guides?

41. [] Watch 20 Videos @ Ted.com 


42. [] Find an Upperclassman Mentor


43. [] Take a Professor to Lunch


44. [] Seek to Meet a Prominent Alumni


45. [] Interview your Grandparents


46. [] Shadow an Alumni on a Project


47. [] Conduct Research with a Professor


48. [] Choose something to Master and Practice Everyday

7. Picture » Your Road Map

What’s my vision for myself and my world?

49. [] Learn WordPress


50. [] Master Excel and Powerpoint


51. [] Abstain from Something


52. [] Organize a Huge Event and Build a Team


53. [] Create a Vision Board


54. [] Learn how to use Photoshop or iMovie


55. [] Learn HTML & CSS


56. [] Sell something and Make a Profit

8. Possibility » Your Destination

What would be possible in the world with me that is not possible without me?

57. [] Learn to do your own Taxes


58. [] Run a Marathon


59. [] Take the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or MCAT


60. [] Save $5,000 to $10,000


61. [] Clear your Credit Card Debt


62. [] Learn a Foreign Language


63. [] Get your Real Estate License


64. [] Earn a Certificate or License relevant to your Path

Last but not least…


65. [] Complete the 64 Things to do before you Graduate List


66. [] Graduate 10 Times more ready for the World than your Classmates

66. Route 66. Get the car theme? I thought it was pretty clever. These were all taken from the website. I didn't create any of them. I wish I was that creative . But for now I will have to benefit from the creativity of someone else.

Let's be honest. As much as I love college, it can get a little mundane. Not to say education isn't important, it's just easy to get into the school rut. You wake up, go to class, take notes, fail a test or several and there seems to be a never ending pile of homework. Your confidences waxes and wanes. And you do it day after day. Semester after semester. Year after year.

So needless to say....I'm getting a little sick of it. It being college. I think we all do. Maybe. It seems like I'm at that weird phase. About to graduate, not really sure what exactly I want to do. I have ideas, and in a perfect world I would bake cupcakes all day and sell them at my very own cupcake bakery.

Do you ever feel like life is just happening around you? Almost like you're observing it? At times I feel out of place. That I'm just here at school ever so temporarily and preparing to the best of my abilities for whatever comes next.

I think I'm in survival mode. Just taking it as it comes. Wanting to be done and on to the next phase of my life. After all, life is about progressing and growing. And I've been in this phase for so long. Since September 2005. Granted, I did take three semesters "off" to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints But still. I've been in this phase for quite. some. time.

Well my estimated graduation date is December 2011. After getting a hold on my account due to high credits, going on a wild goose chase to get it lifted, changing to a Bachelor of Science to avoid any further Spanish classes, getting an internship, and a list of other things, graduation is finally in sight. Finally.

So with two semesters left, it's coming down to the wire. And I'm going to make my college experience the very best that I can. Personally and to benefit my future. All while keeping my mental health in check.

as promised.

It takes too long to upload photos. Stay tuned for more at a later date. When I have more patience.

how not to teach.

We've all had a nightmare of a teacher...or two. Maybe even more. The kind that when we reminisce about our education experience it makes us shudder. Some were so bad that they may have even been the source for dropping a class.

I know that teaching is an important role and not an easy job. But just like everything in this world...there are teachers that are great and some that....fall short.

I'm currently taking a Spanish class. It has always been my dream to be fluent in Spanish. Not to mention that white boys that speak Spanish are totally dreamy. At least if you ask me.

When I was a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I was blessed to have served with two different people that were called to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. I remembered fairly quickly what I had learned from middle school and high school and was surprised how fast you can pick it up when you are around it.

When it came time to register for classes, I wanted to stay on top of learning Spanish (and I need foreign language credits for my degree) so I signed up for Spanish 201. Which is the last grammar class for non Spanish-Ed majors.

I was anxious and excited to take the class.

I found myself struggling. So I took advantage of BYU-Idaho's free tutoring services and started meeting with a private tutor once a week for an hour (which would probably cost an arm and a leg at almost any other school). He helped me a lot and was even willing to start meeting with me twice a week.

He hands down gets the award for world's most patient tutor. He explains things over and over and is encouraging while doing so. Exactly what a teacher should be. He never gets frustrated when I ask the same question time and time again and he usually tells me "I know you know this. You're just over thinking it." He encourages me to take some time and think about it or even write it down and look at it before giving my answer. Yet again, gives advice based on my individual learning style. Potential future teacher? Survey says: yes.

I was improving in the class but still struggling at the same time. I realized that if I wanted to improve the most that I could, that I was going to have to put forth more effort. I was going to have to volunteer answers in class and take full advantage of the classroom and risk sounding like an idiot.

The class is taught entirely in Spanish. Which is hard and challenging but effective.

So today we were reviewing for an upcoming test.

My teacher was reviewing the subjunctive with time clauses. She asked "Class, when do we use the subjunctive with time clauses?"

I remembered reviewing this with my tutor. I was grateful that I was starting to grasp and remember the context.

I answered...."With commands and the future tense."

"Well.....uh....we already knew that. You always use the subjunctive with commands"

Which is only slightly true. The actual word that is the command is formed the same way as the subjunctive tense, but its possible to have a command in a non subjunctive sentence. Just saying.

Well whatever, it's not like teachers haven't shot me down before.

We started reviewing something else. My teacher was talking about when something is either indefinite or nonexistent. I raised my hand and said that I didn't understand the difference.

"Well....(shooing hand wave)...you'll figure it out."

REALLY?! I mean really.

You're a teacher. By definition you get PAID TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.

Everyone around me was on my side. They said that they didn't know the thing about commands and subjunctive and they quickly whispered that they would explain the difference after class.

How is this supposed to encourage me? And I know that I'm not alone. I know plenty of students in this class and in general are discouraged by their teachers. Which is pretty sad, if you ask me.

I know that she can't hold our hand the entire way, and that at some point I'm going to have to learn this on my own. But that's just it. AT SOME POINT. Like say, after class? After she teaches us? After I graduate and I have sufficiently taken the classes I need and I'm no longer a student.

Isn't school for LEARNING? For asking questions and getting answers?

Maybe I've been wrong all of these years.

hooligans, at the ridge, with a snowman head.

It's Saturday in Rexburg.

Well now it's technically Sunday.

My sister and I were lounging around the house and watching GLEE on my laptop out in our living room. It was about 12 am. Curfew. The tow cars were roaming around the parking lot looking for cars without permits, boys were scattering from the girls apartments and others were screeching into parking spots and running up to their apartments to be home in time.

When all of a sudden we heard a loud CRASH. Loud enough to wake the dead.

Not to mention it interrupted Puck's cover of "Fat Bottom Girls" in an attempt to woo his current crush, Lauren Zizes.

I was a little freaked out, but I figured it was some crash outside.

Katie shot up like a bat out of h-e-double hockey sticks.

WHAT WAS THAT? I'M GETTING A KNIFE (Katie with a knife? Probably scarier than the noise of the crash).

