There and Back Again (Not quite a Hobbit's tale)

I once swore that it would be over my dead body if I ever set foot in Laramie. Well this weekend I went to Laramie. And I'm still alive!!! My sister and her husband were blessing their daughter in Cheyenne, so I had my mom drop me off in Laramie on the way.

First I hung out with Kirsten and Austin for a few hours. We watched the first episode of Once Upon a Time. It was pretty great. We played Mario Kart, which I am still lousy at. It was fun time.

Then I went out for a few hours with another friend. I won't say much about that because it wasn't the most pleasant experience, and if I start talking about it I will go on a total rampage. The only thing worth mentioning is that I tried Applebee's wings for the first time. I was surprised at how good they were.

The next morning Austin made an absolutely fabulous breakfast. Then the three of us went to the UW homecoming parade. It was actually a pretty fun parade. And there was lots of candy to be claimed. All the kids around us were leaving the tootsie rolls. I was more than glad to take them though. But I do have to admit that it was weird to see so much brown and yellow instead of blue. I think I'll still take my Aggie Blue any day.

After the parade, I went to Mazie Lewis' house and then we went shopping with her sister Sadie. It was a really fun day. At the end of the day, I went to the football game with my dad, Stan, and Kevin. The first half was a super good game, but as soon as halftime hit, it started raining cats and dogs. But we didn't drive all the way there to get rained out. We went and sat where the over head section hangs over the lower section, and we stayed dry for the rest of the game. The best part of the game was when they played the Gangnam Style song and everyone started dancing. I had no idea that song was so popular. I thought it was just a funny song that my friend Phil liked. But no, apparently it's kinda a big deal. I seriously started laughing so hard.

At the end of the day, I have to admit that Laramie isn't as terrible as I thought it was. I still stand by my statement that I would never in a million years go to school there. But it's not a terrible place to visit. Laramie, you have redeemed yourself ever so slightly in my eyes.

Dreams to Dream

Since my life has been so uneventful lately, I've kinda taken to reflective posts. I told Kylee that I would try to remember my dreams this week so I could write a post about them. But I have failed to remember my dreams. So I've decided to blog about some of my more memorable dreams.

Most Quoted/Mocked:  "Help me you jerk!"

This one was great. In middle school I had a dream that I was running around trying to put together a picnic. I remember that it was a weird picnic because everything was extra big. It seemed like it was a giant's picnic or something. Anyway, I was running around with my arms full of stuff, when I stopped to talk to Brandon Taylor and Elio Merino for a minute. Then all of a sudden I felt a tickling on my arm. There was a massive, massive spider crawling up my arm. I started freaking out, but because my arms were full I couldn't do anything about it. And Brandon and Elio just sat there looking at me. So I dropped my stuff, punched Brandon in the stomach (hard enough that he doubled over in pain), and yelled "Help me you jerk!!!".

That's all I remember. But I remember it because I told it to Merrilyn and Erin that week and they thought it was so hilarious. And forever more, we quoted and mocked that dream.


Most Frequent: T-Rex attack

Did you ever have a recurring dream as a child? One that would come back again, and again, and again? I did. It would always start out where I'd be doing something at the church with my friends or family. Then someone would scream that there was a T-Rex coming to get us. So we'd go climb on the stage in the gym, and there was some sort of secret passageway there. We'd go through the trap door and then suddenly, the scene would change from the church to the food pantry at my childhood home. In my dream, the pantry was usually filled with couches or something like that, so it was very homey looking. Then the T-Rex would poke his head through the door, but he could never get his body through. Sometimes he would get some of my friends, sometimes he wouldn't. But every time, he would come at me, and I would wake up right before he would get me.

This is probly one of my favorite dreams just because as terrifying as it is, it makes me smile at the memory of it. And I blame it fully on the fact that I liked to watch Jurassic Park.

This is me. This is who I am.

"I am Grandpa Boyd's granddaughter, the spitting image of my father, and when the day is done my family's still my biggest fans. Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy, but I've got friends who love me, and they know just where I stand. It's all a part of me, and that's who I am."

This morning as I was trying to think of what to blog, my sister suggested that I write a reflective post. So I got thinking and decided to write a post about what makes me who I am.

I am...a tough country girl.

I may not be a complete tomboy, but I've always considered myself pretty tough and not much of a girly-girl. You would think that with 5 sisters, I would be a very girly-girl, but not so much. I grew up playing in the mountains and working around the "farm". With out any sons to help with the hard work around the house and farm, my dad had to call on his daughters to help him. So I grew up always working outside with my dad. I love wearing my leather gloves because they make me feel hard-core. I think I'm one of the tougher girls in my family and I've always had a little bit of a proud attitude. I'd like to think that any work guys can do, I can do too (not that I necessarily will though).

I am... independent.

It has been suggested by some that I am too independent for my own good. But I'm a 20 year-old single girl, what do you expect? I am really independent though. I think I am so independent because even though in the grand scheme of things, I am the youngest in my family, growing up, I felt like I was more of the middle child. My memories of growing up are of the oldest three grown and out of the house, so Jashley was the responsible oldest, Cortney was the spoiled youngest, and I was the middle child who just did my own thing. No one really cared too much whether I came or went, and I was alright with that. I also think that my independence is a little more engrained in me than just that though. As early as elementary school, I decided that I didn't like the lunches my mom would make for me, so I'd wake up half an hour early to make my own lunch. That's just how I've always been.

