I pick my cherries from apple trees

Buffalo.

2012-01-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

There are some YouTube videos that I just can't get enough of.

Guy on a Buffalo is one of them.

Episode one sets it up, but Episode 2 is by far the best!

Enjoy.

Sundance

2012-01-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

I've been up to Sundance once before.

Only once.

But ever since last night it's been twice!

CELEBRATE!!!

Kyle, Nicole, Tim and I had a fabulous time.

I worked up a pizza debt, however, that caused some pretty fun moments to ensue.

I had to work off my debt by doing some pretty ridiculous things on the street which may or may not include:

*Making up and singing a song on the street corner

*Touching the bum of a Indian statue and having photos taken of it.

*Singing a not made-up song on another street corner

*etc.

I still owe him 2 dollars.

If you want to see photos of the fun night click here!

Courage

2012-01-18T17:46:00.000-08:00

This post is gonna be a little different.

I just had an argument with a close friend over the definition of courage. I said that without fear or a challenge to be faced courage is not there. He disagreed, using Christ and prophets as examples.

I used the example that a person who is afraid of flying who gets on a plane is exercising courage. A person who is not afraid of flying who gets on a plane is not. That makes sense, right? I swear it does....

I suppose I feel a little bugged and my blog probably isn't the best place to be when I'm filled with this emotion.

How can courage exist without it's opposite?

I found these quotes:

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave. ~Mark Twain,Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar, 1894

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C.S. Lewis

If I'm being a complete idiot let me know...and give me quotes or back up.

Logical backup.

Please respond, because after that argument I just had I really feel like an idiot.

Tim Sondrup

2012-01-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

My friend Tim is a fabulous photographer.

Super supportive friend too...

He's come to my last 2 shows!

He was also the photographer for my album cover.

He's also been the main person to take photos of me while I play music.

I think you should check out some of his stuff on his blog.

Holy fabulous.

He gots skills!!!

(I stole these photos from his blog...just in case you didn't click the link.

I think the photo will convince you to go to his site.)

Apparently I like the name Chris.

2012-01-03T23:23:00.000-08:00

People ask me quite frequently who my celebrity crush is.

I rarely have an answer.

I sometimes say Chris Thile because, well...who can resist a man who can play the mandolin like that?!

I think I may be the only one.

But look!!! He likes dogs too!

And I also think he may be funny...

I have been told, however, that he doesn't count.

I guess he's not popular enough to be considered 'celebrity'.

So...I guess I'll choose...that one guy that plays Thor.

He has a nice beard.

And he looks kind in this photo.

And his name is.....Chris Hemsworth

And he's Australian.

Score!

Oh dear....

Bad news.

He's married.

(Actually...this is great news! Great news for him. But..well...read on.)

Are you allowed to have celebrity crushes on a married celebrity?

I don't think so.

So my search for my celebrity crush continues....

REVIEW!!!

2012-01-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

The title of this post has many a meaning.

Meaning #1:

I really need to update this blog. (So sorry, my reader)

Meaning#2:

I actually got a review!!!

So. Let's start with number one, shall we?

Christmas happened.

And so did new years.

I worked a ton for about a week then had nothing, which was...good?

Yeah.

Good.

I did a fabulous time with The Grassroots Shakespeare Company this past week, however.

Have you heard of them?

If not you should click on that link and hear of them now.

Wonderful actors.

Need proof?

Then read this review.

And yes, that is me they're speaking of at the beginning. :)

Yay!

Photos here.

This post is full of links.

I hope you like links.

And I hope you had time to click on them.

It's the best update to my life that I can give.

Cupcakes?

Miss Karlie

2011-11-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Miss Karlie is my name at work.

Isn't it fabulous?

I think I may have one of the best jobs in the world.

Not only do I get to hang out with cute kids such as these:

But they also draw me pictures that I'm starting to put up on my door.

Now, I don't mean to brag, but life is just good.

(you might not have been able to tell by my previous post)

My job is one of the reasons why my life is pretty darn good right now.

These girls are the other reason.

( Best Halloween I've had yet!)

I wouldn't have been able to smile yet if it weren't for those two things.

And pictures like these.

I love people. I love dogs.

I love the fact that God placed people in my life who wouldn't let an e-mail destroy it.

Cheesy?

Yeah. Probably.

Buuuut it's true.

If I had an electric guitar.

2011-10-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

I've never had a true desire to punch someone before.

But I do today.

So that has me thinking.....

If I had an electric guitar I could probably write a REALLY good song right now.

REALLY good.

...and probably mean.

The Help

2011-08-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm one of the many who have fallen in love with the book. I saw the movie on Monday and I cried and laughed during it...it was well done. If you hadn't read the book I don't know if the movie would be any good, though. It's a good combo, I think. The book and the movie. I think the book lives on it's own, but the movie has to be coupled with the book in order for it to be powerful.

That's beside the point that I'm about to make, though.

As I was riding in the car with my dear friend Alauna over to Zupas for lunch I asked her if she ever wondered what she'd be like if she were in that situation. I asked her because it's a question I've asked myself quite a bit.

Would I be a Hilly? Or would I be a Skeeter?

In other words, if I had lived in that time period, would I have been a racist? Would I have been indifferent or would I have taken an active role in fighting against prejudice? How would I have treated the outcasts/minorities of society during the Civil Rights Movement?

There's no way to really know, but I think I can figure about where I'd be.

I was talking to Seth about this and I told him my thoughts. I think the best way to know if we would be a Hilly or a Skeeter in our modern, seemingly accepting world is to see how we treat those who are presently considered 'lesser' than us.

For example, I thought about Hispanics (or legal/illegal immigrants). In our culture, they seem to be the picked on race, in my opinion. I'm sure they meet a lot of racism. Heavens, I know they do! People make seemingly innocent jokes all the time. Complain about them stealing 'white jobs' and the like. If you believe this I ask you to open your mind a read The Coyote by Ted Conover. It's an Ethnography that gives a pretty unbiased view of the situation. Personally, I hate that some people label them as "illegal." It takes away the human element. They are people with families. It's not Americans versus Illegals. Let's take away the labels and see them as people.

I was shocked in my Sociology class. There was an online form and we had to answer about the hispanics and their struggles. It talked about the things that we could do to help them because some of them are living in remote places with unclean water supplies and the like. There was only one other person who said anything about actually helping them and the rest of them talked about how much they hated the "illegals": how they were taking away American jobs, how they wouldn't speak English, how they're "lazy."

I was shocked that people in a University class, educated young people, could be so ignorant and lacking in compassion towards others. I'm sure that if they were asked how they would be in a situation similar to the Civil Rights Movement they would stand strong with Martin Luther King Jr. But how can they not see the similarities of the prejudice that they feel towards the Hispanic population?

Now, the issue of illegal immigration is very complex and I'm not talking about that.Whenever share this view of things people always tend to get way defensive about current laws and they bring up why different ideas won't work and whatnot.I also recognize that Civil Rights and Immigration and two very different things. But I'm not talking about that. I'm just talking about loving one another and not judging one another based off of accents or skin color. I'm just talking about looking at others situations with compassion and understanding. That's all.

Anyway. I think I've been serious for long enough. I had more examples to show but, well. I'm tired of writing this. Maybe I'll post my second example later. It'll be shorter. Don't worry.

This post was too serious. Funny picture!!!!

Cadillac Blackjack.

2011-08-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

If you know me or my family much at all you know just how much we love our Caddies.

Me with Daisy

I've driven a Caddie for most of my life. I had 4 years with an Oldsmobile, though, which is close to the same thing.

That monster dent was given to me at the conference center. It was a hit and run. All of the dents in my cars have come from church and all have been hit and runs. For shame.

I guess you can say that I've driven old cars since I was old enough to have a special laminated paper in my young hands.

Now, I don't know if it's because I'm older or if it's just because I drive old grandma cars, but I have been getting a lot of crap from sport cars lately. They keep on riding my tail...and I know it can't be that I'm driving too slow ( I'm usually going faster than the speed limit, but not too much over. 5 over is my average) but I think it's because I drive a grandma car. Those sports cars think, i'm assuming, that because i'm driving a grandma car that I must be going too slow. I always laugh when I see the older than me men speed past me so they can get to the stop sign that's 15 feet ahead faster than me.

But, I was thinking, I never really noticed these crazy red or silver sports car drivers before so, is it me? Am I driving like a grandma because I drive a grandma car?

Has my concern for gas mileage while accelerating caused my hair to go a little gray?

Hmmmmmm.

I don't know the answer to this, but I do know that I'm gonna yield to those 50 year old hooligans!

I do believe in fairies, I do, I do.

2011-07-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm with Peter....other times I'm with Wendy.

Peter: Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you'll never, never have to worry about grown up things again.
Wendy: Never is an awfully long time.

Can grown ups still believe in fairies? Dreams, that is. It seems like all the grown ups I know don't believe in dreams anymore and the more I live and learn the more I realize I'm following in their footsteps.

I'm trying to do music- but the more I study the more I realize that the dream of being even close to successful at it is slim to none. Wanna argue? Read this. Yup...yup. That shut you up right quick now, didn't it. And if it didn't go ahead, call me up, let me tell you about the meeting I had with a potential producer.

Music will always be a hobby of mine. I'll teach voice lessons and maybe beginner piano lessons. I'll write songs for whoever wants me to write a songs for them...heavens, i'll write songs anyway, just for me.

Peter: I want always to be a boy, and have fun.
Wendy: You say so, but I think it is your biggest pretend

I think it's time to seriously focus on plan B now. Meh. Plan B. I should have thought of that more. Plan B's can be fun too, right?

I think this is the curse of the youngest in the family. We're really bad at growing up. At least I know I am.

...I'll believe in fairies a little while longer. Just for fun.

Holidays and Vacations

2011-07-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

VACATIONS:

Driving. I hate it. A lot.

The last week of July I went with my family on a vacation to Oregon. It was fun, I LOVE the coast ( I hope one day I can live near it) but on this vacation I discovered a difference that me and my dad have.

Driving.

He loves it. A lot.

A 15 hour dive to the Oregon coast was spread out over 2 days. SO...this means, for the 7 days we were on vacation, we spent 4 days in the car. No joke. I brought movies to watch, but I realized after the first day I should have brought more. My Pops likes to take the scenic route, which is fine...it just takes a heck of a lot longer and, I'm sorry to say it, after you've seen so many pine covered mountains they all start to look alike. My sister-in-law Bridget (she's like a real sister to me now, we're tight) and I gave each other more than one exasperated look on the long drive to and from our destination.

Other than that the trip was a blast! Met a guy there who had a guitar, so it wasn't completely unmusical. Bridget and I ran on the beach and soaked ourselves in the cold water. Ran down sand hills. It was grand!

My brother almost died on this vacation playing with a rented ATV he rolled on the sand dunes. He flew over 75 feet. Yeah. I know...crazy. He ended up having to buy the ATV, essentially. I'm just glad he didn't have to buy new bones.
HOLIDAYS:

4th of July is my favorite holiday by far. I love all the BBQ's, Parties, Parades, Fireworks, Swimming, Popsicles! And yes, I did mean to capitalize all of those words. Why? Because Each One Is Important.