She ran to the knife block, grabbed a knife (as promised) and headed down the hall checking each bedroom to make sure there weren't any intruders.

Checked the first four bedrooms. They were good to go. The door on my bedroom was closed.

With knife in hand and in position to shank if necessary, she kicked the door open.

"Christine. ohmygosh. ohmygosh. ohmygosh. comehere comehere comehere."

I walked in to behold this lovely site.

what. on. earth.

We were freaked out. Can you blame us? We called the emergency number for our manager. No answer. Ran downstairs to our RA. No answer. Ran back to my room. Called the manager again. Called theRA again. Ran back to the room again.

Somewhere in the runaround I noticed this.

That's funny. I didn't recall eating carrots in my bedroom anytime recently. And I especially don't remember dropping any on the floor. But I was in too much of a frenzy to really think through it.

We still couldn't get a hold of anyone.

I started to diall 911...but wasn't really sure if it was emergency noteworthy.

We called our only other roommate in town. Well, Katherine did.

I ran back to my room. And noticed this.

And then I put the pieces together.

Carrot+giant snowball=Snowman head.

You got it ladies and gentlemen. Someone threw a snowman head at my third story bedroom window and promptly through two panes of glass and onto my floor. We found out later that their goal was to knock down the giant icicle in front of my roommates window, but severely missed instead.

glass was everywhere.

My manager texted us. The RA ran upstairs. And our roommate said that we should call the cops. So we did.

They came. Took some pictures. Called the manger. And got the name of the culprit.

Apparently when the glass shattered, he made a run for it. Little did he know there was a witness. The towing man. Who chased him down. Got his name. And said that if he didn't turn himself in, he would.

My roommate, sister, and I cleaned up the glass.

Garbage bagged and cardboard boxed the window up.

And shut the door.

You better believe I'm not sleeping in my room tonight.

Not to worry. All is well in Rexburg.

rexburg for the win

Rexburg is known for a lot of things.

It's the home to BYU-Idaho.

Cranks out the most engagements and marriages in record time.

Nothing is open past 11 pm.

But I would say the thing that it is most known for and its greatest skill would be its ability to turn an entire town into an ice rink in the blink of an eye.

Rexburg, Idaho has the most random weather patterns I have ever experienced. And I'm convinced it would take home the blue ribbon if it ever went up in a global competition.

It's usually bitter cold throughout the week, way nice on Saturday and a majority of Sunday, and then Sunday night there's a freak snow storm. Just in time to turn all of Rexburg into a lethal ice rink as students brave the sidewalks on their way to class. Which only Kristi Yamaguchi or Scott Hamilton could ever appreciate.

My teacher once told me that the city of Rexburg has two concers that when combined turn into one giant problem.

1. They don't want to ruin the streets.

2. They don't want to ruin their snowplows.

So when they go out in the morning to "plow" the roads, they don't scrape right against the skreet. No, they scrape about an inch above the skreet. Thus creating a sheer sheet of ice, encompassing the entire town. Perfect for slipping.

I bet they could have saved money if they purchased a zamboni instead.

Every February, you'll be my Valentine.

I'm sorry that this post is coming a little late, but I wanted to recount the Valentine's Day events from this year.

My oh so gracious parents put money into my account so that my sister and I could go get something nice and delicious for Valentine's dinner. Neither of us really felt like going to a sit down restaurant. Since everywhere was sure to be super busy.

So we went down to Quiznos for dinner and then WalMart for some Vday treats. We got it all to go so we could go home and eat.

Now, backtrack for just a second.

The car that my sister and I have up here is a trooper. It's a '94 and still runs well, considering how old it is. The odometer has already been looped and is well on its way to getting up to 200,000 miles.

The gas gauge has never worked incredibly well and it always runs for quite a while even though it says empty. And, when it's cold, it's even more off.

So the needle had been on empty, for let's say, close to a week. I knew we had to get gas one of these days. My sister, Katherine, mentioned as we were pulling out of WalMart that we needed to make sure that we get gas tomorrow. Good thought.

Then I said "Sometime I just want to run the car completely bone dry just to see how many miles this thing can TRULY get."

More famous last words had never been spoken before.

We headed home (we even flipped a U turn RIGHT IN FRONT OF A GAS SATION after giving the poor dancing statue of liberty advertising Tax season a zebra cake) and as we were headed up the hill to our apartment...something in the car changed. It started slowing down and wouldn't speed up if I pushed the gas. It may have been making a weird noise or two....I can't remember.

"Just try to make it home and then we'll go get gas somehow" -my sister Katherine.

Make it up a hill that we are already losing speed on?! If only.

Now my car and car repair knowledge is beyond limited. I can put gas in it, windshield wiper fluid (if really necessary) air in the tires, and that's about it.

So I pulled over and turned the car off. I tried to start it a few times, and it would rumble but not turn all the way over. The lights and everything still worked, so we had that in our favor. It wasn't an engine or electrical problem.

We called our roommate.

She came and got me.

Took me to get gas.

Katie waited in the car that was parked on the side of the road next to a sign that said "NO PARKING".

Turned the hazard lights on.

We went down the street and got a portable gas tank holder thing and put one gallon in it. It's all it would hold.

We were on our way back to rescue the car. I was still hoping that there wasn't something else wrong with the car, even though I was pretty sure it was only a gas. As I've mentioned before, I'm a perpetual worrier.

As we were heading up the hill, I noticed some flashing lights. That were slightly brighter and redder than our flashing lights.

I said to my roommate, Audrey, "I wonder if a policeman stopped?"

"No. I'm sure it's just your hazards"

Well as we topped the hill, sure enough a cop car was there.

He noticed the car with the flashing lights on and stopped to make sure everything was OK. He also wanted to make sure we weren't lost. My sister had SO MUCH JUNK in the car from being at school so long and moving around so much, that he thought we were moving and maybe didn't know where we were. Such kind law enforcement in south eastern Idaho.

Audrey and I pulled up with the little red gas holder to the rescue.

"So...does your gauge not work....or did you forget to check it?" Mr. Cop

"Uh.....both...." me.

We put the gas in our tank and it puttered back to life. And yes, we went directly to the gas station and filled up our faithful little car.

tender mercies.

I know that a lot of people don't believe in God.

But I do.

And this is my blog. Which means that I can write whatever I want.

(At the risk of offense, several wise men have once said that being offended is a choice.

Something that I am still working on.)

I firmly believe, and nobody will ever change my mind, that God's hand is in our lives. That He allows things to happen so that we can feel of His love.

Even something as simple as the thought to send a friend an email, thank them for something, and then go to their blog and read a post that was exactly related to the email that you just sent.

What do I call that? A tender mercy.

And since this is my blog, I'm allowed to be a cryptic as I want. But I know that at least two people (besides myself) out there know what I'm talking about.

thank you.

some people have their own bowling ball, their own bowling shoes and no friends.

My sister started a bowling team. And she needed people to be on it for her first "game" tonight. However many people bowled and we took the top four scores and added it up for a collective score against our opponent.

