Boys Kill Brain Cells

Alright kids, I have been trying unsuccessfully to think of something interesting to blog about. But since life has been fairly uneventful for a while, you get to hear some random rantings instead. Ready?


Here we go.


Once upon a time, not very long ago, I was a relatively intelligent person. Seriously. I know it's difficult to believe, but take my word for it.

"What happened?" You may wonder. Well, let me tell you. . .

Boys happened.

And now, I am getting dumber by the day.

Coincidence? I think not.


For most of my life, guys were hardly on the radar. I never bothered to learn the fine art of flirting. During my years in Junior High and High School when your average girls are perfecting these skills, I was shy to the point of being anti-social. Probably didn't help that I was overweight and had bangs that resembled a buffalo stuck to my forehead and tended to wear clothes that were not exactly flattering. (No, I'm not being mean to myself. Just stating facts. I do have photographic evidence if required.) So the male population and I blissfully ignored each other. And although I was disappointed that life was not like what was depicted on "Saved By the Bell", at least my brain cells remained intact.


Then I got a little older and came out of my shell a bit. Not entirely sure this was a good idea. Couple years ago I even started dating. Not entirely sure this was a good idea, either. About this same time, I have noticed a drop in my I.Q. Why else would I do these things that show a remarkable lack of reason and intelligence? For example:

- My mood can be changed dramatically by a text or e-mail (or lack thereof). We are talking Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde territory here.
- I have stare-downs with my phone when I naively believe that a guy will call when he says he will. My phone is very good at this game and wins 9 times out of 10. I suspect illegal doping.
- I'm actually scared to text guys, because I absolutely HATE the period of waiting to see if he'll text back or not.
- Calling is even worse. I'm scared that he'll answer and I'll be expected to put together comprehensible sentences. If he doesn't, I wonder if he's ignoring me.
- I have the almost-irresistible urge to hit married/involved people who claim to miss dating. I'd trade this "exciting" phase of my life for the "routine" feeling of having someone there no matter what any day. I know marriage/exclusive relationships have their own sets of issues and problems. But it would be a welcome change from this insanity.

See? I know all these behaviors are ridiculous, and yet I can't seem to help myself. What other conclusion is there but that boys cause brain damage?

Case dismissed.

Cruises and Bruises

So I am a big blogging slacker. I know it's been many weeks, and I apologize. Instead of trying to get everything that's happened (because really, there hasn't been much.) I'll just start from where I am now.

The major event would probably be my Caribbean cruise. Instead of boring you all with a day-by-day description, I'll just post some pictures to prove I was there:


Judy, me, Indra the Bartender, Kristi, and Ben the E.M.T

Me, Judy, Pete the monkey, and Kristi

All of us at dinner. The big guy is Nate, Kristi's cousin

Me and some native dancers at Roatan

The girls

I have a bunch more pictures on my facebook and myspace (yes, I have both. I am just that dorky). We all had a great time enjoying the tropical weather and making new friends. Not to mention eating obscene amounts of very yummy food. I miss my 2 A.M. frozen yogurt runs!!

Christmas was also a good time, as usual. No longer the frantic run from place to place like it was when I was younger. Different, but sill good. This year my mom and dad picked me up Christmas Eve Eve and we took the Frontrunner up to Layton. Well, first we were too slow getting to the door, so there was an unscheduled stop in Clearfield, but luckily there was another train to take us back. Christmas Eve was spent buying last minute gifts before enjoying some tasty pizza while watching movies.

Christmas Day we went down to the Zauggs for breakfast and the opening of presents. Delicious french toast made by Preston! Finally Arden got to open those packages she's been having to stare at for so long! She's getting to be old enough to understand about presents and Santa and all that good stuff. Dax was happy as long as he had interesting things to explore with his mouth. We had a good day of opening and playing with presents.

For New Years I'll be going up to my friend Jeana's for a party. (Weather Permitting) I was invited to go to Disneyland, but too short of notice and short of funds to take this trip. Not too sad since I'll be going in February! Yay Disneyland!! I'll be in serious need of a break from winter by that point.

So now you are up to speed. Oh wait, boy news: A couple of dates with some nice guys that were enjoyable, but didn't lead anywhere. I found out that Jeff now has a girlfriend, so I guess I waited too long (duh) and blew that one in specatular fashion. I pretty much figured that's what would happen, but still. Ouch. Wasn't meant to be, everything happens for a reason, live and learn, blah blah blaaaaaaahhh.