I have a tradition on the 4th of July (one I didn't get to follow this year) where I ride my bike everywhere around town. I don't drive. At all. I either bike or walk. It's so prime, I love seeing all the kids playing with their families on in the yard. SPARKLERS!!!!! Those are fun. Playing football before the fireworks start(European AND American. Both are good).

This year I didn't get to follow my tradition. I can't complain, though. I was with my Seth man. We went on a double date with Seths friend Ronnie and his fiance up to his cabin in the beautiful, currently green mountains (thank you, rain). We had a BBQ, played a game, watched The Sandlot (another one of my favorite 4th of July traditions), then went into town to watch fireworks and got a shake after. Even though I was a little sad about missing my typical 4th of July activities I had a good time and got some essentials in (BBQ, movie, fireworks), plus the added bonus of spending time with Seth since I wasn't able to see him the week prior.

Life is good.

Sing... Sing a Song....

2011-06-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

....Make it happy! Make long!!!

Anyone know that song? Karen Carpenter? Anyone?

I think that song changed my life.

Seriously.

It implies something, don't you think? It implies that whatever song your singing you're MAKING it...as in WRITING it. I used to listen to Karen Carpenter all the time when I was a little lass and I think that's why my favorite pass time was sitting on my desk pretending to write down lyrics of the songs I was constantly making up.

I remember one time in particular:

I was 7. I was sitting at my white desk thinking about getting baptized soon and being all excited and stuff so i was singing songs about it. I remember I liked what I sang so I sang it again and again. Soon I was way excited about what I just made up so I ran over to my mom who was vacuuming and told her to stop and I sang it to her. My mom immediately brought me to the piano and I sang it again and she put order to it, she grabbed my sister so she could be apart of it too and my idea was created into a reality that I sang at my baptism.

I don't know how much of that song was me and how much of it was my mothers...I think it was a even combo of the both of us, but it gave me confidence in my song-writing abilities so here I am today!

Here I am today?

Well, ya know, at least i'm trying to be a singer/songwriter. I mean..I AM that...but I can't live off of that title yet.

But hopefully with the help of the guy i'm currently seeing (he does videos) my little dreams will turn into little realities.

I finished up some studio work today. Got the vocal tracks down. :) bliss.

Here's a video that was most recently recorded on video. I had just written the song a few hours prior so it wasn't solid yet. Each time I play this song I remind myself that I really need a band or someone to play with. I'm no good at this solo stuff. (Disclaimer: I can usually sing better than this. But...I was tired...'n stuff.)

Tanning Fever

2011-05-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Watch this video. Not only do I love the message, but I love the music in the background (FREELANCE WHALES! One of my most favorite of bands. My number 3 of my top 5 albums of 2010.)

click here for the video.

or here

...I hope those work.

Tanning salons. Whenever I 'preach' against them people scoff at me, or agree with me, and then ignore my advice. They all want a 'base tan'. Base tan? Um...hate to burst your bubble, but there's no such thing.

My dad got diagnosed with Melanoma a month ago on multiple parts of his body. He has to go back to the doctor multiple times to get chunks of skin removed. He's invested a lot of money in bandages.

He could have invested that money in sunscreen...or a hat that didn't have a ton of holes on the top of it. Then he could have at least saved the money he's spent on the doctor visits.

My mom had basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both lesser forms of skin cancer. She's had a couple of chunks of skin removed as well.

Attractive, no? Definitely the picture you want to show a person you're trying to impress with your abnormally dark tan. (That's a picture of basal cell carcinoma patient after the doctor visit. It also could be a picture of the future you.)

Anyway, that video just kind of got me thinking about how much I wish fair skin wasn't an unattractive thing. How I wish friends would put on their sunscreen! This cancer is something that is preventable. Hats! Sunscreen!

My fair friends, it's okay to be fair. No more tanning beds, okay? If you have to have a 'base tan' (whatever that means...) then I suggest this:

This stuff is grand! Keep up with it and you'll have the tone you want without the fear of cancer or pre-mature wrinkles! (sa-weet!!) It's great for sensitive skin, too. I know this, because I am the owner of sensitive skin. Usually fake tanner leaves my skin itchy and bumpy but this glorious stuff doesn't. This is starting to sound like an add. I will stop now.

Now, leave out the fact that this tan is computer generated, but do you see what I see? I think she's prettier with her fair skin. I wish more people saw it that way.

Anyway...my rant is over. Be safe, my friends. If nothing else please purchase a moisturizer with a sunscreen in it. PLLLEEAASE!!!! I want you to LIVE!!! I want you to not have to have chunks of your skin taken out!!! FRIENDS!!!! (I'm saying this in a very dramatic way. With a sort of accent. A sort of strange accent. Nightquil -i spelled that wrong- does funny things to a person. I hate medicine. I hate having a cold. Stop typing, Karlie. Stop.)

This weekend I was famous.

2011-04-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

I think I understand why so many musicians do drugs.

Now, I'm not saying that I would ever do drugs...I'm just understanding the musicians motivation to do them. The motivation isn't, oddly enough, to 'look cool'.

This weekend I played at show at USU. There were bands like Chasing Kings, Toy Bombs and the Neighbors playing and we were talking, hanging out and having a good time at the Logan City Limits music festival. When I played my songs people were completely silent, boys gave me the usual googlly eyes. They clapped after my songs. They came up after my set and bought my CD's as fast as they could.

I'm not trying to sound conceded, but that feels way good. I was basically having an ego massage for 2 days because the day before the festival I was introducing my songs onto Aggie Radio. People treat you special when you play a show. When you have an E.P. and cool sunglasses that make you look famous. People treat you....well.... like you're famous and, I have to admit, it feels way nice! It's nice to have someone think that you're something cool or special because anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm not so much that way. I'm kinda weird and a little lame.

Anyway, to get to the point of this post, I was on a high for about 5 days from all the attention and all the work I was doing for my music. Promoting, seeing people, sending my RPK to different venues. That high ended promptly at 8:30am yesterday morning. Why? Because I went to work.

I'm not going to outright bash my job. It's a good job, but being a bank teller has to be one of the most boring and un-creative things a person could do. Going from a 'famous' (*not really*) musician back to bank teller was such a drop that post-show depression that I thought I avoided came crashing down onto my poor little head. Creative mind + Bank Teller = Doodles of flying whales with sprinkles of depression.

This is where I can understand the drugs a lot of musicians use. You practice you're heart out for a show you hope people will like. They do like it and you get attention and treated like you're special. Then you go home and realize that you were only special for about 2 hours. For some reason you thought something would change in your life after everything that went in and came out of the show. That all of your hard work and all of the attention and compliments will somehow change and help the fact that you get payed 8 bucks and hour and can hardly cover your pitiful bills. The show 'high' is addicting so musicians use drugs to fill in the gaps between shows to help them believe that maybe they really are special for more than 2 hours.

Love Songs

2011-03-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Here's the deal: I can't write proper love songs. It just doesn't really happen...perhaps it's because i've never 'properly' been in love. The only 'love song' I wrote had a big question mark at the end of it and, if you know me at all, you know the end result of that crazy tale.

Well, my dear friends, something quite amazing has happened. I finished a love song/story. Yup. I did. This week, in fact. Do you realize just how amazing this is?!? Out of the I don't even know how many songs I've written I now have 2 love(ish) songs! As lame as it is, i'm going to write down the lyrics.

It's a cute short song with a bouncy beat that makes me smile each time I play it.

Little World:
She's just a little girl
With little hopes and little dreams
She lives in a big world
It'll swallow her whole, so it seems

Why can't she find someone to hold her?
And show her that he really cares.
Why can't she find someone who'll love her?
And change what's 'mine' and 'yours' to 'theirs'?

He's just a little boy
With little hopes and little dreams
He's traveled this big world
It is his oyster, so it seems.

Why can't he find someone to hold him?
And show him that she really cares.
Why can't he find someone who'll love him?
And change what's 'mine' and 'yours' to 'theirs'?

Oh (about 4 bars of cool wordless vocals)

They found each other wishin', waitin',
for the other one to take a stand
And by some miracle in heaven
They now are walkin' hand in hand.

Oh (again...4 bars).

Anyway. That is that. It's nothing deep or fantastic or anything...but it's fun- and i'm pleased that I wrote a fun song. I usually write really mellow songs. Some people think that it's sad because of that.

Okay, love you BYYYEEEEEEE

Clever

2011-02-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

I always think of such clever things to write about when I'm at work and am unable to write a blog post.

I always think of the most clever things to say after a date is over.

I always think of the cleverest things to argue once an argument is over.

My brain needs to start functioning cleverly during the moments when cleverness is needed.

It would be very clever of my brain to do that.

Don't feel like much

2011-01-31T14:01:00.000-08:00

Today is a day that I am not proud of. I haven't done a single productive thing.

I slept in (thank you, Russ, for changing my alarm to 9:38 when it used to by 7. I'm just grateful that I didn't have work today).

I played the piano for...well..too long, probably.

I watched TV.

I did some dishes.

I cooked some rice-like stuff. (It's not rice...but it's LIKE rice and I love it. The only problem is that I somehow messed it up today. Don't ask me how. All you have to do is add water and let it simmer for a while. But I screwed it up...really bad. It was gross. Again, don't ask me how. I, myself, am baffled.)

I texted Sean and apologized for not texting him back last night because I feel asleep in the middle of our 1am written conversation.

I decided that I smelled a little, so I took a shower.

I've been reading blogs for the past hour...or more. Probably more.

I am now writing a new blog post.

It really baffles me, how unproductive I can be. I had such wonderful plans for this day...but for some reason the fact that I don't work work tomorrow makes me procrastinate all of my productiveness. It's not wise. I could have productiveness in both days, but I don't.

I need to call the DATC and figure out why they're not letting me register.

I need to finish writing a new song.

I need to work on setting up a website for my music.

I need to check up on my copyright status.

I should probably be reading my scriptures or something...instead of blogs.

But I'm not.

Little Sparrow

2010-12-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

I wrote a song about a Sparrow.

This sparrow was too afraid to leave the nest with all of his sparrow brothers.

This was not because he was 'stupid', it was because he was smart.

But he was not brave.

You see, he saw the apple fall from a tree.

He saw the fox running under his nest.

He saw a snake slither through the grass.

He also saw his little wings. They could not hold him up, he thought! Indeed. They were much too small!

"Air can not be trusted under wings so short and brown." he said to himself

So he would not fly.

Although his family tried to get him to try they could not so they left him in his nest.

Little sparrow was alone.

Sparrow grew hungry.

Sparrow grew lonely.

And before too long winter winds started blowing and sparrow grew cold.

But by now sparrow and put off trying to fly for so long that he could not even move his wings!

He also had no food to eat for so long that his feathers were growing thin and could not warm him.

Sparrow cried.

Sparrow wanted his brothers to come back and keep him warm.

But his brothers were gone.

Sparrow soon died in his nest because he was too scared to follow all the other birds.