Oh, what was my score you ask?

38.

That's right baby. Read 'em and weep.

I think I only scored on about five frames and I had 16 by the eighth frame. I made some pretty good catch up the last two frames. If you ask me.

So if you care to find me, look to the Western sky.

The Rexburg sky. To be exact.

I'm back at school. It's bittersweet. Like many things that have happened in my life lately.

I'm trying desperately not to be "that RM" that can't talk about anything but their mission to the point that it becomes annoying. I don't think I've hit that level yet, but I'm starting to have more sympathy for RM's. I understand why they talk about their missions SO much in any setting and at any chance.

First of all, it was what they were doing for the past 18-24 months. It's only to be expected that they talk about it. A lot. Doesn't everyone talk about what has been happening with them lately? Whether it was the birth of a child or their past year at school.

And secondly, it most likely changed them. I know my mission changed me. And when things change us, especially for the good, it's natural to talk about them.

Not to mention, missions usually make for some pretty good stories.

So I'm on to adjustment phase two. Being at home was a piece of cake in comparison. It still had it's rough moments, but I was mostly with my family and didn't have to get out of my comfort zone that much. But now I'm back at school. With thousands of people that I don't know. Thank goodness I'm living with my sister and the rest of my roommates are just as awesome. One is even a RM, so we can adjust together. Or rather, she can help me adjust since she's done a pretty good job herself.

I have classes again. I have to study and take tests. I have to make sure that all of my homework is done. And done on time.

I have to worry about myself instead of worrying about the progression of others in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I liked being on a mission because all of my worries and stresses got put on the back burner. There really is no other option. You serve others on a mission. Sure you grow and learn and progress and do a lot for yourself, but it comes in the process of doing things for others.

Not at school.

Sure, I can still serve others. Whether through a church calling or by choice. But I'm still here for me and my education and my future. Which is good for me. I need to face my downfalls head on and tackle them once and for all. And of course I can still be a member missionary. But at BYU-Idaho, it's a little different. I think there are only like 26 non members out of the 12,000 or more students on campus. And I don't even know a single one of them. Who knows, maybe I'll meet one of them on campus one day.

But at the end of the day, I'm excited to be back and I'm looking forward to a rocking semester.

Who knows when I'll graduate.

2011.

Happy New Year.

Here comes 2011.

What's my resolution?

To make it the BEST. ONE. EVER.

And this is how I'll do it.

2011 goals/bucket list

Become as close to fluent as I can in Spanish.

Read the Bible.

Run a half marathon.

Maybe a full marathon.

Go on a trip with my best friend.

GRADUATE COLLEGE.

Get in shape/live a healthy life.

Become a yogi.

Be a spin class master.

Get back into playing the piano and violin.

Excel in racquetball.

Visit Virginia and North Carolina.

Go to as many LDS temples as possible.

Be HAPPY.

happy christmas.

I could not have asked for a better time to come home from my mission. Right at Christmas time. So many friends and family to see and so much to be grateful for.

I love Christmas.

Serving a mission has changed my out look on Christmas.

I love my Savior.

I love His Gospel.

I am eternally grateful for the redemption that he brings me through his infinite sacrifice, the Atonement.

What greater reason to celebrate than the birth of our Savior?!

myth: busted.

Here it is. I'm about to bust every myth about sister missionaries. But I'll start with this disclaimer: I know that not everyone thinks these things about sister missionaries, but they are common myths that are out there. And I may or may not have thought these exact same things at one point.

1. Sister missionaries are frumpzillas.

Sister missionaries have ample space to express their personal style. Our mission president's wife told us to wear COLOR. Now, for those of you that have received that lovely mission prep pamphlet that came with your mission call, pictures would prove otherwise. But we're keeping up with the times. And rumor has it that they are even recreating that pamphlet that they send. Or it's already in circulation. I'm not sure. I haven't seen it, but I've heard about it and heard others talking about it.

2. Sister missionaries are on their mission because they had "nothing better to do".

I had plenty of companions that were at a stable point in their life. Working, going to school, about to graduate, etc.

3. Sister missionaries are on missions because they couldn't get married.

Now, although I wasn't dating anybody before I left on my mission, it doesn't mean that other sisters weren't. I have known several sisters that were in perfectly happy, healthy, functioning relationships before they left on their mission.

I would say that those are the top three. If you've heard any others, send em my way. And I'll be more than happy to bust them.

pictures.

I thought I had more pictures than this on my computer. I am having a TIME trying to get my pictures to upload from my camera to computer. I'll figure it out one of these days. But for now...here are these.

Enjoy.

if she wants to rock she rocks if she wants to roll she rolls she can roll with the punches as long as she feels like she's in control.

My dad is in this thing called Rotary club.

Heard of it?

I'm not sure what exactly it is. Some group of business types. I think it helps get your name and your company out there. Or something.

Anyway.

He was in charge of arranging for the guest speaker today. He set up with a doctor that my mom works for to come talk about stress management.

Can I get an AMEN?

If you were to look up stressed in the dictionary you would see a picture of me and then a foot note that said "see Christine Leigh Fleming".

I tend to be stressed. A lot. And it stems from me being a perpetual worrier.

I know it's my own fault. But we all have things that we are working on, right?

Dr. Amit Sood talked about a lot of really interesting concepts.

How we can de-stress.

And it all starts with perception. And being in control of your life.

Afterall, we generally can't change what's happening around us, but we sure can change how we react to it.

Virginia is for LOVERS (and missionaries)

So.

After EIGHTEEN months, how do you even begin to update?!

I can start by saying this. That the past 18 months were the

hardest

saddest

happiest

most frustrating

most enjoyable

BEST

18 months of my LIFE.

Hands down.

More to follow. Including pictures.

ps. I mentioned in an earlier post that the mission boundaries included Maryland. And it sure didn't. I thought that the Eastern Shore, that little part under MD was part of MD.

Fun fact for ya: IT'S NOT. Shows how much I paid attention in Geography.

T-18 months.

Tomorrow I enter the MTC, and I'll be there for three weeks. And then I head to Virginia to finish the 18 months Which means no more blog posts.

So check out these in the meantime. They're some of my favorites.

http://taffrine.blogspot.com

http://jacobdivett.blogspot.com

http://beccaobsesses.blogspot.com/

http://www.benkeamy.blogspot.com/

Peace out.

DC = cool - lame crowds at museums.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I. Hate. Crowds. Hate them, hate them, hate them. I took a psych class and the teacher said that the fear of crowds, enoclophobia, means "fear of the marketplace" and you don't like them because you're affraid that if something happens to you there would be too many people for someone to notice. Or something like that. Either way there are too many people in one small space.

Why do I hate crowds? For starters, I have a huge personal bubble. I don't like people getting that close to me. So you better keep your distance.

Secondly. When a person is in a crowd, it seems that all previous unwritten rules that every human being knows, go completely out the window. Like budging in line, being polite, and randomly singing while in public that's not at a performance, and everything like such as.

Example.