I am... a masochist.

I remember the first time my dad called me a masochist I was so offended. But now I realize how right he was, and I embrace it. I know I'm a masochist. I think it comes in part from my pride. I really, really love the satisfaction that comes from a good but painful workout. And I kill myself over my schoolwork, but again, I find it somewhat satisfying. I don't have an explanation for why I am a masochist. I just know that I am.

I am...a picky eater.

People always talk about my poor mom and how they don't know how she ever cooked for me and my sisters. But what they don't realize, is that my mom is the reason I am a picky eater. She never cooked with onions, so I don't like onions. And she never cooked spicy food, so I'm not very accustomed to spicy foods. But I am trying to broaden my horizons now. Mock me all you want.

I am... smart.

Ok, so I'm not going to pretend to be some super genius or anything. But I think that I have been labeled as being "the brains of the family". And I know why. Literacy makes kids smarter, right? Well I read a lot as a kid. And do you know why I read a lot as a kid? Because I refused to be shown up by my best friend. In 1st grade, the really good readers got to have their reading time with the 2nd graders, and Courtney Walker was one of those kids. Well I wasn't having any of that. There was no way that she was going to upstage me. So that year I worked really hard to be a good reader, and it stuck with me for the rest of forever. I also think that part of it was because of speech therapy. I was in speech therapy from age 4 to age 12, and I was always really self-conscious about it. I felt like I had to be extra smart in the classroom so that kids didn't think I had to leave everyday b/c I was dumb.

I am... Kelsey.

I say weird things like "holy snaws." I like my four-wheelers and snowmobiles. I'm a morning person. I love music and dancing. I am a sports fan. I love baking. I love Sesame Street music and Care Bears. I have a secret desire to be a beach bum/professional dumpster-diver. I am a student. And I am a Mormon. :) Take it or leave it. This is me. This is who I am.

Just keep running...

Once upon a time I set a goal to run three 5K races this year. This was a big deal for me because I am not a runner in any way, shape, or form. And I am marginal on whether I even want to be a runner. But I did it!!!! I finished my 3rd race this weekend. I was so proud of myself. So now I am going to tell you about my races.

First was the Lewiston Border Run on the 4th of July.

Why it was fun: I did it with my friends Josh and Spencer
Why it was a big deal: This was the first time that I ever ran a legitimate 5K without stopping.
My time: 34:32
Great Story: After the race, there was a parade. But the parade wrapped around like 3 blocks and we were trapped there trying to get out so that I could make it to work on time. Spencer was stressed and Josh was yelling, and I was just trying to figure out why we hadn't anticipated this situation earlier.

Second was the Swift Creek 5K in good Ole' Star Valley

Why it was fun: I ran it with lots of people from my past life.
Why it was a big deal: It was a new PR, by a lot.
My time: 31:38
Great Story: It was freezing cold up the canyon. For the 20-30 minutes that we were all standing at the starting line, I was shaking like a leaf. I thought I was going to get hypothermia and die before the race ever started.


Third was the Top of Utah 5K

Why it was fun: I got to experience what it was like to run a super competitive race.
Why it was a big deal: It's the TOU. Hello. By definition it is a big deal. And I got a freaking awesome shirt from it.
My time: 37:10
Great Story: There was a guy who kept running past me, then slowing to walk, then passing me again. It was super annoying. On the up-hill part of the course, I passed him for reals. I didn't see him cross the finish line, but I'm pretty sure I owned him by a lot.


So now the question is: Should I keep running? To run, or not to run? That is the question. I'm thinking of running the First Dam run in November. But the question with that is whether I should do the fun, easy 5K, or should I actually challenge myself and do the 10K. It's still up in the air.

The Dating Game

For some reason dating seems to be a hot topic as of lately. So I figured I'd blog about it.

Dating is an interesting game. Tonight a friend of mine asked if I am more of a fisherman or the fish. I told him that I'm more like the frog that sits on the log watching everyone else go fishing. So here are some of my thoughts from my observations of the fishing game.

The Hunter, and the Hunted.

Guys say they want girls to just tell them what they think. They say they don't like trying to figure out what in the world we're thinking. Yet, they also say they like the chase. If a girl is too eager or willing to date them, they lose interest in her. Guys, do you want us to tell you that we like you, or do you want us to make you work for it?

The "Friend Zone"

Lately I've heard several guys complaining about the "Friend Zone". The Friend Zone does stink. I always kind of feel bad for guys who are stuck in a girl's Friend Zone. But do guys realize that sometimes girls have the same problem? I mean girls have guy-friends that they like but know would never date them. I think the difference is that girls don't have an official name for that situation like "The Friend Zone" But it really is tricky. I want to say that everyone should give their friends a chance, because everyone wants to marry their best friend, right? But I feel like I am hypocritical by saying so, because I know that there are guys that are in my "Friend Zone".