And so we see that the wind that could have saved this sparrow ended up turning Sparrows nest into a grave.

Take from this story what you will.

*I am a folk artist. That means I have unhappy endings to my stories. Don't worry. I'm not disturbed.

People

2010-12-09T18:29:00.000-08:00

You can say what you will about humans. I, for one, like them. They're nice and good and I have evidence to back this claim up.

This past Monday was not my greatest day. When I left the house I slipped on the cement stairs and fell flat on my bum. Promptly after the fell I thanked my lucky stars for the 'bubble butt' my family always tease me about. I then had a quiz in my first class that I promptly bombed then a quiz in my class after that that I promptly bombed (at least...I thought I did...just found out that I got an A..sweet!) then I left the music building and spent the next few hours in painful silence- not a soul to talk to. Now, I didn't completely mind, but I was craving a good conversation and some friendship so I texted a friend and asked if he wanted to go to lunch, but he had already eaten. I then went to another friends office to see if he wanted to go to lunch, but he was gone so I went up to the Sky Room alone to eat the 3.50 all you can eat soup buffet. I wrote in my notebook like I usually do when I want to distract myself and when it was time to stop eating soup, pay and go to institute something very wonderful happened.

I was waiting in a line to pay for my lunch. There was a big group of people and they hadn't gotten a ticket so they were taking a little longer that usual. When they were done I walked up with wallet in hand and the girl at the desk told me something interesting. I didn't have to pay! My ticket had already been taken care of! I guess some gentleman noticed me and decided to make my week by paying for my lunch! My morning wasn't my favorite of mornings (rainy days and Mondays always get me down...) but this anonymous act of kindness completely turned my day...nay...my WEEK around!

So that is that. The evidence is clear. Humans are good. I love them.

Walking

2010-12-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

I've been studying a ton these past couple of days for a comprehensive final that I have tomorrow morning. I was at the library with a friend of mine who picked me up at my place for a few hours and when we were leaving I told him I'd wait for him to turn in is book while I went outside to make a phone call. He then informed me that he was staying at the library to study for his history class. Normally I would have stayed with him and study more so I could get a ride home, but my nose had been in that book for way too long so I told him I'd leave and try to meet my friend who was supposed to be sledding. To make a long story short I couldn't find him and so I started walking home...it was 10:30 at night, 20 degrees outside and I was kind of looking forward to the walk. I was listening to good music and thinking. I find that some of my best thinking happens when i'm on a walk. Anyway, to make this shortened story even shorter I had been walking for about 15 min. and my thoughts were changing from what was going to happen in my future to wondering what that really big man who is walking towards me a little way off is going to do when we pass each other. I actually started to feel a little frightened, I felt like a jerk because of it (very rude of me to judge a guy just because he's a big guy on a dark street, right?) but I was still a bit worried. Because of this I started to pray. I prayed that I would get home safely. Not a minute passed by before a girl pulled over in her car and apologized for possibly being creepy and then promptly asked if I needed a ride home. Although more thoughts were itching to be stimulated by the cold against my cheeks I thought that that was a for sure answer to my prayer so I said yes and my 2 miles of walking became a 5 min. car ride to my home.

I'm grateful for prayer and I'm grateful for people sensitive enough to answer them.

Prayer totally works.

Greener Grass

2010-11-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Today I was fortunate enough to get back in touch with my friend Blake. We hadn't really talked to each other besides the passing 'Hey! How are you? Good?..." for 5 years. We were good friends in high school so, understandably, we started talking about all of our friends who are off doing great things. I made a comment on how 'Everyone seems to have things so put together!' then I talked about how he seemed so 'put together'. He's graduating in the Spring, he's going to law school...he's basically being awesome. Then he told me about how he didn't really have everything 'put together' and how he was still 'riding on faith'.

Anyway, I've been thinking about that a bit today. I've been thinking about how we all view things differently, how our own lives seem so dull, yet so crazy and so much lower than the grand expectations that our minds once held when we were young. I look at my friends like Blake and I envy their ability to be so dedicated to school and blessed in regards to understanding academics. They seem to walk forward with a kind of faith in their abilities that I've never learned to have. I look at my friends lives who are married and they seem so happy. They seem so well put together. They have a future, it seems. I look at my life and I see no important future. I may never get married, I may never have kids...I may never fulfill that part of my life that I want to fulfill more than any part. Some might look at my life and see adventure...recording albums, doing shows, doing photo shoots, writing music, flirting and giggling my life away. I look at my life and I see a struggle for employment, disappointed parents, destroyed love (all of this the inspiration for my music), an empty bank account, and no home.

It's strange, really. How we all view things differently. I look at my friends and I would tell you that all of them are success stories. I look at my life and I see a past of failure and a future that will follow in a similar fashion. My friends think the same thing, which I find so interesting. They don't seem to see the greatness that is them.The power that they hold inside their beautiful minds. So maybe it's the same with me. Maybe I hold a little bit of greatness in my soul too. Maybe my life is a success story... but just a success story in the making.

I think that all of us in 20-30 years will have a great view of what is happening now. Sometimes I think of it like a movie. We lived the easy part, the part where birds chirp and laughter is common- now we're in the part of the movie were things go wrong. Where the dragon leaves its cave so it can demonstrate how well it can destroy our village with it's nicely sharpened talons.

We all take hits. Some of us are fighting alone, some of us are fighting with a person by their side that wears a ring of significant importance. It doesn't really matter. We're all fighting. But just because we get knocked down, just because our armor is dented, our spirits broken, and our bodies bruised doesn't mean we have failed. We only fail when we give up. Now is the time when we decide what kind of heroes we are going to be. Now is the time when we decide between fear and faith. It will all be okay, I think.

I'm being melodramatic, huh. I need to stop. Funny Picture!!!!!

A peek inside my head.

2010-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am a silly girl. A silly girl with silly thoughts. Here are little bits of thoughts that I've had so far this morning. I'll start with the beginning of my day and work to the present. It won't be much. It's only 11.

*Five more minutes won't hurt. Snooze.

*Five more. Snooze is a funny word.

*Five more.

*I hope my cousins can't hear my alarm. Five more.

*Five more.

*Bangs. Do I love them or do I hate them? Turn on the iron.

* Mouth guard. You make me feel old. I place you in a jar in the bathroom. Stupid jaw.

*Boots. I love boots. Why must Ugs be so ugly yet so functional and comfortable? I will choose to wear my new Ugs on a different day.

* I hope my family is gone so I don't have to think up an awkward conversation to have with them.

* I wasn't spiritual enough last night. I'll listen to conference while I bike to school.

*Holy Frik! It's cold! Frik Frik Frik.

*Man alive some people bike fast. Why? More wind makes it colder. Frik, it's cold.

*I should eat food. Dried bananas and strawberries? Breakfast of champions. I am the ultimate champion. An ultimate champion who's failing Music Theory.

*Where are the cute, funny guitar boys who are usually sitting here? I need them to talk to me and help me with my Theory homework. Very cute boys. Where are they? I haven't talked to a single human yet.

*Ah, cute guitar boys. I have only 5 minutes to talk to them.

**fill in name here* is a very cute boy. I think the cutest of the cute boys. Cuter than the guitar boys. I like him. He does not care for me. Such is my life. I'm going over to his house to make dinner and hide away from my family on Wednesday. I need to talk to his roommates about it so it doesn't seem like I'm going over just for him. I do need to talk to *insert name here* about the Turkey bowl. Yes. Good excuse. I'll go over for him.

*Pearls is up. I don't know what people think of it, I haven't gotten much feedback on facebook.

*Man alive, that kid is annoying. He keeps trying to impress that cute girl. Poor boy. He has no idea that he's failing miserably.

*Shhh Girl is at it again. Any squeak of a sound and she'll be after you, that Shhh girl. I don't know why she had to choose our class to go to while her Theory teacher was out running in some exotic place.

*People are talking and I'm not understanding the concept being presented on the board. I think I get it...but i'm not sure. I want to tell them to be quite, but I don't want to be like the uptight shhh girl who's also in my Keyboarding class.

*Crud, it's still cold outside. Warm us up, SUN!

*Lindsey? Yes! Lindsey. Big glasses...didn't recognize her at first. She looks good. She looks happy. I'm happy I saw her. Beautiful girl.

*People are beautiful.

*I wonder what my bangs are doing right now. I'm getting prolonged looks from a few boys. Good or bad? I can't tell.

* I want to listen to Pearls on my headphones. The sound will be better like that.

*E-mail. No Jack. That's okay.

*Alauna wrote. I want to Skype with her but don't know if i'll get the computer at my Aunts and Uncles.

*Aunt and Uncle do not approve of my life. Or do they? Am I bugging them? I cannot tell. I cannot sleep properly. I do not want to bother anyone.

**insert name here* is such a good boy. Such an attractive boy. I vow to stop thinking about him.

*Why don't guys ask girls on dates? I've only been on 3 this semester.

*Facebook. Boring. No comments. I thought it'd get feedback from my link to my new song and my new promo shots. Nothing. Poeople must not like the new song. I can't get enough of it. I want to listen to it again. Dang. More work. People don't approve.

Okay...now it's now and I must get to class. Maybe my thoughts aren't so random as I thought they were. But that's just a peek inside of my head.

Why the dog? Why NOT the dog. I mean, come on. You can't say that that didn't make you smile. At least a little.

The Curse Continues...

2010-09-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that you, the reader, have once heard of my curse. I haven't really thought about it for a while, honestly, but just this past week the curse reminded me of it's existence. Oh, my dear friends, I am and always will be the marriage prep girl- and with such a skill (?) I must offer this:

Boys? Are you looking to get married? Then search no further! Just have a serious relationship with me and the next girl you date will be the girl that you will marry! This has happened 100% of the time in my serious relationships and about 85% of the time in my not-so-serious relationships.

These are some qualifications in our relationship in order for the rule to apply to you:

*I must genuinely like you.

*We have to kiss.

*We must hold hands.

*We have to become not only sweethearts, but close friends.

*It has to last longer than a month.

Interested? Go ahead and comment and i'll see what I can do for you.

Prayer

2010-09-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

You know, I'm always very impressed by people who share spiritual stories about how they have gained testimonies about curtain doctrine. It's always very serious. I'd like to share with you who I learned about prayer as an elementary student.

It happened when I was in 1st grade. When a kid is in first grade they want to be like everyone else and fit in and I was no different...

When I was in 1st grade it seemed to be the trend for everyone to get a bloody nose, and I was concerned about this because I had never had a bloody nose. I was extremely jealous of those kids that did because when you get a bloody nose in class you got to leave, you got a ton of attention from the teacher and from the other students. Once you got a bloody nose in class you got to wear the badge of cooless....the badge that said that you were tough enough to handle anything in the classroom. Even if you have streams of blood poring out of two holes from your face. I wanted to be that kid. I wanted to wear the badge. I wanted a bloody nose.

Every night before I went to bed I would pray for a bloody nose. It felt like I had been praying for one FOREVER and I was starting to lose hope that God would let me bleed from my nose (honestly, it was probably only a week or two, but, lets just face it, time is warped when you're a kid...or maybe it's warped when you're old) but one day after recess my faith was restored.

