Redeeming Qualities

So. The last little bit I have been feeling a little gross on the inside. For the last little bit lots of stupid things have been happening and I just keep thinking, "Really? I swear I have redeeming qualities somewhere inside me. Right? Right! I totally do! Somewhere. Probably." Tonight is one of those nights. Just a junky day where I just keep thinking, "Really?" But guess what world! I totally have good things about me! I am worth good things even when it doesn't feel like it!
Most of my new coworkers are pretty openly unfriendly towards me no matter how hard I try to talk to them. But guess what?! The Mexican cooks in the back think I'm super funny even though we can't actually communicate with words.
My classmates wouldn't remember my name if I wore a shirt with it on it. But I have gone out of my way to talk to new people in my classes every week even though it is super hard for me. Persistence and resiliency! I have those! I suck at social-dom but I still try and that's really what matters.
I haven't been on a date with anyone with but my ex in like 9 months. But ya know what? I am a nice person. I have lots of things to offer and if guys don't care for that, then fine. I get to keep all my awesomeness to myself. I like myself. I also kind of hate dating but I know I'm supposed to do it so I'm not actually super mad about this one.
I tore my last pair of good fitting jeans on Saturday. Ok that one is pretty lame but my mommy gave me money to go clothes shopping a little while ago for my Christmas present from her so I can afford to get some new ones. They were also ripped in an epic game of broomball so they were just a casualty to the awesomeness of the game. Curse my overly competitive nature! I also body-slammed my bishop during this game. Several times. Oops.
No matter how many hours I study, I still get bad scores on test. I'm a bad tester but I really do learn a lot so I still am fine with that. Frustrated. But hey, I'm doing all I can.
I feel like I've gotten super fat this semester. I eat pretty junky though so I can't really be mad about that one. I have been trying to eat healthier and I work out lots so it will get better. Eventually.
I don't have to nickles to rub together. Literally. I hate nickles so I get rid of them as soon as possible. Anyway. I work like a bajillion hours a week and I still have to budget like crazy. But I have 2 jobs and one of them I make bank at. The second one isn't guaranteed lots of money, but generally I do pretty well. I am just always worried about money and I have plenty of savings.
See world?! To quote the wise words of some singer person, "You get knocked down, but I get up again, so you're never gonna keep me down". I have redeeming qualities! I am a nice person with lots of other things that are good about me! Stop trying to make me feel bad about myself world because I'm super awesome. Hear that world?!


I AM SUPER AWESOME

Crunchy leaves

Oh boy! Crunchy leaves!
I like to step on you lots.
I love crunchy leaves.

Happiness

Yesterday in my lab I was working in a group with two other people. Yes, that class is long and tiring. But I was so amazed how much complaining was coming out of those two people! They were tired. They were hungry. They thought the cadavers smelled bad. They hated their jobs and on and on and on and on. As they were blathering on about nothing constructive at all, I was thinking about all the things I am grateful for. I was also tired, hungry, smelling yucky things and I hate my job but there are so many wonderful things in this world and I don't like focusing on all the bad all the time! So. Let's talk about the nice things.

I have an amazing family that loves me very much and supports me 100% in all of my (non-retarded) efforts.

It was warm outside today.

I have all of my appendages. And they all function! Bonus!

I get to live with my sister and two super cute roommates.

I know who I am and where I fit into the universe.

I got to have a missionary experience a few days ago at work.

Conference is this weekend!

It is my sister's birthday and I got to decorate cupcakes about it.

I don't have a beard.

I have someone I could call if I were in trouble or just needed a friend.

I made a delicious smoothie today.

Spell-check. Enough said.

I have the opportunity to go to college and better myself.

My name is not Orangejello.

I got to dress up for Harry Potter.

I have a comfy couch.

I have tootsie-rolls on my table.

I am about to watch a movie.

Speaking out which....peace out.

Invisible Children

Today, I watched a documentary called, "Invisible Children". It is about the children in Northern Uganda. There is a war going on in Sudan that I honestly had no idea about that has been going on for 17 years. Over 17 years. Did you know that? I didn't. The people have been basically herded out of Sudan and into Northern Uganda because of the war and the lack of government involvement.

Ready for the worst part? The solders are children. Kids ranging from ages 5-12 are being taken from their homes and forced into the rebel movement.

That is all my nephews but one.

Why these ages? They are old enough to hold a gun but young enough to brainwash without much effort. They are forced to watch other children being tortured and killed till they are numb enough to do it themselves.

The kids are scared. They gather in hospitals to sleep at night so they have a greater chance of being safe. Safety in numbers. Many of their parents are dead. They have no food and no one to keep them safe. They have hopes and dreams, but no one is there to hear them. A war is being fought with children and that is wrong.

At the end of the video they ask for our help. I have no money to give or ideas to share, but I can spread the word.

Watch the Video.

I know I'm a tree-hugger and kind of a sap, but I did what I can do for these little kids. What can you do?

100 Goals

So for my psych class we had to make a list of 100 goals. I found it quite interesting. So here are mine in no particular order.