My family and I took a trip to Bethesda, Maryland this past week to be part of a medical study. After being poked and prodded at for a few days, we had a day off. We took the metro to DC to do some touristy things. It was raining that day. Of course. So the three Smithsonian museums that we went to were super crowded. Perfect. I'm guessing they're all usually pretty crowded, but since it was my first time going, I had nothing to measure it against. And there were about 50,000 screaming kids running around that were there on a school field trip. Double perfect.

The American History Museum holds the American Flag that Francis Scott Key saw that inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. Pretty cool. Of course there was a long line, but it was worth the wait. The line went outside of the room that it was in and people were lined up in single file fashion. But once you got into the room it was like a mad house of people trying to push their way up to the front.

Really?

Wait your turn. There are lines for a reason. And people will shove all up in your personal space as long as they get to look at whatever they've been waiting in line for. In this case, a flag.

And I won't even tell about the crowds when we saw Honest Abe's hat.

As much as I don't crowds it was still a pretty sweet museum. That museum had all sorts of cool crap. And I'm sure the other ones had just as much. We only made it to three of the who knows how many Smithsonian museums.

If you go to DC, I suggest not doing it on your one day off from medical tests. Spend a whole week there.

closing time.

This is the last weekend of school.  My last weekend in Rexburg for the next nineteen months.  I'm grateful that I get to spend one of those months in Minnesota before I leave for the next 18 where time will be spent in Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland.  

I'm also grateful that I get to spend the last weekend in Rexburg listening to General Conference.  Seriously.  It's always a nice break from the chaos of life to sit back and listen to the words, counsel and advice of the leaders of the church.  

so long my favorite songs.

I know that so many of my posts have been about the mission I'm getting ready to serve, but since it's the next biggest thing in my life, I spend a lot of time thinking about it and preparing for it.  Sorry for all of the mission related posts, but here is another one.

Missionaries are supposed to lock their hearts and get lost in the work.  I'm not too worried about the things I'll be leaving behind, because I know the ones that are worthwhile will be right there when I get back.  But I do think now and then about the shows I won't be able to watch and especially the music I won't be able to listen to.

So, if one were to ask me, these are the best fifty songs.  Ever.  Or at least  the ones that I'll miss the most while I'm gone.  In no particular order.  

1.  Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band.

2.  On The Radio by Regina Spektor.

3.    The World At Large by Modest Mouse.

4.  The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson.

5.   First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes.  

6.  Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa.

7.   Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap.  

8.  Chain Me Free by the Matches.  

9.  We Intertwine by the Hush Sound.

10.  Free Falling by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

11.  The Joker by Steve Miller Band.

12.  Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn by Hellogoodbye.

13.  Love Today by Mika.  

14.  Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson.

15.  Pork and Beans by Weezer.  

16.  Super Massive Black Hole by Muse.

17.  Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers.  

18.  Wine Red by the Hush Sound.

19. We Used To Be Friends by the Dandy Warhols.  

20.  Gives You Hell by the All American Rejects.  

21.  You're My Best Friend by Queen.

22.  You Owe Me An I.O.U. by Hot Hot Heat.

23.  Do You Know by Enrique Iglesias.

24.  Mala Gente by Juanes.  

25.  My Doorbell by the White Stripes.  

26.  Taper Jean Girl by Kings of Leon.  

27.  Di Di My Doe by the Matches.

28.  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here by She & Him.

29.  Let My Love Open the Door by Sondre Leche.  

30.  Touchdown Turnaround by Hellogoodbye.  

31.  Foreign Language by Anberlin.

32.  Fidelity by Regina Spektor.  

33.  Mercy by Duffy.

34.  Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  

35.  Campus by Vampire Weekend.

36.  Come Sail Away by STYX.

37.  I'm Shakin' by Rooney.

38.  Little Razorbalde by the Pink Spiders.

39.  Brat Pack by the Rocket Summer.

40.  Let Go by Frou Frou.

41.  Honestly by Cartel.

42.  New Soul by Yael Niam.

43.  Sway Your Head by We Shot The Moon

44.  Catch My Disease by Ben Lee.

45.  All The Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople.

46.  All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar.

47.  Everyday by Dave Matthews Band.  

48.  Sea Of Love by Cat Power.  

49.  The Mating Game by Bitter:Sweet.  

50.  Superstar by Sonic Youth

This is harder than I thought, I had to change my original number about five times.  But this is it.  My top 50.  I think.  It was still a hard task.

peace, love, and racquetball.

I have recently discovered a new love in my life.  Racquetball.  If you ever have the chance, PLAY IT!  

I never knew that BYU-Idaho had legit racquetball courts.  I figured they somehow set up some makeshift ones in the field house because everything from volleyball games to track meets have been held there.  But oh no.  BYU-I has five of their own actual racquetball courts.  So after many, many, many weeks of saying to my roommate, Christina "Hey, we need to reserve a racquetball court sometime and try and play" we FINALLY did.  We played for the first time on Tuesday.  Then we played Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  

The first couple days we just hit the ball around.  Then Christina and I played the game how we thought it made sense.  

Then, today, today we played with my other roommate Alli and her fiance Jacob (whose uncle is ranked third in the WORLD, by the way) and we were pretty far off.  

The point is, is that racquetball is great.  Tons of fun.  And you don't even realize that you're getting a fabulous workout because it's that fun.

Injuries sustained from racquetball:

Getting pelted in....

the arm

the knee

the hand

the back

the calf

and the face.  It's a good thing you are required to wear goggles in the courts.  

happy make up your own holiday day.

I couldn't be more serious.  Today is actually national make up your own holiday day.  I mean, I found it on the internet so it must be true.  So what is my holiday that I am going to make up and celebrate?

National Sonic Strawberry Limeade Day.  

Why wouldn't you want to dedicate an entire day to the most delicious drink known to the human race?  Strawberry Limeade is amazing.  Why?  Let me count the ways.

1.  The ice.  I love ice, and I love chewing ice.  A bad habit I got from my mom.  But the ice from sonic is the best.  It's the perfect crunchiness.

Perfect.

2.  The REAL strawberries and limes.  Even if you suck down the strawberry limeade in record time, like I may or may not, the deliciousness does not end there.  Oh no.  Once you have drank all of the limeade substance, you are left with a delicious pile of perfectly chewy strawberries.  Sometimes you even suck one up the straw.  Double Perfect.

3.  Strawberry Limeade is the best when your roommate has the sonic sticker and you get the biggest size, the Route 44 size for only ONE DOLLAR!

Triple Perfect.

So what do you say?  Let's celebrate National Sonic Strawberry Limeade day and treat ourselves to a delicious strawberry limeade.  

Call me and we'll go together.  

mission wish list.

Missionaries have pretty strict rules about what they're allowed to wear.  Guys look good in suits no matter what, and although I know the goal of a missionary shouldn't be to make sure they look good while they are serving, I still want to make sure that I don't look like a frump while in the process.  