Do you remember the recess runs? Everyone would yell 'RECESS!' when the bell rang, walk as quickly as possible to the door then, once you were outside, ran as quickly as you could away from the school building? Then, once the 'come in' bell rang do you remember running back to get in line by the door? I remember running at the 'come in' bell because you'd get into trouble if you weren't at the door on time. This particular weekday was no different, except for the fact that I thought I should cut a corner across the dirt so I could be at the front of the line when my teacher opened the door. This did not go as I planned, however. I tripped on a shrub of some sort and face planted it right into that tasty dirt. As I attempted to get up my head was continuously pounded into the ground because a miracle had happened. I became invisible!!! It was wonderful, other kids who where also corner cutters where running on top of me! It was scary, yes, and I was a bit upset, but when I got up and realize the result of this experience all fears and 'upsetedness' was gone! My nose was bleeding!!!! I was elated! Now, this was no ordinary nose bleed. Now that I think back on it I think that it's quite possible that I had actually broken my nose or done some sort of damage to it. There were literally fountains of blood pouring from my nose and I actually had to lean forward so the streaming blood wouldn't get on my very cute shirt. Because of this puddles of blood were created everywhere I stood and left stains on the asphalt for at least a few years ( know this because I would check).

The kids were awe-struck. I was tough. The teacher saw me and wouldn't allow me inside (obviously) and I got a ton of attention for the rest of the day. I looked up at gave two thumbs up to the big guy upstairs. He made my day.

Throw me...

2010-09-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

There is something that I don't get. Throw pillows. What's up with them? I mean, really? What's the point? I mean, common, they don't look that good and all they do is take up room and eat away time. I am disgusted at the person who found it necessary to create such an unnecessary accessory.

Now, I understand the idea of having two or three throw pillows on a couch. You can actually use those. Often times I use them as pillows as I lay on the couch watching a movie. I think their point ends there.

Since I'm living at my uncles house rent-free I'm doing my best to make as little of an impact as I possibly can. This means I have to deal with the 8 throw pillows that were once my cousins (she got married and I'm staying in her old room) and are now MY responsibility. My hatred for them has grown. Not only am I not a fan of making my bed (I have made my bed every day since I got to this new town, thank you very much) but I hold even more disgust for the extra work the throw pillows add to my morning and evening routine. I can't just hop into bed. No. This is not possible. I can't come home from my 1 mile uphill bike ride from school and collapse on my comfortable bed. No no no. I must first take 8 pillows off, then, after that, I must nicely place them back on. Because the 8 pillows are rather large and uncomfortable there is no way around this routine. I can't just plop on top of them. I can't use any of them, and none of them leave enough room on the actual bed for me to just hop on and relax. Oh throw pillows, you only exist to annoy me.

COULD be a part-time model? Freak. I AM a part-time model.

2010-09-04T07:52:00.001-07:00

So, You probably already know this, but I'll tell you again anyway in case you don't. I did some modeling for my sister-in-laws company thing that sells hair flowers and the like- the name of her company is Sweet June. Anyway, After I was done with the shoot I asked the photographer of Hunter Luke Photography (Michelle) if I could use some of the photo's to help promote my music. She kindly agreed (Woo woot!) and in the copyright agreement she said I could post them on my blog so that's what I'm about to do. Remember. These are copyrighted. No stealing!

Please note that while taking this photo there was video surveillance.

(PS: I wish blogger wasn't so annoying in the affect that every time I upload a photo it sticks it at the top. Why can't it just stick it where I have my cursor? That's where I want it. Where my cursor is. Not at the blasted top!)

For some reason this photo failed to have a watermark on it...

I did a lot of profile shots. I look better doing profiles 'cause I never know how to configure my face when it's head on. I tend to look like a dear in headlights.

I'm doing something funny with my mouth. They said it looked cute. What do you think?

I was playing nonsensically. Can you tell? GUITAR!!!!

It's a head shot with me smiling and I don't look crazy! Do you realize that this NEVER happens? Like, EVER! Relish in this moment, friends.

I'm very pleased that she cropped my but out of this picture. For a minute it looked like a jeans advert.

This was, by far, my favorite hair thing. It had a peacock feather in it! 'Twas extremely cute.

They say I look attractive. I say I look silly.

I was looking at the top of the building. It was red brick.

Peace out man...PEACE.

Back in my 22 days

2010-08-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

SO, here's the deal. I was folding pages in my old notebook so I can use it again for another class of mine and I stubbled upon a short poem that I wrote. I think I meant for it to be a song, but I just never got around to it. I think it's okay just as a poem, though. I'll write it down for you after I tell you what inspired it. I was taking an Anthropology class and an Astronomy class and evolution was talked about a ton and I just couldn't understand why things would be the way they are if evolution were true. I doesn't explain intelligence. Evolution cannot explain why we developed brains that feel such an extreme range of emotion, brains that contemplate God, brains that ever developed pass the survival stage. Anyway, those were the thoughts I was thinking when I wrote this.

....maybe it's not a poem...it doesn't have much in the way of structure. I don't know.

What's the point in my thinking?
Why doesn't my dog do the same?
You say because I've evolved so nicely,
That I am now to blame.
Nature create it's destroyer?
This doesn't quite ring true.
Evolution has faith-based facts,
just as religions do.
I think, I grow, I smile, I laugh,
I'll take a look at all these camps.
I'll choose my road
I've found my truth,
Some monkeys have a problem with that.

Anyway...I didn't finish (obviously), I'm pretty sure I wrote it in class.

It am not a poet. Songwriter, yes. Poet? No. I hope this didn't bore you to death.

Second Marshmallow Husband.

2010-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

As I grow older (and much wiser) I am continually left behind by my friends who decide to spend thousands of dollars for a special kind of ring. I would like to join the club, but I honestly don't feel like I should be in any sort of rush- even though pressure is up on almost weekly to find that special someone. When they ask me questions like 'Don't you want to be married?''Don't you feel strange not being married when most of your friends are?' I simply answer "Yeah, sort of...I guess. But I figure that I'm just waiting for my second marshmallow husband!" I usually get strange looks from people after that statement- for the girls I understand, but the strange look from boys? When that happens I am completely disappointed. Let me explain:

Priesthood Session, Spring conference 2010, President Deiter F. Uchtdorf. Still not understanding? I shake my head at you.

You see? I'm just in my 15 minutes. When I do get married, though, I'm quites certain that he will be of the double marshmallow variety. Possibly even triple! Sweet.

The Truth About Cats

2010-08-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

If you know me well than you know that I am not a cat person and that I'm not afraid to admit it, but this past Saturday I've had to re-asses my feelings and I now of a confession to make.

I really don't mind cats.

Now, I'm not saying that I'd ever own a cat...or that I think they are better than dogs or anything. No no no...I'm still a dog lover and would have 100 dogs before I'd own a cat and that fact doesn't have anything to do with what I'm about to tell you.

I am allergic to cats.

I think that that fact has caused me to built a type of wall between myself the the lovable furry creature. If I decide I don't like cats then I won't be tempted to be around them or hold them and that is what I've done. I've been protecting my body for unnecessary itchiness.

This Saturday, however, I've found that my efforts to hate cats has all been in vain. When I see them I still want to cuddle with them. How could you not want to??? I mean...just look at them!

aaaAAAAAwwwwWWWWWWwwww!!!!!

See! Their cute! Dogs are better, but cats are still cute. So from now on i'll just say that. I won't say I hate cats, because I don't. I'll just say I prefer dogs over cats, because that's the truth and that is that. Good-bye.

ch-ch-ch-changes!

2010-07-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

If the Brady Bunch has taught me anything it has taught me this: When it's time to change you've got to rearrange. Now that I'll be leaving in a months time to USU I will now be able to take these words of wisdom and apply it to my life.

I'm excited to start fresh. For 23 years I've lived in the same small town. I'm thrilled to get away...and a little scared. Oh, Adventure,I welcome you with open arms!

But I must not forget these wise Brady words. Change will be coming and so I will most certainly need to figure out how to rearrange. I have no idea how to do that...or what I should do it with! How interesting this next semester is going to be. I'll be taking 8 classes total, moving in with my Uncle, really starting on my scary major, (yes...that's right...scary!!!What if I lose my pop/folk voice when I'm studying classically?...scary scary),trying to start a new band with USU people, trying to record the music I have with the band I play with now,try to find some kind of employment, i'll be in a new ward, new dating pool, and Jack will be getting home in only a few months! A lot will be happening. A lot A lot.

Hold on to your hats, friends. It's going to be a bumpy ride!

Musical adventures!

2010-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

Played a show on Friday (the 2nd of July). It was for a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. I have some recordings..surely not the best int he world, but something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5uqAft2Fk8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYXHI0Pmh_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPJxLk5QKIk

I also met the band 'The Neighbors' who played at the same show. They were AMAZING, i'm not gonna lie. We swapped info, so hopefully we can do a show together sometime. Check them out!

http://www.myspace.com/bynow00

Snooze Button

2010-06-27T20:14:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to the snooze button. Every morning since high school (that's right...THAT long ago) I have gone to bed with high hopes. Each time thinking that tomorrow will be different and I will suddenly become strong willed enough to wake up at my planned time. But it never happens! Snooze is always standing right by my finger, just begging me to push him. Convincing me that it will only be one time. That after those extra 10 minutes of blissful slumber he will no longer tempt me, and an hour after those thoughts present themselves to my half-awake self I realize that it was all just a lie. A vicious vicious lie.

I love you. I hate you. I just can't get away from you. Snooze.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

2010-06-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a Jackson Hole adventure and I did many fun things and many not-so-fun things.

Do you want to know what one of my most favorite things to do is? River rafting. It's fun. Duckies are the best. It's an EXTREME adventure with EXTREME excitement that, many times, gives me EXTREME sunburns.

Do you want to know what one of my least favorite things to do is? Dancing. It's not fun. The music is the worst. It's EXTREME boredom with EXTREME humiliation that, many times, gives me an EXTREME desire to run away.

My Jackson Hole adventure had both of these things and I have realized that the scriptures are true. You cannot know good unless you have bad. So the worse something is the better the other thing can be.

River rafting was the BEST!

Your underwear is showing.

2010-06-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Around the Christmas season I work 2 jobs and in December of '07 it was no different. I was working 2 full time jobs for 2 weeks. I would work from 9-5 at the record store, go home and sleep for 2-3 hours, get up at eat then leave for my night shift at Great Harvest Bread went from 9-5, sometimes even later, like 6 or 7. Needless to say this routine got old and tiring. It got to the point where I would just come home, strip off my clothes and sleep for a little bit then wake up and find whatever clothes I could on the floor at go off to work.