100 Goals

1. Graduate

2. Learn to meditate

3. Read more

4. Do a good dead daily

5. Pray daily

6. Foster better relationships

7. Listen more

8. Open up

9. Learn to sew

10. Sing more

11. Learn Spanish

12. Go to Europe

13. Wake up earlier

14. Call family more

15. Love what I do

16. Be more trusting

17. Learn the piano

18. Go to all the continents

19. Go to grad school

20. Invent something worthwhile

21. Read all the C.S. Lewis books

22. Know the words to all the Beatles songs

23. Get married to someone who love me back

24. Have kids

25. Never get fat

26. Get a good job that I love

27. Learn to cook

28. Learn the cello

29. Always have money in my savings account

30. Skydive

31. Repel

32. Go on a church history tour

33. Get better at photography

34. Learn to skateboard

35. Learn to do Latin dance

36. Learn Latin

37. Keep a journal

38. Run a 5k

39. Learn to ride a motorcycle

40. Climb a volcano

41. Ride a camel

42. Go shark diving

43. Be paid to sing at something

44. See the pyramids in Egypt

45. See the Eiffel tower

46. Go to the Smithsonian

47. Decorate a home

48. Ride an elephant

49. Pet a lion

50. Learn astronomy

51. Go to all 50 states

52. Ride a gondola in Venice

53. Serve a mission

54. Go to Harry Potter World

55. Go to Michael Jacksons House

56. Own a Zebra

57. Learn to fix my own car

58. Ride a hot air balloon

59. Go backpacking for 2 weeks

60. Take a class in cake decorating

61. Take a class in flower arranging

62. Learn more about neurology

63. Live a week in complete silence

64. Mud wrestle

65. Be on a radio show

66. Be a person other people look up to

67. Do someone’s hair for their wedding

68. Go paintballing

69. Go to a masquerade

70. Have a reason to own a fancy dress

71. Make a difference

72. Street-perform and make $100

73. Get an awesome scar for doing something cool

74. Go on the world’s longest zip-line

75. Be part of a flash mob

76. Go on a cruise

77. Save someone’s life

78. Eat kangaroo jerky

79. See something on Broadway

80. Never have a zit again

81. Be someone worth remembering

82. Cry because something is so beautiful

83. Make enough money to support myself and others

84. Hug a bear

85. Make something cool

86. Do a handstand

87. Write a song

88. Love unconditionally

89. Save an animal

90. See Cirque de Soleil

91. Live somewhere warm

92. Learn to snowboard

93. Not be ashamed

94. Blow up something

95. Do a triathlon

96. Make my own art

97. Ride a Segway

98. Have a garden

99. Restore a piece a furniture

Make more goals

Ode to Moving

I hear people complaining about moving all the time and I think they are all on crack. I love moving! Sure lugging four billion pounds of junk up and down a bunch of stairs isn't exactly a picnic but the rest is fun! I lived at my last place for almost a year. Do you want to know how much crap I accumulate in a year? It's a big amount turns out. I found so much fun stuff! I threw away two huge bags of stuff away and I have another big one for DI in the morning. I found a bunch of clothes that are cute that I didn't even remember I owned! I found a cool green unicorn that I thought I had lost and a thing of really nice conditioner that I'm excited to use. Tomorrow I plan on scrubbing the dickens out of my bathroom and the kitchen. Yay! I love clean things. From this move I am inheriting a TV (with earflaps), lots of dishes, silverware, pots and a kite. And I'm not even done yet! See? Moving IS awesome. Doubters.

That is just the moving out part. The moving in part is just as great. Again, not in love with the stairs but it is a good workout for sure. Moving in is great because you get to organize everything in a new way, make an empty space your own. You get to learn new things about where you live and how to fit into that space. You get new roommates. For better or for worse, they always make for good stories and split utility bills. A new ward is always fun. New people to get to know and lots more outfits to evaluate when the speaker gets boring. In this new ward, I think I actually get to meet in a meetinghouse instead of a classroom. Yay!

There are so many fun things about moving. I don't know why we don't do it more often. We all should. I bet you doubters feel sheepish now because you know I'm right.

The Numbers Game

I have lots of numbers in my life these days. Here they are.

4-Hours left on this shift.

13- Days till I move out of Roman Gardens

96- Amount I love yogurt

1- Sundays I have left in my current ward

142- Days till Christmas

94- Days till my birthday. I expect lots of gifts.

2- Seconds till I get to put another bite in my mouth. Yum. Stir-fry.

5- My current level of sunburn

400- My current level of awesomeness

24- Days till school starts again. Yay!!

14- Days till I get to go to Michigan. Double Yay!!

Those are all the number things I can think of. So....that's it.

Love/Hate

Ok so I am at work and was out of things to internet about then I saw a horrible commercial with the Glee chick on it so I decided to write this list of the things I hate. And love. Here I go.

