Not Quite a Bucket List

I've been thinking about life a lot and how I don't have a set plan for it. I still don't know if teaching is the career for me and I don't even know what I'll be doing a week from now. I sat myself down and created a list of things I want to do before I graduate college. They are not in any kind of order. I have even reorganized them from what I had orginally written. I just wrote down what I've always wanted to do and haven't done. Some of these are people specific and they will know who they are when they read them.



1. Visit a different country
2. Actually stand up longer than 5 seconds on a surfboard
3. Drink a Margarita
4. Go to New York again
5. Ride a horse without a tour guide
6. Learn to play the guitar
7. Go clubbing
8. Learn to long board
9. Go on a road trip (anywhere!) with friends
10. Go on a real date
11. Ride a motorcycle
12. 4-wheel Lions Back in Moab
13. Be in a FLC play
14. Read the Bible all the way through. Beginning to end.
15. Knit a blanket
16. Eat an exotic dish
17. Go backpacking (either in USA or Europe or both!)
18. Be someone’s mentor
19. Have my first kiss
20. Make someone’s day
21. See Spring Awakening with the Wicklund’s and Krista
22. Go out partying with Liz
23. Write an illegal letter to Taylor
24. Let a guy pursue me
25. Convince my parents to let me get a tattoo
26. Get a tattoo
27. Go salmon snagging
28. Climb a 14'er
29. Go to a real Irish Pub (preferably in Ireland)
30. Visit my Uncle in Hawaii with a friend or two
31. Drive home
32. Go cow tipping
33. Go spelunking (or caving)


This is just a few of the things I have thought of! I hope to reach 50 things to do before I graduate but I just have thought that far ahead. I guarentee that this list will change. More will be added on and maybe a few will be taken off depending on how I grow as a person.


Feel free to give me ideas of things I should do. I am open for any ideas whether they be silly or serious. Hope you find this list amusing/interesting/stupid!

Fall Is Beautiful

Fall is here and what a beautiful fall it is! I am absolutly loving it here in Durango. It is so exciting the transformation I've gon through from last year to this year. Last year at this time, I had met Amber and moved into her dorm room in Cooper. I had just gotten out of a horrible roommate situation and was just getting back on my feet. This year, I am living off campus with my wonderful roommate Susannah and we are loving it.

I just got back from the most amazing weekend ever!! The Connect group went up to Cascade Lodge and partied it up from Friday to Sunday.

The view from the Lodge.

Friday: We got to the lodge at around 8. It was dark and really chilly outside. After we played get to know you games and heard Malcolm and Emily's testimonies, a group of 20 of us decided to go for a night hike up to Spud Lake. It was an amazing midnight hike! The lake was calm and still and the stars were beautiful. The ride up and back was bumpy mainly because we were all stuffed in the beds of 2 trucks and we were 4-wheeling it up a rocky road. I wouldn't trade that hike for the world!!

CUDDLE PUDDLE (of girls)

Saturday: When we all woke up, it was poring rain. I figured the day would be boring and uneventful. The lodge has an amazing porch swing that I love to go to to sit and think about life. I sat there and then other joined me. After awhile, Aimee, Erin, Dana, Mikquel, Sam, and I decided to go 4-wheeling up a rocky and muddy road. I think I had the most fun on that ride because of all the mud puddles Sam and I went through and the beautiful scenary. I have never seen such beautiful colors mixed together. There were even waterfalls coming out of mountain crevases, just like it Hawaii. Most times, we don't stop to look around and see how beautiful our earth is. No matter what our societies problems are, the earth goes on looking beautiful.

I have never had such a good weekend. Even though we were having a ton of fun, we also learned about God and how he knows everything about us, even when we put on "masks." I got to be a small group leader which is a different experience for me. We talked about what masks we put on, why we are drawn to genuine people, how we can become a better friend, and so much more. I just wish it could have gone on longer.

Me and some of the girlies!