During the last stretch of the 2nd week of this routine I was extremely excited work at the record store because I'd be opening the store with my good friend Greg. We always had fun at work together. So I hurried and put on some pants and left. When the first customers of the day came in (an older couple...and by older I mean 40ish) I was pretty excited to help them because they were asking about Regina Spektor, one of my most favorite of musicians. So I hopped up to show them where her CD's were. As they walked behind me the gentleman told me "Um,your underwear is showing". My face went to stage one pink and I checked my back because, I don't know about you, but this is what I was thinking:
(It was the best picture I could find)

The girl and I checked my back to see if that was the case, but no. It wasn't. We both looked at him quizzically then he pointed to the bottom of my pants and said again "Your underwear is showing!".
I then looked down and saw some old dirty underwear peaking it's head out of the bottom of my jeans. My face then turned to a level 5 red. I quickly said "Oh! Well, Regina is right here!", grabbed my undies, ran into the back room and refused to come out until they had left.

I was completely and totally embarrassed, and it didn't help that the story spread to all of my coworkers and many times a day I would hear "Hey Karlie! Your underwear is showing!"

Now, you might be wondering how this could happen. Here's the deal. When I said "strip my clothes off" I meant "strip my clothes off". Too much info? I'll stop there.

Embarrassing moments. Almost every day I have a new one- but this one usually comes out on top.

The List

2010-05-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've all experienced the repercussions of 'the list'. You know, THE list. The list of 'qualifications' that people have for their future spouse. I, for one, have never been a fan of these things. I got dumped because of a list once- I didn't live up to one qualification. But that story is a blog post in and of itself, so I won't elaborate. As much as I despise lists, however, I found myself writing one in my pocket journal today at church. I figured I'd share, just cause the list is somewhat silly.

" What I Need In A Boy:

I need a boy that will accept and love all of my silliness.
I need a boy that thinks that I am beautiful and won't gock at pretty celebrities.
I need a boy that will allow me to have my passions, even if he doesn't share them.
I need a boy that will agree to ride a tandem bike with me.
I need a boy that will allow that bike to be the color yellow blue or green.
I need a boy that understands that when it's 'that time of the month' the last thing he should do is mention it.
I need a boy that understands that when it's 'that time of the month' the first thing he should do is give me chocolate.
I need a boy that understands that when it's 'that time of the month' the second thing he should is pop in a romantic comedy and cuddle with me. And he shouldn't hog the chocolate.
I need a boy willing to try out different recipes in the kitchen with me and pretend that he loves each one, even if we go out to fast food an hour later.
I need a boy that will pretend that the reason we're going out to fast food is because I "just didn't make enough of that good stuff!"- then talk to me about how we really need to be feeding the dog less scraps from the table.
I need a boy that loves dogs.
I need a boy that will eat with chopsticks.
I need a boy who understands that my friends passions become mine, and I take the role of friendship very seriously.
I need a happy man.
I need a man!
I need a man that understands the importance of motherhood.
I need a man that I love.
I need a man that will allow me to comfort and support him.
I need a man that loves good music.
I need a man that loves the temple and will go with me to the temple at LEAST once a month.
I need a gentle man.
I need a man that will be able and willing to give me a priesthood blessing whenever I need one.
I need a man that loves me.
I need a man that loves God."

It may be silly and wrong to write a list. But maybe not. Maybe it's good to know what you want. Do I ask for too much?

UPDATE: I also need a boy that is brave enough to kill spiders for me.

Because they all mean something.

2010-05-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

An old friend of mine had a dream that I was a lesbian. He e-mailed me the next day to make sure that it wasn't true. Seriously. A person I hardly know and who I haven't had a conversation with in months now thinks that I bat for the other team because he had a passing dream about it? Seriously. Maybe he was just bugged that I said 'no' when he asked me out for a second date.
Seriously.

my most favorite place and my most beautiful adventure

2010-05-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

"ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!"-UP

It has been a long time since I have laughed without fear,had 'girl talk', and have been so taken by my surroundings that a smile and a laugh was all I could accomplish. It has been a long time since I have spent a day with such an extreme joy like the joy I had on the first of May 2010. It is all because I have discovered my Wonderland.

The Spiral Jetty, in my opinion, is the best kept secret in Utah. It's a 2 hour drive from Kaysville, the last hour consisting of dirt roads. Every bump is worth the end result, however. When you pass the Golden Spike monument and dust becomes your cars companion breath-taking beauty becomes yours.

We picked the PERFECT day to go on this spiral adventure. It was overcast and somewhat rainy and it made me feel like I was in the highlands of Scotland. What a dream! In fact, Nicole and Annalee, two girls who have lived and traveled the UK, confirmed my feelings and pointed out how Scotland-like bits and pieces of land were.

There were cows EVERYWHERE we went!They were free and roaming the vast landscape. Although I had labeled all of these cows as "happy cows" Tim and I (we were back-seat buddies- hooray for legroom!)became convinced that they were plotting our destruction. They are the worshipers and protectors of the Jetty. Jetty Cows, by label.

Once we passed the tumbleweed roadblock and went over more dips than the minivan we were in had ever seen in it's sad life we were far away from any sort of UK copy. It was stunningly beautiful. So many times I just pointed out the window and said to Tim "Pretty! Pretty!" then sighed because, honestly, how could words describe such a place? The only thing you can say is "Pretty!" or "Beautiful", and even then you're doing it an injustice.

It wasn't quite the Salt Flats, It wasn't quite a lake...it wasn't quite anything! It was just itself and I was glad. When we were driving ever nearer to our final destination I was constantly thinking about how I would love to just set up a tent somewhere near-by and camp there for a while. I am sure that the cows would never allow it, however.

Before we got the Jetty we saw an old pathway, wooden posts, and rusted metal barrels littering a divine looking salt landscape. Nicole informed us that they had tried to drill for oil many years ago and had no luck. I suppose they thought that if they couldn't destroy the land with oil production they might as well destroy it by leaving their stuff there. I can't say that I'm pleased, but, to be completely honest, I can't say that I'm completely disappointed either. The contrast of rotted metal and wood was, at the very least, thought-provoking.

We got to the Spiral Jetty and play play played! What fun we had- running around, taking in nature. After we did that we went to the 'drill site' and played around and enjoyed our time staring into pink water. It was like we were on a different planet!
The Jetty:

Drill Point:

Are you sick of pictures yet? If you are then that's just too darn bad! I have a lot more where they came from.

Anyway- everything was beautiful and as the wind started blowing the water turned a kind of pink that I didn't know existed. Nicole and I headed out to enjoy the splendor and Tim followed with his camera. As we played and ran we often found that paths are hard to follow on this planet. You had to walk on water in order to not sink into mud. Strange and backward, but true.

We spent hours of fun time in this fashion. Wearing ourselves out and not caring, much like children. It was fabulously fun! Diane (and the rest of us)was getting tired so we decided we should leave, considering she was the driver. We had a fabulous car ride to Brigham city where we went to a little hole in wall diner that was filled with 70+ year old regulars. Brigham city is an old American down in every way! While there we discovered the joy of stick-on mustaches.

After that we were all pretty out of it- which made for the most wonderful car ride home. What fabulous conversations we had! We, in the car ride, created a novel storyline that leaves all others in romantic dust!

So- I guess that is that. The best Saturday I have had in years, no doubt.

God is an artist.

beware the muddy pathways and always walk on water.

IT'S OVER!

2010-04-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thank my lucky stars, I've accomplished my last final and my brain didn't explode! Now that all of that boring stuff is over it's time to think of far more important things: summer activities!

A few weeks ago I went to school with my mother. I had to write a paper on the pleasures and sorrows of work and I choose to write mine on teaching. While I was walking around the classroom taking pictures (the paper had to incorporate another kind of medium) I saw this on a students desk:

I had forgotten how much I LOVED that book as a kid! When I saw it I thought of all the books I loved to read when I was young. Now, if I'm being completely honest with myself I must admit that I wasn't all that into reading when I was growing up. I always thought it took away from fun time you could spend outside catching snakes and building forts. But as I looked at that old library check-out favorite I made a summertime goal for my summertime reading list.

Childhood books will be the theme of this years summer get-aways. As I've come to think of this, however, I realize that because of my lack of interest in the ways of the short-novel as a child this makes my list quite small. So I will be on the look-out for others. The Screwtape Letters are on that list and I have yet to think of others. I will let you know, for sure- although I'm sure you will not care.

Happy reading!

The Agenda

2010-04-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

The dating world will always throw curve balls, and I just caught one the other day. Sometimes it feels like girls and boys are on opposite teams, fighting each other when, at the end of the day, the goal is to actually BE together.

One thing that will always baffle me about dating is how dishonest it all is. Players always falling down faking some kind of injury so the other team gets a penalty- much like soccer. There are some people on the opposite team that are all talk or all looks and no performance. It's not just one sides fault, however. I'd love to say that it was all the girls, 'cause then I'd have power to change it. I'd love to say that it's all the boys, 'cause then I could feel better about my own dating history. But I can't. It's a combination effort and both sides are doing a lousy job.

One thing that really bothers me about guys, though, is that they seem to always have an agenda. I've re-discovered this as of late and it's got me a little bothered...and by little I mean REALLY bothered.

I met this guy the other day at institute. He overheard a conversation I was having with some other people about my CD and, he also being a musician, became interested. He came up to me after and we talked about music and what-not, talked about jamming and me coming over to see the studio that his dad owns. I was way excited! It looked like he was really interested in playing and writing some songs. Anyway, to make a rather long and boring story short, we played music quite a few times, I toured the studio, he took me out to eat, the next week he took me on a real date. It's during this 'real date' that things start to get interesting.

Now, if I'm being completely honest with myself, I must admit that I was only interested in hanging out with this 'Guy' because of music. But then he seemed to be going all romantic on me and I can't say that I minded all that much, I mean- I did say yes to the date. He picked me up and we went out to eat. His card got rejected so I had to pay...he felt way bad about it so I wasn't too bothered, although I can't say I was thrilled. I'm in need of every penny I can get a hold of right now. We talk ,laugh, eat, and have a good time. Then we leave and we had time to kill before we went to sell tickets to this improve show thing that was going down. So he takes me up to the temple and we take pictures, we try to be all artsy and what-not. They all ended up being pretty darn ridiculous. But it was fun, then he did one of the lamest things a boy could ever do to a girl. He asked if he could kiss me. I know. I excuse him for this only because he's pretty fresh from off his mission...I think only 5 months. (YIKES!...I should never have let him take me out! WAY too young!) I thought it was a joke so I played it off as one. I can't remember what I said but he looked way heart broken after I said it. We talked for a little bit and I ended up telling him that he could kiss me, after all, I was starting to like the guy. That was that. We went and sold tickets and had a good time, we kissed a little bit more, talked a little bit more and then on the ride home the kid changed completely. He felt bad about kissing me, even though he went in multiple times during the date. He didn't want to date me. Our relationship works best if it's just musical, he said. I was a little shocked. He was not acting the way he said he was feeling on our date. I did my best to understand, though. We all make mistakes. He blamed the mission and feeling mixed up and weird after it, and I agreed with him. But he said that we would still play music, which was all I was interested in in the first place, so I felt satisfied. Disappointed, but not distraught.