Hanging Out

We've all heard the talks about how we need to spend more time dating and less time hanging out. I totally agree with this. The problem with hanging out is that it seems to be a never ending cycle. Guys won't ask girls out on dates, so girls just hang out with them. But then, because they are hanging out with them, guys don't have to ask them on dates, so they hang out some more. It is never ending. I don't think I could say if guys ore girls are more responsible for this cycle. But I would say that this cycle is what creates the "Friend Zone" (See previous paragraph).

Love Confessions

This is directly related to the question in "The Hunter, and the Hunted" Should we play hard to get, or should we just tell a person when we like them? I think the biggest fear that people have in confessing their love for someone is that it will freak the person out and they will run away. But let's be honest, as long as they aren't a complete stranger, it can't be that bad. I wish that more people would confess their love fore each other.

"We'll just see if it goes anywhere"

One of the most frustrating things about the dating game is when people say "We'll just see if it goes anywhere" and then don't do anything about it. I hate when people do that. It's like saying, that instead of casting your line into the water, you're just going to sit on the shore and see if a fish jumps into your lap and cooks itself. It's not going to happen. If you like someone and want something to happen, you've got to at least let them know that you're interested. Nothing is ever going to happen if nothing changes.

Welp, there you go folks. There's my soapbox. Now get out there and date.

The feel of an acid-filled bee sting

I was going to post about my whole Labor Day weekend, but instead I decided to just post about this one event because I think it is more interesting.

It begins on a dark night, where a dark man waits... (ok, not really. But can you name that movie???) So a couple years ago I had a wart on my foot from the Jackson Rec Center (don't go swimming there). After 9 months of trying to kill it, I finally went to the doctor and he gave me this medicine that was supposed to make me allergic to the wart virus so that if I ever got one again, my immune system would attack it before it could really do anything. Well now a couple years later, that has proven to be false.

I got a wart on my finger, I think from work. But because I wasn't "supposed" to get warts anymore I just thought it was a really obnoxious sore/scab that just wouldn't go away. It wasn't until about a week ago that the idea of a wart entered my head. So while I was at my sister's house this weekend, my mom went and got a wart remover and decided that we were going to freeze it off (despite my request for the gel wart remover.)

There we were sitting around Bethany's kitchen with Mom trying to freeze my wart, me fighting it, and everyone else enjoying the show. I felt like a 6 year-old getting my teeth pulled out all over again. Every time that my mom went for it, I'd jerk away. After a few minutes of this, Bethany offered these kind words of comfort, "Don't worry Kelsey. It will just feel like a bee sting filled with fluid acid." Thank you for that. That makes me feel a lot better about it. When I still struggled to hold still, Bethany came over, wrapped her arms around me to keep me from moving, and hollered at my mom to hurry and do it.

She let me go, and I was able to hold still on my own. We froze it off. But I wasn't too happy with Cortney standing next to me counting to 20 while I yelled in pain.

I'm pretty sure this is about what I looked like.

The next day we decided to freeze off what I thought was the start of another wart. But because that one had a little crack in the skin, it hurt like none other. My brother-in-law was giving a tour of the house to his brother/brother's fiance while we froze that one off. I'm sure they thought we were absolutely crazy because I was screaming bloody murder. The expression that kept coming to mind was "Oh! For the Love! It burns!" That second wart turned out not to be a wart, but rather just turned into a massive blister.

Moral of the story: Don't get warts...or a bee sting filled with acidic fluid.

Reality Check: School

Remember that time that I was a Freshman and I always tried to pull off the appearance of an upperclassman? Then one day I woke up and I really was an upperclassman. And I thought "Holy snaws! How did that happen?!" Well that day was this week.

School started this week. Another summer bites the dust. As I walked around campus I found it oddly easy to pinpoint the freshmen walking around. That was when I realized that I'm not just a Junior. I'm an upperclassman. That seems so bizarre to me. My college career is half over. I don't feel like I'm that old or mature, but at the same time...I do. It's weird.

So my classes are good. I've got 4 classes plus office hours every day except Friday. Here's a rundown of my schedule: M/W:
Western Swing Class,
Microeconomics,
Office Hours,
Intro to Human Resource Management,
College Algebra.

Then on Tues/Thurs I've got:
Office Hours,
Mission Prep,
Leadership,
Math Recitation,
Natural Disasters.

And Friday I only have Econ and Office Hours. Thank heavens.

Now let's go a little more in-depth. Swing is totally a blast, but I sweat to death by the time I'm done. Econ is Econ; what else is there to say? HR is going to be a really good class. I like the subject, and I've got a really good group to work with all semester. Math: gag me with a spoon.

I like Mission Prep, but it stresses me out. Leadership is going to be such a great class. My teacher is stellar. I like my Recitation leader a lot. And Natural Disasters I think might be annoying b/c people ask stupid, insignificant questions for the whole class period.

All in all, this has the potential to be a great semester. Although, I will be super busy. I'm only a week in and I'm already wondering what I was thinking taking 17 credits, and working both my internship and continuing with my summer job. I know I sound like a lazy/spoiled brat, but how do people do that??? It really is beyond me. Wish me luck!