Missionaries spend a lot of time on their feet (or bikes) thus begins the nearly impossible task of finding cute and comfortable shoes.  Yet again, something only Sisters seem to have to worry about.  Do Elders worry about cute shoes?  Negative.  Although, my guess would be that dress shoes are also fairly uncomfortable.  So they still have the shoe task at hand.  

So I've been scouring the internet and different stores to get an idea of some clothes I could buy when I get home to wear while I'm in Virginia.  I've also been looking at non clothes items that will be fun to buy, like bedding, a backpack, pens/paper, etc. 

RSVP pens are hands down, the best pens.  Ever.

I think that  Camelbak's are the coolest backpacks in the world, and I am TOTALLY getting one.  OK, so I might already have one, but it's not big enough to be a missionary backpack!  I even told myself that if I went stateside I was definitely getting one because I would be able to trust the water to fill it up with water from the sink.  If you ask me, it's fate.  

I imagine that these shoes are fairly comfortable.  And they aren't too frumpy either.  Right?

Dear Sister Fleming.

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Virginia Richmond Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 13 May 2009.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.  

it's the final countdown.

The end is in sight.  Five school weeks left of the semester.  It's crazy, let me tell you.

This semester has been....eventful?

Mission papers are FINALLY in.  After stuff getting lost, things not getting submitted, the stake presidency calling me numerous times because they didn't have sufficient information.  Like my height.  Pretty sure that's on my medical papers.  The point is, they are in.  IN!  Now I'm waiting on a call.  My stake president, President Packard said that he was going to submit them on Sunday, they would be at church headquarters on Monday (YESTERDAY) and that I would receive a call in TEN days.  The quorum of the 12 makes all of the assignments and then President Monson confirms them on Thursdays.  They make 600 in four hours.  Amazing?  I'd say so.

People keep asking me where I want to go.  And I can honestly say "I don't care."  I am just so excited to go and I know that wherever I am called to is where I am supposed to be and that it came from the prophet who is inspired by God.

Pretty cool.  

The only thing that I am really hoping for is that I'll have the chance to learn a language, especially Spanish.

take two.

I find it incredibly therapeutic to write things about myself in bullet form. In a non selfish or stuck up way.  If that's possible.  I think while doing it I even learned some more things about myself.  So here I go for another round.  Continue on if you like.

some more things you may or may not know about me.

1.  I absolutely cannot stand rollie backpacks.  At all.  Not one little bit.  When I see them, I want to kick them.  Before my back surgery my mom said "You know Christine, your doctor might want you to use a rollie backpack so it doesn't put pressure on your back".  False.  I will risk the health of my back to avoid using a rollie backpack.  At all causes.  Some people on campus have even moved on to using suitcases.  I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were at an airport.

2.  I find it incredibly satisfying to download songs.  Whether from itunes or limewire (which of course I don't do, it's illegal....) or wherever.  

3.  I have neurofibromatosis.  It's a genetic disorder.  My sister and I both got it from our dad's, and I have a 50% chance of passing it on to my kids.  It scares me half to death to think about having kids, knowing that I could very well inflict them with something, especially since my sister and I both have it slightly worse than our dad, which could possibly mean that my kids could be worse.   Maybe. 

I have light brown spots all over my body from it.  And the lymph nodes on my neck are swollen.  

4.  I cringe when I hear the word coagulate.  I think it sounds disgusting.  

5.  I usually don't enjoy group work, which poses a problem since a majority of my major is group work.  I wold rather do an entire project on my own than have to delegate, be delegated to, or risk the chance of someone else dropping the ball.  At least if I drop the ball on my own project I have nobody else to get mad at but myself and my grade isn't dependent on the work of others.  Not that I'm saying my work is better, I'd just prefer to know exactly what I'm turning in and be responsible for all of it.  

6.  I only drink skim milk.  Even 1% makes me gag.  I'm OK with it though, it's healthier for you anyway.  Once you're done growing at least.  Which I've have been for about the past seven years or so.

7.  I don't really like the word hot to describe people.  I'd rather say attractive, cute, so good looking, etc.  I'd prefer not to be called it either.  Not that it's something I have to worry about.

8.  I'm a nerd at heart.  I love, love, LOVE Harry Potter, the X-Files, Heroes.  And many many more nerdy things.  Like playing text twist or scrabble for hours on end.  

9. Although, I'm not a fan of Star Wars.  I've never been able to get into it.

10.  I love photography.  I don't really know all of the technical terms, but I'm OK with that.  If you enjoy something, the technicalities shouldn't really matter, right?

real pretty thangs and crap.

My roommate Alli has started this website.  It's an online thrift store of sorts.  She sells slightly used clothes.  She has a pretty great selection for some very reasonable prices.  Check it out, and if you like something, contact her and buy it!

www.realprettythangsandcrap.blogspot.com

twenty five.

Recently a lot of people have been making notes on their Facebook accounts about 25 things about themselves that people may or may not know. I decided to do the same, but here on Blogger instead.

So here it goes.

1. I have lived with 37 different girls while attending BYU-Idaho. That's a lot of girls. A lot of personalities to love, get along with perfectly and clash with.

2. I have played the violin for about 14 years. My teacher dropped me when I was in 6th grade because I wasn't progressing fast enough. And that's a straight quote. Sometimes I still get it out and play every now and then. I know I'm not near as good as I should be, but I'm good enough. At least I think so.

3. I must marry someone who likes dogs. And that's that. I need to have dogs in my life, and I miss mine that are at home terribly when I'm away at school.

4. I'm not really attracted to blonde guys.

5. I love shoes. Especially sneakers. I have four pairs of chucks and about six pairs of vans. And I'll keep getting more. I love a good pair of dress shoes too.

6. I really enjoy baking and cooking. It is my dream to own my own bakery one day. I can't stand it when I'm cooking or baking and people come in the room, look at it, and either tell me why it looks gross or what I did wrong and how I should fix it. Or that I'm currently doing it wrong and I should do it this way instead. I've had quite a few encounters with this exact experience already this semester.

7. I'm glad my parents taught me to read early and the importance of it.

8. Geocaching is the coolest thing ever. I heard about it a while ago, and finally tried it out last weekend. See my last post to learn more.

9. I'm not the type of girl that has to change her outfit 15 times before going somewhere. The most I've changed it is twice for church. I just put on what I feel like wearing and go on my way.

10. I don't care what anyone says but I love Dave Matthews Band, The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, etc. I could listen to pop music all day long. I can't stand when people judge you or pride themselves based on their music likings. Nobody cares about how many obscure grunge emo bands that aren't signed to a legit label because they don't like the mainstream music business you listen to. If you like it, listen to it. If you don't, then don't.

11. My sophomore year up at school my GPA was suffering. So I took a bunch of easy classes to boost it. Including a college reading one. I had to get a tutor and everything. It was a nightmare and incredibly embarrassing, and I had to reassure my tutor that I indeed knew how to read at 19 years old and I usually just ended up doing my homework during my tutor time. Thankfully I got an A and said GPA was boosted.