The night ended and I thought we were going to play music at the same time and place that we had been doing it for the past few weeks. He wasn't there, though. I texted him and we talked for a little bit. What it came down to in the end was this: he really wasn't interested in playing music with me. He's focused with his band right now. All the excuses I made for him when we talked earlier are now gone. You can only blame the mission for your actions so much- last time I checked missions don't make guys into dishonest a-holes.

The high opinion that I once had of this human has now diminished into nothing. So all of the head-way we had made with writing songs mean nothing now? So pretty much all that he did and all the time he took to take me out and play music with me was just so he could assess how soft my lips are? Are you freakin' kidding me?

Indeed, every boy has an agenda.

UFO's and cows.

2010-04-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

I've discovered an interesting fact:

If your cow dies by some weird, cruel, unknown 'cause, or your stuff is vandalized in some way and you get a report saying that a UFO did it then insurance will cover it. If you claim that a human did it it's not covered by insurance.

How sad. I had 50 min. of lecture today in Astro class and that's really all I can remember. This is why I'm failing.

"we"?

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

A greeting that I'll never get use to: "How we doin' today?" We? As in more that just myself? Now, this might make sense if I were on the arm of a boy or with a good friend...but this greeting always seems to come when I'm completely alone. No one else in the hall or the room. So why? Why the 'we'?

Maybe I'm supposed to tell him how he's doing...'cause I look like I'm psychic.
Maybe I look like I'm schizophrenic.
Maybe I look like I have multiple personality disorder...on the verge of turning into my personal Jekyll or Hyde, and they just want a heads up on which one it'll be.

Running

2010-03-04T21:42:00.001-08:00

Something very odd...very strange...very unlike the typical me happened this morning while starting my pre-spring workout routine, which is always just a good run in the mountains since I can't afford workout material or a gym pass.

When I usually go running the thoughts that go through my head usually go a little somethin' like this:

"I hate this. This is dumb. It hurts. Why do people sign up and PAY to do this for 26 miles? Just remember the Victoria Secret magazine you got in the mail.Gotta look like those girls. Keep running. Man alive-this is torture! I hate running. Why am i here. Why am i still running?! Why did i sign up to get those magazines? I better look better tomorrow. I hate this!".I think you get the picture.

But today something unexpected occurred-I ENJOYED myself! I LIKED it! I just might be going insane. Or maybe I just had better music to listen to...Although I don't think Fionn Regan and Billie Holiday are considered a good choice when it comes to running music.

THE DECADE RULE

2010-03-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

When I was a bit younger and had the brain capacity of a chimp I decided to go to Fran Brown College of Beauty. In the year that followed my inflow of knowledge decreased considerably, but my wisdom grew. The best bit of knowledge/wisdom I took out of my awful school experience had nothing to do with beauty at all, in fact! It had to do with dating and I call it: The Decade Rule.

Now, before I tell you about this rule, let me first tell you how I discovered it.
While sitting in a corner, looking at a fashion magazine wondering why I was busting my butt working so I could pay the 10,000 buck tuition only to sit around each day and do nothing, a conversation developed. Now, going to a school for a year with a ton of girls means that a person is going to experience a LOT of dating conversations and because it was that beginning of our classes starting year we were going over each others dating history. Now, i was only 19 going on 20 at the time so my experiences were limited. I really only had about 3 boys I could talk about and one of them was Devin, my 26 year old fling. He was the one I let go, the one I unwisely said good-bye to. Many times I have wished that I could have met him NOW, but no, I met him when i was 18 and we were in completely different stages in life. I was tremendously sheepish when I let this fact float out of my lips, the fact that there was a 8 year ocean the separated me from my old boyfriend. Some of the girls freaked out when I told them this. But there was one girl that didn't care...a girl that did mind at all and in passing told me 'Meh, as long as he's in your decade it doesn't matter'. Ever since then I have lived by the Decade rule and last weekend I remembered why.

Now, I'm in no way saying that this rule is right or true for everyone...I've actually been thinking about making it into the 8 year rule instead, but I think my friend who made the passing comment was pretty darn right. If you date a boy that is no more than 10 years older than you it is highly likely that things can work out. Leave that 10 years, and it gets a little strange.

I took a guy out that was 11 years older than me last weekend and the decade rule re-solidified itself in my brain. Now, this date wasn't awful at all, I think very highly of the guy- he's smart, talented and it baffles me that he has yet to tie the knot with a lucky girl. But the fact that he was so much older than me made our date one of the most boring dates I've yet to go on in my life! We had hardly anything to talk about! Those 11 years made all the difference. Even though I'm in a 'settling down' frame of mind, just as he is, our experiences are vastly different. Now, I know what you might be thinking. You might be thinking that this is the case with every person you go out with. You're right by saying so- but being different in time is different. So much of how we think and who we are has to do with the world we grew up in. A lot happens in 10 years and those ten years of experience in a different world make a person quite different in a lot of different ways. Needless to say, I discovered this while on my date.

This is why I'm considering changing my rule. 10 years is a lot of time...maybe it could work for some people...but I'm not sure it could work with me. Maybe if were 40 and the guy was 50...maybe that would be different. Gaps seem to shrink with age. I'm thinking about changing it to a half-decade rule. Yes, I think that would be better. But then there is that old 8 year gap I experienced...and the relationship was great, but, in all honesty, the breakup had to do with that gap. So maybe 8 is still a little too high. Yes, I think 5 years would be just fine. I think that will be my new rule.

Counting the Stars

2010-02-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

This is a report I had to write for my astro class. I've never written a scientific paper before and had no idea how to do it properly...so this is what ended up in my professors hands. Failure in that class might be eminent. Enjoy:

While planning out our first project for this semester we made our way to the computer to check the dates of the next new moon. Valentine’s weekend was the answer to our inquiry and we were quite pleased. Not only would it offer a potentially romantic escape, but it gave us an ideal procrastination time frame. So we let time slip and as we came closer to the dates the weather man became our grim reaper. All weekend long we peered into the clouds, disappointed in our reality and anxious for its potential effects on a future letter that could re-determine our GPA. But, thankfully, Murphy gave us a break Sunday night and as soon as we saw the clear moonless sky we were off to make the best of our coming data collecting adventure.

As we drove up toward Snow Basin resort, a place we thought would be quite dark, we were amazed at how much light surrounded us. We were most surprised to see the city glow from behind the mountains. This was something we had yet to notice in our young lives, certainly we had seen a city glow before but from such a faraway place where mountains stood as a barrier? We were saddened by the fact and felt resigned to the reality that we would not be seeing as many stars as we had previously hoped. It was amazing how much the glow seemed to affect our ability to see the stars. The glow made it seem as if the sun was always just setting. We discussed how this must affect astronomers. If we were still being affected from so far away with just our naked eye how miserable it must be for astronomers who have telescope equipment that magnifies light. No wonder large, professional observatories are located in extremely secluded areas.

We continued our data collecting down in Huntsville. We figured this would be a darker place where we would be able to see more stars. We were disappointed, however. Although our location was still secluded we found that homes nearby were still affecting our ability to see the stars properly. We were amazed by this; we had never before realized the magnitude of light pollution. It’s not only a big city problem-light waste was everywhere. I could have gone to each home nearby and turned off at least one light that was on for no reasonable purpose. How much energy must be wasted this way! Not only is it bad for our environment, but our wallets as well. People will find, we believe, that the more artificial light we use the more useful light we will find from the heavens.

Our next stop was at the edge of the Ogden city glow itself. We went to many parking lots in attempts to see even a single star. We were shocked at the stark contrast from Basin and Huntsville to Ogden. In the end we drove down a neighborhood street so we would be able to see at least a few stars. Again we thought of how unnecessary so many of the lights that we on were and how much one city can affect the skies of many towns.

Overall we found that, although we were affected by city glow, we saw the most stars near Basin because it was the location that we were the least affected by light pollution.

Observations on a Bus

2010-02-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

I was looking through my notebook last night and came across a little entry that i wrote about a month ago. I was bored on my bus ride home so i figured i'd write about what was going on around me. It started out poem like- just listing the things i was hearing, but then that got dull so i just started writing down everything. Anyway- here it is. Observations on the 6:45pm bus:

The engine with the gears changing
Air in the wheels
Constant dings
Followed by hurried 'thank-you's'
Pulsing lights of people waiting to be seen-
A girl fighting for a reading mans attention
Black socks, white shoes, torn shorts
Continued metal shaking of heaven knows what

Everyone is in their own world- whether it be talking or looking at a phone, reading a textbook, novel or newspaper. Each person claims a bench- only the young girl and old man sit next to each other. Her head claiming rest on his shoulder. His mind involved in national news.

A nice looking boy with glasses taps his hand on the seat, no doubt playing a song he hears in his mind. He gets up to leave the artificially lit bus and I am sorry for it. His features were a pleasant contrast to the dull that surrounds. In efforts to keep time we sit idly.

I wish the Regina Spektor song i hear in my head would sound out somehow.

"Two birds on a wire..."

The only sounds to be heard is the shift of the reading man next to me, the hum of the engine and the steady beat of a blinker.

I see my own reflection in the mirror. I look tired and melancholy, my hormonal skin healing, my hair curling every so nicely, my blue jacket matching my blue bloodshot eyes. My eyes and lips pout, although i don't mean them to.

The young girl is laughing loudly. She talking on the phone. She does not know how to play Rugby.

The bus shakes tremendously as it makes its way up this steep hill. The man next to the laughing girl has fallen asleep- not entertained by the enthusiastic stories she shares with her friend who also lacks skill in Rugby.

I have recommitted myself to not be as giggly as the girl who sits behind me. I hope I remember this commitment the next time I feel uncomfortable and do not know what to say. Giggle is my default in situations like that. I wish it wasn't.

I hear a horrible grinding sound and i do not like it.

No one is looking up. All are looking down. Even my funny friend behind me is finding quiet solace in a slumped head.

The cars outside can see me- but i cannot see them.

My home is close and i am happy. I will sleep well tonight.

I hear a whistle- i do not know the source. A human whistle, perhaps?

My stop has come. In my car Regina can grace my ears.

Pink toe nail polish

2009-10-12T18:18:00.001-07:00

It's been a while...a long while since I've last written on this ill-expressed blog. Much has happened. I've gone through a full toe nail polish cycle. I also alternate between pink, bright red, deep red, then back to pink. As of last night pink has re-entered the life of my toes and i figure it's time to write once more.

Other things that have happened since i last wrote:
I started school again
I got a hair cut
Michael Jackson died
Gas prices went up
Gas prices went down
Wrote a host of new songs
Named my new Ipod Conrad
Lot of natural disasters occurred
Jim and Pam finally got married
I did my laundry
House got out of rehab
Morgan got home from her mission....

There's so much more, but I'll stop there. I hope you enjoyed the update. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Too Much?...not in this case...

2009-06-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Oh the joy that graced my soul a few weeks ago, for I, yes, even me- heard, saw and MET Sara Watkins! Oh the talent that is in that girl... let me tell you about that wonderful night.