• I hate Glee. I want to punch it in the stupid face. I watched one episode and was honestly offended. I don't get offended! Also the main girl is totally trashy. She thinks she is hot stuff and she actually has a weird shaped nose and an obnoxious voice.
• I love flowers. They are pretty and they smell good and come in fun colors and shapes!
• I hate the rude fat people who eat all my cookies at work. You don't need them. Save some for the cute old people.
• I love water. I drink lots of it which makes me have to pee all the time but I still do it.
• I hate mustaches. Ew. NEVER a good idea. No exceptions.
• I love nice people. I meet lots of them and they are so pleasant. In a philosophy class I took forever ago we talked about people's true nature. I believe people are altruistic because the mean ones really are far and few in between.
• I hate generalizations. They are usually offensive to someone so just don't do it.
• I love color. How boring would life be without it?
• I hate failing at things. I don't accept failure gracefully.
• I love my church. There are few things I know in this world, but my church is something I know and love. It is forever the same and entirely true. I love having the promise of eternal happiness. With how flawed this world is, and how complicated life is, I am awed at the prospect of peace and perfection in the next life.
• I hate knowing someone is judging me. It just weird.
• I love my unicorn necklace. And my giraffe necklace.
• I hate it when people have their headphones in, but I can still hear their music. That is so bad for your ears!
• I love people who are willing to be a dork. We all are, just except it!
• I hate clicks. Can't we all just be friends?
• I love music. Every genera has its good and bad, but it all has something to be appreciated.
• I hate cottage cheese. That stuff is nasty.
• I love food. I'm excited for the day that my shelves will be filled with yummy food that I can eat whenever I want and don't have to worry about how much it all costs and how long I can make it last.
• I hate wasting stuff. Is it sad that I still think about saving dolphins whenever I see those soda lid things? I'm a secret tree hugger. It's ok, I already know it.
• I love honesty. Big fan.
• I hate how media portrays us. We aren't all busty fake blondes with 6 packs. Diversity is what makes us beautiful and interesting. There are more to relationships than physical attraction. Bring on the normal looking people!
• I love creativity. In a world where everything is accessible in like .3498 milliseconds, something new and not yet online is always refreshing.
• I hate earwax. It's gross.
• I love rollercoasters! I am an adrenaline junkie and I don't get motion-sick. Bring on the loop-d-loops!
• I hate that I STILL can't get my foot behind my head. I've tried so hard!
• I love air conditioning. This summer without it has made me very appreciative of it.

I'm bored of listing now. Enjoy!

Boom

Grillz

California Dreamin'

So. I went to California with Andrea. It was awesome.

We played on the beach for the first day which was super great because it was perfect weather. Hot but with a cool breeze so it was perfect napping weather. I got just sunburned enough for it to not even hurt the next day and now it is tan. Favorite.

Day two we went to the fashion district. That place is like the Sumpter flea-market on crack. Everyone is trying to sell you everything. They say things like, "beautiful prices for beautiful ladies!" I gagged a little at that one. Andrea got a straightener, Melodie got a dress and I got a bacon covered hot dog. Money well spent. That night we stayed up till 3 watching Say Yes to the Dress. It was awesome.

Day three we went to The Getty. Hoooooly cool! It's a giant art museum and it was amazing! I couldn't use my flash so most of the pictures didn't turn out. But here are some:

You can't really tell, but there was a HUGE pin actually poking out of that. It was a really cool 3D effect.
Bent wire trellis. Sooo cool.
That's all different kinds of wood

What the...?

Later that night, we went to an outdoor movie at the park. We met this guy:

His name is Blue. He is a Great Dane and was taller than me. While we were talking I sat down on the bench for a second to fix my shoe. Blue did this:

I though he would get off after just a second but....

Nope! He just likes sitting on laps I guess.

The movie was fabulous. It was Casablanca. If you haven't seen it, add it to your list because it is really good. We went with some of Melodie's friends and they followed us home after. We were up till 2 just talking and watching little parts of the old animated X-Men.

Last day was Sunday. We just went to church and drove home. You think, "oh ok just a boring travel day". I say, "wrong!" Why, you ask?

Wait. And. See.

Sometimes and sometimes not

Sometimes... I get bored. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I color really cool pictures. Usually in church. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I spin in my work chair. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I wonder why and how so many stupid people roa

m the earth. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I am real fascinated by random objects. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I have the attention span of a squirrel. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I sleep on the balcony. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I am amazed how many nice people the world has. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I redo conversations in my head the way they should have happened. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I sing real loud when I think no one's home. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I wish I could speak lots of other languages. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I practice my ugly faces while I brush my teeth. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I wear my lucky shirt. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I am awed by how much people love each other. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I have dance parties. By myself. But sometimes not.

Sometimes... I blog. But sometimes not.

In all my glory

So....everyone and their dog has a blog. Literally. http://dogblog.dogster.com/ A dog blog. Weird. Anyway I have really failed at my goal of keeping a journal so I decided to give this a try and see how it turns out. Wish me luck.

Ok so I am Aubrey. I am super awesome. I do cool stuff.

It's ok to be jealous of my astounding beauty.

I am super blessed with the people in my life. They are for realsies the coolest ever.

I love lots of things and I only hate one thing. Namely, math. I'm super excited for school to re-start but in the meantime, I am really enjoying the summer sun and sleeping till noon several times a week. I listen to only the best music and do only the coolest things.

That is about it for today. Enjoy!