12. I like playing sports, but I'm not any good. And I don't get competitive. So people don't like playing with me.

13. I have a metal rod in my back from a spinal fusion surgery. And a 13 inch long scar to go along with it. I had scoliosis that was found in fifth grade. I had to wear a brace all through middle school and part of high school. As if those times aren't awkward enough. Some kid even called me scoliosis girl in seventh or eighth grade one time. Awesome.

14. My favorite animal is a dolphin and it was my DREAM to swim with one for as long as I can remember. It finally came true last Christmas when my family and I went to Hawaii for vacation.

15. I'm trying to let go of the past. I can't change it. So I'm learning to either enjoy the time and realize that it was fun while it lasted, or be grateful that it is in the past and not going to be in my present or future.

16. I can't stand Twilight. It's not even because that they're about vampires, and I even tried to get into them. I read the first one and couldn't stand it. Bella complains just a little bit too much and I thought they were incredibly boring.

17. No matter how old a CD is, I just can't bring my self to throw it away. Ever. So, yes, that does mean I still have CDs from artists such as the Spice Girls, 98 degrees, Backstreet Boys, Hanson, B*Witched, and everything like such as.

18. I rarely stick up for myself. I don't tell people when things are bothering me. I just tell myself that it's only me thinking it and to get over it.

19. I have easily spent $300 on beanie babies. I used to be obsessed with those suckers. Now they're all boxed away at home in Minnesota. I guess if anything my kids can play with them someday.

20. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people shorten words in texting or on the computer. As in ur, 2nite, u, and so forth. It doesn't take that much effort to spell out the rest of the word.

21. I love it when I say or do something and someone laughs. Especially if they laugh really hard. I think being told you're funny is one of the best compliments.

22. I have a secret addiction to post-it notes. And almost any office supply for that matter.

23. One time I got pulled over because my tags were expired on my license plate. I chose to appeal the ticket and went to traffic court. The judge was my friend's dad and he gave me ten hours of community service. The only option available for community service was working at a cat shelter. It was awful. And he let me off easy. He gave his son, his own flesh and blood, 30 hours of community service for a similar offense.

24. I rarely, in fact next to never, wear jewelry. For various reasons. I especially don't wear rings because I think I have funny looking hands/fingers and don't like how rings look on them. I notice people's hands, and pay very close attention to them. Sometimes I even think whose hands I would and would not like to have. If I lined up a group of people I knew, I could identify them just from their hands.

25. I'm trying my best to really budget my money, because it's a skill you'll need for your whole life. I'm getting better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

do your cache hang low.

I have successfully completed one of my new year's resolutions.

Geocaching.  

I found my first three today, alongside Christina Mitchell and Jessica Durham.  We took a trip to Las Vegas for the long weekend.  Christina lives here, so we stayed at her house.  I've been wanting to try geocaching for quite some time now.  We decided that we would make some time for it while we were in Las Vegas, so I brought along my handy dandy GPS do hickey for the trip (referred to as Susan from here on out), and we decided to do some while we were down here.

We went to www.geocaching.com and found some coordinates, plugged them into Susan, and were on our way.

This was the first cache we found.  Called Dancing Princesses.  It was underneath that black box on a lamppost. Christina lifted it up, and bada bing, there it was. 

#2  Did he invent lamps?  Also found underneath a lamppost.  Seemed to be a common theme for our very first day of geocaching.

Last but not least, From a King's View.  Was also found, you guessed it, under a lamppost.  This one was a take something, leave something.  We took these sweet purple dice and left a shamwow sample we got from this crazy guy at the mall yesterday.  

You may have noticed a small notebook, pad of paper, etc. in each of the geocaches.  When you find one, you are supposed to log that you found it.  Your name and the date.  Several people had already found it that day or a day or two earlier.  Pretty cool.  

Geocaching is quite possibly my new favorite activity.  Stay tuned for updates.  And while you're at it, explore the geocaching world right outside your door.  You won't regret it.  

a new day, a new year.

2009.  Craaazy.  I remember when it was 1999 and the year 2000 was soon upon us.  Everyone thought that the end of the world was coming and that all computers would crash and explode because they would be so confused and wouldn't know how to comprehend the number change.  Really?  I mean, really.  How is it any different from changing from 19 to 20?  Or 29 to 30?  Or ANYTHING?  If someone is smart enough to invent a computer/internet/whatever I'm pretty sure they figured out how to make sure the numbers would work in its inner workings.  Anyway.  This is all beside the point.  

These are my goals/things I want to do in the year 2009.

-Geocache (if you don't know what it is, it sounds pretty tight and you should look into it.  It's essentially treasure hunting.  People have hidden crap all over the world and then posted its coordinates on the internets so other people can get the coordinates, plug it into a GPS and then go find it!)

-Train for and compete in a triathlon 

-Eat a more balanced diet

-Lose at least 20-30 pounds

-Read the entire standard works (BOM, Old/New Testament, D&C, the Pearl of Great Price)

-Get straight A's (we'll see about this one...)

-Study in the library more 

-Facebook less

-Finish the two quilts I have started

-KIT

-Hike

-Serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

you decide oh-eight.

The end of the year is always a time for reflection.  Did the year stack up how I expected?  Did I meet my resolutions?  Overall, did I enjoy this last year?  No.  Somewhat. Absolutely.  

This past year I made friends and lost friends.  Cared and didn't care.  Was happy and was sad.  Earned money and spent money.  Got new pets and lost old pets.  Lost weight and gained weight.  Worked out and was lazy.  Had fun and was bored.  Laughed and cried.  Enjoyed myself and found myself in awkward situations.  And much, much, more.

Oh-Eight definitely had its ups, and its downs.  But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

i wanna be made.

When I was younger my mom wouldn't let me and my sister watch MTV.  So I would watch it when she wasn't home, and I would quickly change the channel when I heard the garage door open.  I know, I know.  I'm such a rebel.  Now we watch it together.  Oh how times have changed.  

I'm secretly addicted to the show Made.  It features kids who want to be something different.  

These people must have no shame.  They whine, cry, complain, act like total idiots/fools/brats on national TV 

and don't even seem to care.  I shudder when I think of that many people seeing the worst side of myself.  

But if I could me made, I think it would be into a triathlete.  I mean how cool would that be?  

So that will be my New Year's Resolution.  Even though it's

 not quite that time yet.  To complete in a triathlon, or at least a sprint one (shorter distances), this spring.  

Sprint Triathlon Training, here I come. 

i hate my car. take two.

Yesterday Katie and I had to fix our car.

I got out of one of my classes early and didn't have my next one, so I went home and called triple A.  They came and put the spare on, and I went to class.  We planned to meet up after our classes that ended at three.  First we would go get Katie's rabies shots and then we would go to Idaho Falls around 6:30.  We were driving home from the hospital and we decided we should just go right then.  We had to get it done, and the sooner the better.

I went home, grabbed my Sam's Club card, and we were on our way.  The tow man who put on the spare said that we shouldn't go above 55 mph on it.  So we putted along the highway, and arrived at Sam's Club.  The lady at the desk said it would be about two hours till it was done.  Awesome.