SO- it started at mi casa where Paul and Trevor and I met up to go down to the concert at the State room- which was a way nice venue- the floors weren't even sticky! Anyway, i had misread something somewhere so we got there an hour early and i got to show my ID to the door man...which was fun, because i've been over 21 for a little while now i've never been to a place that was 21+ before. When i went to the door the guy asked if i was there for the concert and I said yes and we just stood there for a little bit then he said "...um... i need your ID." Oh the amazingness of me. So we got in and waited...and waited....

It was good to be early, though- cause we got prime in the front sitting down spots.

It was funny to see the contrast between my friends and the rest of the people that were there. I'm pretty sure we were one of the few people who didn't have a beer in hand. Thankfully that wasn't all they offered. While we were waiting we discovered their wonderful chilled water.

Well, after about an 1 1/2 hours we got the opening band...they were alright. I enjoyed some of their stuff. After that (obviously) Sara, Sean and...another guy...oh man, i forgot his name...he was the bassist for Tom Petty, though...anyway, they got on stage and blew us away! Not only are they good musicians but they're good performers. They engage a crowd and make it a good time.

So mid-way through the concert Sara pointed out how she hated the gap that is in the middle of the state room- it was for standing space, but no one was standing. So I told Paul that we should go in the middle, so we did. I thought we'd just do it for one song then we'd get back into our seats but then some people came down and stole them! Blast those humans! It was fine, though- but I think Trevor might have felt weird sitting by a bunch of people he didn't know. Here's a picture of Me and Paul standing and another of just Paul...it's hard to see clearly, but if you look close you'll get it.

After the concert we stayed a little later so we could hopefully meet Sara or Sean and/or both. So waiting commenced again.

But it was all worth it cause we got to meet her! Wahoo! She was really nice and seemed genuine...so it was good. It all turned out to be a great night! I'm quite pleased. Although the picture of me with Sara is quite awful...i will post it. Just for proof.

WILD!

2009-03-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Did you know this?!!?!?!

Um.... yeah. HOLY CRAP!!!! I'm way excited! Woop woop!!!

A letter for my one true love:

2009-03-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Whenever I've had a bad day you've been there. When every I've needed someone to just sit and listen to what I've had to say- you've been the one to do it. Whenever there was a boy in my life that you didn't quite like- you've let me know and have always been right. No one snuggles better, no one makes me feel better, no one knows me quite like you do. When I've had no one to sing a duet with you've always sung with me- even though you never know the words. When i have no one to go explore in the mountains with you'll always come with me and make sure I'm safe. You have more names than i can list. You are my dog, my Moose, my Moosita, my Beau, my Bosen. The greatest boy a girl could ever have. Love doesn't even begin to describe it.

When you work it out i'm worse that you

2009-03-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

My blog has been lacking up-dateage as of late. I shall fix that now.

So i am LOVING work!!! Baking is just wonderful... superb, really! And if i'm being completely honest i must say that I make probably the best cinnamon rolls on the planet. It's the truth. It just is.

So I've been listening to A LOT of Coldplay these past few days and i think that it's depressing me....so now i think I'm gonna go on a Ditty Bops binge to brighten me up a bit!

You know, I've been thinking about the perception of beauty for a bit today and about how every girl is always pursuing it. Beauty, that is. It's tiring, to say the least. I'm always worried about not looking as good as i should (body-wise). I'm slightly below my proper BMI and when I look at magazines I feel fat. I know I'm skinny- my mind knows I'm skinny. But then i look at those flawless stomachs and legs on those magazines and my mind tells me it's fake- and i know it's fake....but somehow i feel like I'm still expected to look like those girls. Why is that? I guess it keeps my physically fit though- running and eating relatively well. ( i will always be a sucker for chocolate)How is that I can know that that the girls are fake in the magazines- that they've been 'edited' and yet still feel like i need to look like that? My mind knows that I'm not fat, that my body is healthy... but...why do i feel differently? Why do the two still conflict when i know so well the falsehood of that other feeling? I don't know... I'm being weird.

The Ditty Bob music has helped me. I'm feeling much better now

Moose and Me

2008-12-25T16:28:00.000-08:00

I just saw the movie Marley and Me and it has inspired a post about my own dog Moose (hence the title)Here be a picture of the Bo:

You know,dogs- BIG dogs- are basically the best! So many things about Marley reminded me about Moose. Like when moose was a puppy and i'd take him somewhere in the car he'd always climb into my lap! Once he exceded 70lbs i had to try and stop it- but he still to climbs into the front seat all the time...which can be a bit distracting! He's a big dog-almost 100lbs! Haha- One time we drove him up to Bear Lake and he cried the whole way there in the back of the car! It was pretty funny- he wouldn't settle down! But that's not the point i'm trying to make. What i want to say is once we got there and he was playing in the water he did his poo circle (you dog owners out there know what i'm talking about...) and let it flow in the water! BAH! It was hillarious! Gross....really gross. But funny still. I'm just glad other people wern't around!
Moose always tends to make himself known when people are coming over. To tell the truth- i put a lot of stock in how my dates treat my dog when he greets them at the door. If they're mean to him i there is rarely a second date! Haha! He always goes through 'TP's' (under peoples legs) and it usually freaks people out! It makes me laugh. You can always tell who the high strug people are when moose does that. They don't laugh just get bothered! He always likes to lay on people's feet as well! But only people he really likes. It's great.

I think only dog people could fully appreshaite the movie 'Marley and Me', or the book for that matter. I think everyone who has ever loved a dog was in tears at the end of it.

What is it about dogs that make us so attached? I think it might have to do with that bond that seems to happen between the human and the dog. If you love a dog it will love you back no matter what! This will sound cheesey- but when i haven't had a soul to turn to when i've had a bad day or a hard time and i'm in tears Moose is always there! He always seems to know when to just be there. There's a bond with the Moose dog. I don't think that someone could understand what i mean unless they've had a dog. They really do become your best friends! Moose has been more of a best friend than lots of people I know! Sad- but true!

Oh that Moose dog. He's the best. He's quite possibly the best singer i know! :D

Aw... i wish I had curly hair!

2008-12-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

I've heard that phrase a lot in my lifetime. They say that it would be SO easy to take care of and that it always looks cute and whatnot. Ha ha! I always tell people they're lucky to have straight hair- but they never believe me. So i think i must do something drastic so my straight haired friends can appreciate what they have.I must warn you, however- this image might be disturbing to some viewers. I advise that children should not be present when viewing the following photographs.
..........

................

............

........

....
..

Yeah... that's right. But if you want real style- just add a headband!

So? Any more envy-ers of curly hair? I didn't think so.....

80's movies

2008-11-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

You know what i've noticed about a lot of 80's teen movies? There almost always seem to have funny asians in them. Just think...
There's Better Off Dead with the two asians racing Lane (is that how you spell his name?)

Let us not forget the exchange student in 'Sixteen Candles'!

alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269842419917725218" />

And who can forget the Goonies Data?!

I swear there are more....but i can't think of them. If you can- let me know!

"I'm so excited, and i just can't hide it...."

2008-10-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

The Harry Potter trailer! Holy holy holy crap! I was sad that it's not gonna be out until sometime next year, probably in the summer- but i've concluded that it's okay- because it'll just give me a chance to read the book again! Woop!

Sigur Ros- Festival

2008-10-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this song. It is so beautiful and calming. If makes me feel like i'm part of something bigger. i love love love it! i hope you do too.

Well, the point IS....

2008-07-20T23:26:00.001-07:00

I haven't updated this in a while. I think i'll just do a journal entry type thing.

Funny story. So, as you may or may not know, my grandma is currently living with us and she has Alzheimer's, so she's pretty out of it. Well, the other night my Mom was reading an article in the Ensign about Elder Unchtdorf, my mom was trying to make a point about how great a man he is while showing my grandma a picture. While my mom was talking my grandma interrupted with this 'Yes yes, but the point is....he's good looking'. Ha ha! I find that extremely humours! Maybe you had to be there.....

I still can't find a job and i'm ready to shoot myself for it! There's a beauty supply place that's hiring in Bountiful- that could work out. I'm gonna edit and print up my Resume, do down there in some kind of extremely cute and professional outfit and hope they see more in me that the other places i've applied for have! Job hunting, i have concluded, is the one of the most tedious things in the universe! Narshin', i say! Narshin'! (don't know what the word means?, no worries. It's one of my many made-up words that fall in the category of 'Karlic'. It's an exclusive language that I and my 'Launa are fluent in.)

Try-outs for American Idol are coming up next week. That should be a fun day. I've decided not to expect anything from it. I'm just gonna go hope i get seen and sing my best. I know i can sing- it's just a matter if i'm T.V. material or not, or if my style of singing is what they want. I will not be crushed by any failure that comes from American Idol.

So, i went down to SL the other day and some sister missionaries come up to me and asked me to pray about going on a mission. Ramdom. So, I've started thinking about that again.

I failed my aesthetics licencing test. I've been really bummed about it. I studied but everything I studied was NOT on the test! I prayed so hard. I thought that if i studied and prayed that it would all work out, that i'd pass and that I would finally have some direction in my life. But i didn't. I failed. I always seem to fail. I was really upset on my way home ran a red light and almost got in an accident, which made me even more upset. I'm sorry to admit it, but i was a bit upset with my Heavenly Father. I thought He'd help me. I felt like i put in the work, so why didn't He help me where i came short? Those feeling just grew the more and more until they reached into every aspect of my life. I had been trying very hard to be more spiritual in my life. I cleaned up my language. I had been going to the temple weekly. Attending my meetings and reading my scriptures more, i prayed with more direct intent- but i couldn't shake the feeling that I was talking to myself. Why, when I was trying so hard to be close to Him was i feeling so far away? I felt abandoned, uncared for and alone. I didn't understand. "Draw nearer unto me and I will draw nearer unto you", right? I was feeling awful. So i picked up my guitar and sung out my feelings. Thank Heavens for music. I got a solid chorus down and it evolved with how i felt. It started out like this. "And what of faith? I had it, you let it break" (that just repeats twice to complete the chorus). I was putting complete blame on my Heavenly Father for my failure. Then It went "And what of faith? I had it, I let it break" I started taking responsibility for my own failure. Then it went "And what of faith? You had it, I made it break" I realized that the faith my Heavenly Father might have had in me to succeed and be of some worth I had broken. I possibly let him down with my actions. That realization stung. In concluded with "And what of Faith? I had it, I let it fade away". I realized that my lack of faith that my Heavenly Father would help me didn't just disappear with one failing of a test, but that i had let it fade away. I was weak and i let it get that way. True faith doesn't crumble under trials. My faith was weak, so anything could have torn it down. My faith was dependent on how my Father helped me, True faith isn't. True faith is faith no matter what. True faith is understanding that Heavenly Father knows our failures and trials and has a reason for them. Does that make sense? Anyway, i realized that about faith and i'm trying to have more of it.

I'm gonna go see the Dark Night tomorrow! Yay! I'm excited!

My friend try to put some 'moves' on me tonight. It always sucks when boys do that and I reject them. It always makes things awkward. No fun. I hope things don't get awkward with him. Blast...