Practicing for worship

Though I am glad to be back, comfortably nestled in my apartment, I just wish we could have weekends like that every week where we do everything in the glory of God. I'm just very content here.

Film Making

I used to be so sure that my future would lead to teaching. Recently, I am having my doubts. My dad did a commercial for his store and he asked me to be in it. He gave me the script and 30mins later I was set in front of a camera to do my part.

I've always loved acting and I finally got to put my years of summer theatre to the test. After the camera man stopped filming the first commercial, he asked me to improv another commercial on the cream that we make at the store.

I was super excited that I had nailed it! I helped the camera man do a bit more filming and while I was doing that, he offered me a job! He asked if I would help him film some of the commercials and even act in a few of them next summer!

I am really excited to have such an opportunity given to me. I would love to learn the art of movie/commercial making (and to improve my acting!)

I haven't decided what to do yet and I figure I can think about it for awhile, especially since I have almost a year to think about it.

We will see what the future brings!!

A Colorful Day (and next couple of weeks!)

Updates:

Learning to drive a stick. (I currently hate the car I'm learning on.)

Getting braces off on the 14th. (I kept it a secret for awhile!)

2 more weeks of work left. (You can't even imagine my excitement.)

Finding furniture and all the little things for my wonderful condo.


I can't wait to get back to school! I miss all of my great friends down there and I am really excited for them to see the changes I've been through ;)

Susannah and Vanessa's Amazing Condo!!!!

Today was a great day! I am now the proud renter of a condo in Durango and I only have 1 more appointment at the orthodontist before I get my braces off!

The apartment that I rented is on Florida right near the campus. I have an amazing new roommate named Susannah. She's such a nice girl. We look completely different. I'm tall, she's short. I'm light with blond hair, she's dark(er than me) with brown hair. We get along great!!

I have some pictures of the apartment........

This is the 4-plex that it is in. We are on the second floor...

This (I believe) is one of the bedrooms. There is brand new carpet and fresh paint so it's almost new!! (No strange things embedded into the carpet from the previous owners)

This is the living room. I love that it has windows and trees!!

The pink kitchen....

....interesting

The condo looks really comfortable and I'm super excited to live there for the school!!

I tell more about the braces once I get more info, but hopefully I'll get them off in August :)

peace.

Jonas Brothers and Marshmallows

Well, as promised, I am writing a happier blog.

It was a very good day today. I went to church and the sermon really helped me snap out of it. The pastor showed a clip from "Seabiscuit" during the part when we find out that the character played by Tobey Maguire is blind in one eye. The quote, "You don't throw away a whole life just 'cause it's banged up a little." It's not like I've been plotting to "throw away my life," but it made me realize that I have it pretty good.

After church and a delicious lunch at Noodles and Co. I went home and took a nap. I haven't napped since I got home from college in April! It was beautiful.

Last night, I had a Jonas Brothers movie party (yes, I give you permission to laugh hysterically at my lame-ness) and s'more party. After my friends and I watched the entertaining "Camp Rock," we went and roasted marshmallows while being serenaded by my neighbor's amazing piano skills. The movie was amusing and I haven't laughed harder at a Disney movie. I give Disney props for trying to make a music oriented movie. If any television show can get kids interested in music, it's Disney Channel which is GREAT!

You can never promote music or the arts enough.

peace.

This New Thing

It's hard to figure out technology when you are not technologically designed. It's late and I have work tomorrow and I'm still trying to figure this new thing out. I guess I'm trying to be clever but clearly that's not going to happen.

I've just figured out that sometimes I won't talk because I have nothing to say that would enhance the conversation. This comes across as shy or socially dysfunctional when I'm around other people. I've learned to embrace these awkward moments with laughter and silliness. I'm not that shy of a person. It's just that if I have something to say, I'll say it.

Well, my freshly cleaned sheets are calling. It's time for me to take a flying leap onto my bed and rest my head against the pillow and fall into dreamland.

peace.