We got some dinner, and then walked around the store.  For eons.  Or so it seemed.  It turned out to only be about 45 minutes.  So we found some couches and passed out.

"Attention members and guests.  Would Christine Fleming please come to the tire and battery center."

Our car was FINALLY done.  Nothing else to worry about.  We could get everything done this next week because our car was fixed.

Katie and I were now on our way back to Rexburg.  She was driving and we were about 5 miles away from Rexburg, just outside of Rigby.  When there's a really loud and weird thumping noise.

You guessed it.  Our tire went flat AGAIN!  Sam's Club claimed that they rotated our tires, so it would appear that another tire went flat, because it was the front drivers side tire.  AGAIN.

So we called triple A.  Again.  They came and put the spare on.  Again.  We drove home on the spare.  The next day we drove to Idaho Falls on the spare.  Again.  Waited at Sam's Club for two hours while they fixed the car. Again.  This time they ended up putting a new tire on.  

And it has been fine since.  Knock on wood.  

i have a love/hate relationship with my car. mostly hate.

My parents were gracious enough to let me and my sister take our car to school this year, after much persuasion. We drove our dinky little Mercury Tracer the some 1200 miles out to Idaho.  I was thrilled to finally have my own car at school.  I would no longer have to ask for rides, go to the grocery store whenever my roommates were, and feel guilty for always bumming rides.  I was anxiously looking forward to the freedom it was sure to bring.

It was great for the first few weeks, until it died.  I figured it wasn't that big of a deal, cars die every now and then.  Maybe I left the lights on overnight.  I got it jumped.  And it died again, a week later.  You think I would have learned my lesson, but I didn't.  I just kept jumping it, and it kept dying a week or so later.  The worst two times was when it died at a gas station and when it died at Wal Mart.

My sister and I were finally able to work out our schedules with one of my roommates to drop off the car, get it fixed, and pick it up.

I was so glad to finally have a working car.  My sister and I drove it quite a bit the next few days.  It was nice having a car again.

Then a few days later my roommate came in the house and said that my tires were looking a little low.  Especially the front one on the drivers side.  I went and filled it up (by the way, only one gas station in Rexburg doesn't CHARGE for air.  Chevron, in case you're curious.  Everywhere else charges 25 or 50 cents!  Tell me that's not the most ubsurd thing you have EVER heard.  I refused to pay for air, and drove to every gas station until I found one that didn't charge).  So I filled them up, we went and got dinner, and everything seemed hunky dory.

Enter the next day.  Saturday.  I had to go to Wal Mart.  I drove about two blocks and I noticed a really weird and loud thumping noise.  I couldn't tell where it was coming from.  I pulled over.  Got out.  And saw a flat tire.  It's possible I swore.  I don't really remember.  I was definitely annoyed.

So now, during the busiest weekend and week of the semester, I somehow have to fit in the time to call triple A, have them put on the spare (my sister claims she knows how, but my mom said that driving on a car that Katie has installed the spare on is like walking on a tight rope that Katie set up.  Not a good idea, and death will probably follow), drive to Sam's Club in IF because they'll fix it for free.  And it has to be tomorrow because Katie has to go to IF tomorrow for her second round of rabies shots.  

At least my huge a project for my PR class is due tomorrow, so I won't have that to worry about not working on, since most of my night, if not all, will be dedicated to going to IF tomorrow.

I'll admit it, I'm a pet person.

For as long as I can remember, my family has had a pet. I was really little when we got our first dog, Boomer. She was a Border Collie, and one of the nicest dogs ever.

Since then we've had quite the list of animals, which include, but are not limited to...

Hamsters

Cats

Dogs

Lizards

Fish

Crawdads

Turtles

Birds

Rabbits

Chickens

you get the idea. My family likes animals. Or at least my mom, my sister, and I. My dad likes them because we do. He's the most easy going person on the face of the earth. It may seem weird to say this about a pet (I don't think so) but they truly become a family member.

Before I continue, I realize that it may seem silly

to write a post about pets, and as you'll see later, more specifically, one pet. But you know what? This is my blog. My posts. My documenting. So if you think it's silly, I don't really care. Too harsh? I didn't think so either.

Anyway.

Boomer died when I was in 5th grade. She was a really smart dog and she got bored easily. She got so bored one night that she ate some carpet. We had really old carpet in our house, and it came off in long messy strings. It got tangled up in her stomach. The vets did all they could but they just couldn't save her.

We tossed around the idea of getting a new dog, but nothing was set in stone. Then one week when my dad was out of town, we were given the opportunity to rescue the sweetest, kindest, Australian Shepherd from Iowa. We were soon able to call her our own, and we named her Zuzu. Everyone loved her, and she loved everyone back.

But with age, came illness. We had to give her large amounts of medicine on a daily basis, and she wasn't getting any better.

About a week ago it had been almost one year that she was on her medicine. My sister and I knew that things were getting really bad and that she most likely wouldn't make it until we got home for Christmas break. I called my mom on a Saturday and she said that things were getting really bad. She couldn't even stand up on her own. She was trying to get a hold of her vet and said that once she did we would probably have to put her to sleep.

The next morning I had an email from my mom. There were two actually, one had an attachment and the other was entitled Zuzu.

I opened the attachment first. It was enough. Zuzu was finally out of her misery, but she would be missed terribly.

r.i.p. Zuzu. Make friends with Boomer.

caving & co.

I tend to say that I'm fairly claustrophobic.  I don't like crowds.  As I've mentioned before.  The idea of being in small spaces terrifies me.  Especially small spaces like caves.  And small tunnels you have to crawl through in caves.  And low ceilings that you have to hunch down because of in caves.

So when some of my roommates and one of my roommates mom that was visiting for the weekend went to some of the caves out here, I'm not really sure why I agreed to go.  I guess because I had nothing better to do, and I had heard that they really weren't that bad.

It turns out, it wasn't bad at all.  We had to do all of the above.  Crawl, hunch down, etc.  

I used to say to myself "What causes people to think about climbing Mt. Everest, or crawl into caves, or whatever their crazy outdoor adventure might be?"  

But the thing is, I can start to see it now.  When we were in the caves I wanted to keep going.  I wanted to see what was in there, how far it went, how far we could go.

I'll admit, I got a little creeped out, and once in a while I would think "Man, it sure would suck if this thing collapsed."

Luckily it didn't.

I'm a white girl, but my neck is red.

First of all, I'm not an actual redneck.  It's just that I have roots in the South. The deep South. Well, kind of. If you can call North Carolina the deep south. For all intents and purposes of this post, NC is temporarily the deep south. And if that's not enough to buy your vote, the name of the town that most of my relatives hail from is called Polkville. Maybe it's just me, but I think it screams redneck.