For some reason I always think that a q should go in awkward. I don't know why. Maybe it's because i think that Q's are awkward looking- so it would only make sense that they're in the word awkward. Hm.....

Away I go

Chris Thile

2008-03-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, these are Chris Thile 'journal' entries. The fist one I love- why do guys only want female versions of themselves? The second is a little 'journal' thing he wrote about writing a song. I love how he writes it! It's how i do it too. Although, what comes from my mind isn't nearly as good as what comes from his! Anyway, i enjoy reading his do-dads, so i hope you will too!

him."Will you tell me what you like, or what you think I want you to like?"
her."The latter, I'm afraid."
him."Hmm. Why be honest now and not then?"
her."Ha! You will have forgotten this conversation by then.
Besides, you really want me to like what I'm going to say I like."
him."I know, I know, but I want the truth more."
her"Do you? I think you want mental justification for your physical desire. You don't make conversation, you administer a test that you've subconsciously developed to evaluate a girl's worthiness of your precious free time."
him."It might work if your kind would stop playing games."
her."I only play along."
him"Oh, please. And why the hell would you do that?"
her"Because I have to figure out why the hell guys like you, the guys I'm most attracted to, only want to mess around with female versions of themselves."

breathe in and out and there's 50 minutes gone. I put on a
record and start massaging my still groggy and already overworked
arms under hot water. I'll create a minute or two of music today, I
can hear it in my head, feel it on the tips of my fingers, and I
think I can sing some of it. I can, and what's more, there might be
words. I turn the water off, grab a bag of peas from the freezer,
and stop singing for a second to fully enjoy the soothing and
stimulating clash of hot and cold. With my arms and hands
sufficiently recovered, I stop the record and lustfully sweep my
mandolin up off the couch, throwing the strap over my head so I can
wander through the house tuning, playing, humming, tuning, thinking,
day-dreaming, playing, singing--ha! Got something. I've moved on
from the instrumental mumbling I exhaled before my little break to a
short melody, reminiscent of both the fiddle tunes and the Bach I
inhaled earlier. But I'm still unfocused, and this little thing is
too derivative--just progress. Hey, that phrase there, that's good!
Well, half of it, anyway. Victory! Something to work with,
something to build on. That's all I need.

Holy curly fry, Batman!

2008-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

It's the worlds smallest Curly fry.

Sad fact: this made my night.

Good luck Karlie

2008-02-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

At 7:30 this morning i woke up to my phone ringing. I was really quite annoyed. I had been snowboarding all day the day before, worked that night and then watched an awful movie that night which put my going to bed time at around one in the morning. So....i had obviously planned on sleeping in this Saturday.
It was my friend Jess, which was good. She's a dear friend, But i knew what was coming on the other end of the line so i wasn't excited- I've know that this call would been coming for a little while now- I just wasn't expecting it so soon, and especially not so early!(yeah...I'm not a morning person)So, we talked for a little bit then it came. She apologized for not coming in person to tell me, i told her it was fine- it really was. I'm good at disguising my voice, but quite awful at disguising my face. So then she told me. "I'm engaged!" my reply was normal "Oh my goodness! That's great! How'd he pop the question?" so on a so forth. She told me the story, and I kicked myself for asking.
I've been a bit blue because of this all day. The boy she's engaged to is my ex-boyfriend. I dated him for 6 months then he went on his mission for 2 years. I wrote him often, almost every week. He came home and was really into the idea of dating, i was really into the idea of being friends before rushing anything. He tried but couldn't do the 'friend' thing. He told me that he loved me and wanted to marry me. My grandpa died during this time and they way he treated me during it (no sympathy or care) completely convinced me that i could never be with him and i lost all romantic feeling for him. That was the end of our relationship completely.
I started dating a boy that was really awesome, but it was long distance and hard, so it didn't work out. During that time one of my good friends since Jr. High called me...this would be Jess...to ask for permission to date Cole. It was kind of her to ask, but made me feel pretty weird. I let her do what she wanted to do, obviously. I had no feeling for him, and i told her that. I knew around then that they would get married- how you ask? Well, this is where the title of this blog comes into play.
Ever seen "Good Luck Chuck"? Well, make that movie LDS and change 'Chuck'to 'Karlie' and you've got my life. Every boy that I've dated in a somewhat serious nature- the next girl they date has been the one they've gotten married too. I am the marriage prep girl- and this is continually proved with each failed relationship. Let me give you a time line. I'll do the name and then how long after it took them to get engaged to someone after we were over.
Devin-7 months
Chase-1 month (yeah- seriously. Married within 2 months had a kid soon after)
Shane-2 months (at least better than 1, right?)
Cole- 4 months
There are 2 that I've left out. One, because it was a silly high school relationship, and he's on his mission, but the girl he dated after me I'm pretty positive he'll marry. The other guy is that long distance kid, so i have no idea what he's up to, and that was a silly relationship too.
Shane hurt the most. I really thought i was going to marry him and when he was engaged i hadn't even been asked on a date.
I don't understand why I've been so sad about Cole's engagement today. I can't place a single finger on the reason why. I don't have feelings for Cole. I honestly don't. I know that i wouldn't have been happy with him. So why do i feel like crying? I don't get this.

You love everything so much that you know nothing of what you love.

2008-01-24T18:50:00.000-08:00

I would like to share with you one thing that I've discovered about people and music while working at a music store.

This is it: When people come up to me asking me for music suggestions and I ask them what they like to get an idea of what to suggest to them and they say 'I love everything!' that usually means that they know close to nothing about music. How do I know that?... Well, there is an interesting thing that happens when these people that 'love everything', they are usually the ones that only listen to Country and/or Rap/Hip Hop. They are usually the ones that haven't given great bands like the Shins, Iron and Wine, Nickel Creek or Stars a good listen. They usually can't even tell me an artists name of whom they like to listen to. The two are almost always linked. So, basically 'I love everything!' equals 'I love what the radio tells me to love' or, in other words, everything mainstream. Mainstream...which is usually Rap/ Hip Hop and Country.

But why does this mean that they know nothing about music, you ask? Well, let me tell you. People that have no opinion on music usually don't know much about it. If you're well studied on something, you have an opinion on it! Pick any subject. If a person loves all art, they know nothing about art. The people that are studied on art don't love it all! That doesn't mean that they don't respect all art, but they don't love it all. They have favorites. Pick any other subject and it's the same thing. Test it out, it be true, my friends.

So, with that in mind, it is logical to say that people that love all music know nothing of what they say they love! Music is so vast, so different! It's impossible to love it all! I don't love it all! I love some things sometimes and different things different times. Why? Because I change, and so my music changes. I find music that fits into my life. Music that can be my Soundtrack. My soundtrack has a specific feel to it, because i relate to a specific type of music.Rap and country do not fit in to my Soundtrack. If you love all music you must know only a small part of music, believe me. Your soundtrack isn't the only music in the world and so isn't, therefore, 'all music'. There is so much more out there past the veil of Country and Rap.

I'm starting to feel bad that I've been bashing Country and Rap.... I've never been a fan (obviously), the music has never really spoken to me. But I'm sure it speaks to other people in their particular parts of their lives. It's just interesting that 'I love all music' is usually the equivalent of ' I love Country and Rap'.

So- this blog is basically all over the place and full of pure random. My mind tends to go where ever it feels... and this blog show it! It's quite cluttered. I hope it made sense to you!

That's all I'm sayin'. That's all I'm drivin' at, really.... if you think about it.

oh- you don't remember 'death by suicide' on Enchanted? It was the hit song!

2008-01-17T20:50:00.001-08:00

So, a lady came into my work to return a CD... she said that it didn't play the right music. I was really quite annoyed. People do this sometimes, saying a CD doesn't play so they can get their money back on CD they bought that they already ripped onto their computer. She handed the CD to Chris. It looked like this:

He then opened the CD and it looked like this:

Very funny, CD stuffer man. Very funny indeed......

It seems to me no mystery

2007-12-26T18:15:00.001-08:00

Nickel Creek is one of the greatest bands in the Universe. Okay... maybe I'm exaggerating. But they are, at least, one of the best bands in the Galaxy- and that is no exaggeration.
You might have now guessed that Nickel Creek is my favorite band and, if you had indeed come up with this assumption, you would be correct. Nickel Creek is my favorite band.

There is just something about the Sean, Sara and Chris combo that is intoxicating. Their spot on harmony, their amazing instrumentation and their love for the music they play can capture you and take you to another world that you never want to leave.

These prodigies have been playing together ever since they were wee chaps. (yes, i did just say 'wee'... my ancestors were Scottish, so I'm allowed ;)) Because of this their voices have grown together and blend magnificently. Sean and Sara Watkins have a natural blend, which is a bit obvious seeing how they're brother and sister. Chris has different sounding voice from the other two (not in a bad way- at all) but, because they have been singing together for so long, it doesn't really stick out when he is doing background vocals or just singing a harmony part in a song. They feel each other so well vocally that they know when to let off and let the other person take the lead.

The fact that they've had many years together as a band doesn't only bump them up on the 'musical awesomeness' scale vocally but instrumentally as well. My goodness, instrumentally nothing can compare to them. I don't think that anything can rightfully describe it. I think you just have to see them to believe it. You need to see Sara rip it on the fiddle so fast you worry that her fiddle will explode into a million pieces. Sean strike each note and cord on the guitar with such precision and meaning that takes each song to a different level and stabilizes each beat. Chris..... well i don't know if words can describe the way Chris plays. The way he moves when he plays his mandolin you know that he feels each note he strikes and he plays it in a way that it makes you feel it too. Nothing can truly describe the way Chris Thile plays- a good enough word hasn't yet been invented. It really goes for all of them. Combined these three people make music that nothing can match. Their music gives it all away. It's like a song of theirs that says 'behind the melody the words don't mean a thing; every tune I play will give whatever I've not said away'.

Whenever people come into the record store that I work at looking for new music I always point out Nickel Creek first. When they ask me to describe it I tell them it's like nothing else, really. It's three people with bluegrass roots who are greatly influenced by Radiohead,Tom Petty and other Folk Rock, Alternitive bands like them. I mean, my goodness, they covered Of Montreal at their last concert in S.L.C.! If that doesn't shot out 'pure awesomeness' I don't know what does!

There is just something magical about Nickel Creeks music. It's a real shame that they are taking a break, but I'd rather it be a temporary break now rather than a permanent one later. I am excited for more solo work from the three. Chris Thile's solo albums are already on my favorite list as well as Sean's, I'm excited to hear one from Sara. I'm also excited to see what comes of the Sean, Sara and Glen Phillips CD I've heard rumors about- well, not necessarily 'rumors', Glen actually told me they were going to be doing it. I hope he didn't lie!

Thanks for humoring my first band review. I'm really not a writer, so please forgive all misspelling and any split infinitives that might be lurking within this blog. My old English professors would not approve, I'm sure.

Nickel Creek= Greatness.

Shins

2007-12-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

So- my friends and I got to meet the Shins by mearly going to the concert a few hours early and standing by the fence for a while. They were super nice and full of awesomeness. The Shins rock my socks.