My family and I made a trip down south this summer to visit my mom's side of the family. I haven't been in years, so I had been looking forward to it. We packed our bags, and left Saturday morning, and drove straight on through. We arrived just in time for a "family reunion" of sorts. My mom's birthday was also on the 24th, so this gathering doubled as a birthday party. Rather, it whatever-ed as a get together/family reunion/birthday party/reason to have a good time

My uncle, or something, owns a goat farm. One of these goats has been castrated, so over time he has gained a good amount of weight, and according to my uncle "really has no purpose anymore". So why not have a good old fashioned goat bar-be-que?  Perfect solution.

Or at least that was the original plan.  I guess there weren't going to be enough people there, so he resorted to some pork instead.

My uncle has also started a business where he sells smoked meat. That he smokes in a homemade smoker. That he fashioned from old milk coolers.  So, if you haven't already guessed, that's how the meat was cooked.

It was pretty crazy, and a bit odd, and the food was delicious.  But when you're with your family or loved ones, that's all that matters.  And of course it will make for some good stories.  Er...blog posts.

and THAT'S why you don't forget to say the name of the secretary.

My job requires me to do a lot of random tasks throughout the work day. One of these tasks that comes up fairly regularly (which I guess doesn't make it that random) is taking a CD with patient information on it down to a lab so it can be uploaded onto the computer. Then once the information is all uploaded I go back and pick up the CD, bring it back to the office, do some stuff on the computer verifying that it has been uploaded, and then destory and throw the CD away.


So the other day one of the secretaries, Barb, asked me to go pick up a CD that had information for a patient of Dr. Sundt's (in the grand scheme of things, these names don't matter. It just makes it easier for me to tell the story). That's all I was told. Go pick up a CD for Dr. Sundt. I wasn't told the patients name. Probably because a. it didn't matter, there was probably only one CD that Dr. Sundt needed to see, or b. for patient confidentality.


This is how the rest of the story goes...And I am not even kidding. This is EXACTLY how the conversation went.


Me: Hi, I need to pick up a CD that has been loaded for Dr. Sundt.

Lab worker: OK. Patient's name please.

Me: Oh, sorry. I don't know, I was just told it was one of Dr. Sundt's patients.

Lab Worker: OK. Well does Random first name, Random last name, Random first name, Random last name, or Random first name, Random last name, sound familiar?

Me: Um...I'm not sure. I was just told the name of the Doctor...

Lab Worker: Hmm...(picks up a box holding a CD, and points to a piece of paper on the lid) well this box only says that the patient was in whatever hospital building, whatever floor, whatever room number. Do you think that's right?

Me: Oh, well now that you mention it, I do like to stalk random patients whose name I don't know, but I do keep track of which hospital room they're staying in. So yeah, that is the right patient.

False. I didn't actually say that. But I sure was thinking it.

My patience was wearing VERY thin at this point. "I don't know. Barb just sent me down, we could call her and see if..."

Lab Worker: OH! Barb?! Here you go. (and handed me said CD)


Guess I learned my lesson.

watch out Venus and Serena.

A friend once asked me "What is there to do in Minnesota?". For some reason all I could pathetically come up with is "Uh, there's the Mall of America". Why I said that is beyond me. I don't even enjoy the Mall of America. Go ahead and call me un-Minnesotan, see if I care. Crowds make me nauseous (I put my fear aside for concerts and stake conference), and for some reason my family likes to go at the busiest times possible. Like Christmas shopping season. I don't mind it (for a short time) if it's in the middle of the day and school is still in session, so it's next to empty. And that's about it.

What I failed to mention is that Minnesota is filled with opportunities to take advantage of the great outdoors through various activities. In every season. Hiking, fishing, swimming, skiing (water and snow), wake boarding, snowboarding, canoeing, and so forth. Whatever outdoor activities you enjoy, I'm sure you can find a place to do it in Minnesota. Except surfing. Maybe you can in any state. But Minnesota is pretty much the only place I have ever lived, so that's all I can say.

Every summer my family makes goals to become more active, and do things outside. We usually make it to through a bike ride or two, and then return to the gym and hit the treadmill or whatever kind of cardio equipment.
This summer we have made the same goal, yet again. This time we have included tennis. There are about four different locations that have at least two tennis courts within a mile of my house.

In order to jumpstart our new tennis mastering goals, my mom and I got a tennis racquet for my dad for Father's day, and a few cans of tennis balls. So Sunday evening after our Father's day festivities we walked up to the park in order to test out his new racquet and play the first of hopefully many games of tennis. Little did I know how awful we both were. I'm sure dead tennis stars would be turning in their graves if they could only see the shame we did to the sport.

But it's the effort that counts, right? We have not given up! Before you know it, we'll be tennis champs. I even convinced some friends to play with me the other day. Be on the lookout for Christine Fleming at the next Wimbledon. I'll be the one kicking trash and taking names.

chipotle & missionaries.

There are two things that I love in this world and will always hold a special place in my heart.

The first one is Chipotle.

Everything there is great. The burritos, tacos, salads, burrito bowls. All of it. Fantastic. If you have never been there, you haven't lived. It's so good. If you are ever driving, and you see one, you MUST go. If for some reason you ever find yourself in Minnesota, more specifically Rochester, call me up and I'll take you. My treat. I'm dead serious. My beloved hometown happens to be graced with two of these fine establishments.

If you have been there and you don't like it, I'm not sure we can be friends. If we are friends and you don't like it, I might have to reevaluate the relationship.

Don't tell me that Bajios is better than Chipotle. Because it isn't.
Don't tell me that Cafe Rio is better than Chipotle. Because it isn't.
And especially don't tell me that Taco Bell is better than Chipotle because it most definitely isn't.


The second thing that I love in this world is any Mormon missionary. Male, Female. Past, Present, Future. All of them. They're awesome. They set aside 1.5- 2 years of their life to provide service for free dollars.

So you can imagine my excitement when I got a twofer. Dinner with my parents at Chipotle WITH the missionaries that are currently serving in my home ward. My love only increased for these missionaries because they share the same appreciaton for Chipotle that my parents and I, and anyone cool do.

And it's Friday the 13th, which automatically makes today a cool day.

I'm not sure this day could get any better.

for the love of pomegranates.

Anybody that knows me, knows my love for pomegranates. I try anything I see that has the word pomegranate smacked across it; gum, yogurt, smoothies, juice, lemonade, mints, etc. which probably makes me a little bit of a sucker. I'm a marketing employee's dream. But I just can't help myself.

I also love the actual pomegranate fruit. Over thanksgiving break I went home with my roommate Kaitlin. Her mom is a realtor, and had a house listing with a pomegranate tree IN THE BACKYARD. We went and picked about twenty pomegranates and rearranged our luggage so we could bring them back to school. We both were beyond excited to have all these pomegranates for free ninety nine. We could never bring ourselves to pay the ridiculous prices at either Broulim's or Albertson's (I fully believe that they enjoy ripping students off). My life was complete.

But then to my surprise, my life was completed yet again.

I was looking on the internet one day for some baking recipes I might like to try out. I stopped dead in my internet surfing tracks. Pomegranate cupcakes. Chocolate Pomegranate cupcakes, to be more exact. My mom told me they sounded gross, but I wanted to make them anyway.

I'll let you know how they turn out.