Dating straight up sucks sometimes :-( Especially when the crap I go through is my own fault.

So . . . who's gonna make me some chocolate cake?

Ummm . . .

It's been a while since I blogged.
There's a very good explaination for this.
Abso-freakin'-lutely nothing new to blog about.
Things have been pretty low-key since the last almost-moving debacle. Still waiting for whatever reason I'm supposed to stay here for to make itself known. Starting to think it never will. Work is fine. Still slow, but doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so that's good news. We keep waiting for the holiday rush to start. Hopefully it will soon.

I know people most want to hear about the guy situation. Well, it has come to a grinding halt for the time being. My own fault, really. Haven't talked to Jeff in going on a couple of months now. The last time we went out it was rather awkward. I was getting pretty attached to the boy, and my unique way of showing this is to pretty much freak out on the inside, and become an uncommunicative, emotionless shell on the outside when in the presence of the guy. ( This only happens with decent guys. When I go for the jerks I'm totally fine.) Add to that he was not in the best mood, pretty stressed over school starting and frustrated over a project due the next day. Not the most fun date ever. Since then, I have thought up every excuse in the world to not call him, even though I still think about him often. So for my sanity's sake I guess it's time to grow up, dial the digits, and deal with whatever comes after that. I've been very good at eating healthier and cutting down fairly dramatically on my junk food intake. But I foresee comfort food in the form of chocolate cake in my near future.

Speaking of eating healthier, and on a positive note, I had a "Yay for me!" moment today. I've been strength training for a few months now. I'm stuck home being on call for work a lot, can't go anywhere since I may get called into work at any moment, so this started from sheer boredom. I'm getting some definition in my arms and legs, which is nice to finally see after months and months. And this evening while getting ready to go out with friends, I noticed if I flex reeeeeaaallly hard, I can see the top two sections of little baby six pack abs. I have a two pack! Sure, I have to really contract those muscles hard while holding my breath to see it, but still I did a little happy dance in my bathroom. Gotta take the little victories where they come.

I wish I had something less drama and vanity-related. But this is all I have for now. Maybe next time.

The Universe Has Spoken

Ok, I get the hint.

Powers that are larger than myself seem to want me to be right where I am, so I am giving up my attempts to move before my lease is up.

I was up at my parent's house today when my dad told me he'd help me out with my rent for a few months if I stay where I am. It can be treacherous in the winter on the east bench, and the thought of my having to drive on those snowy roads worried him. I was just about to leave for a friend's house and was caught off-guard by the proposal, so told him I'd think about it.

After weighing the choices, I decided to take his offer and stay put at the risk of looking like a huge flake to all the people I keep telling I'm going to move, and then never following through. I called the girl who had shown interest in taking over my lease and told her I'd changed my mind. The call I was really dreading was to my friend I was going to be living with to tell him I was ditching out. I wanted to do it in person and not over the phone, so was resisting calling him all day even after he sent me multiple texts asking to call when I could. I thought if I'm going to alienate or possibly lose a good friend, I could at least let him yell at me in person.

Finally he sent a text saying: "call me asap Val . . . we're not living there anymore"

Huh?

So I called. He told me he'd caught the landlady going through our things under the pretense of looking for duct tape. He'd been suspecting that she was nosing around for a few days now, and was even sure she'd been on his computer at one point. There were some words exchanged and he let her know that we would be moving our things out of the house very soon and not to expect rent next month.

Whoa.

Sometimes life works out in strange ways. I'm not generally a lucky person, so when things fall into place so smoothly and so quickly, and best of all with friendships preserved, I can't help but think it wasn't all simply coincidence. Whatever the reason, I guess I'm where I'm supposed to be for now.

Swinging Chandelier

Ah. Apartment living. Makes one feel so close to mankind. Or at least to the herd of guys in the apartment above. Not sure what it is they're doing up there every night that causes the chandelier to move like that. But it involves loud music and stomping and jumping that I suppose could be dancing, man-style. I'm guessing Guitar Hero. It's good music, and generally I'm not trying to sleep, although my roommates are probably less than amused since they're both in bed by 10 or 10:30. I actually find it kind of comforting to hear signs of life around me. It makes me giggle to hear them laugh and hoot and holler, so I say "rock on, boys!"

Work is much busier this week, despite further plungings of the stock market. I do double shifts on Thursdays, and today I did as many massages as I usually do in 2-3 days. Tuesday and Wednesday both filled up too, and I know I have another busy day tomorrow, starting off with back-to-back 90 minute deeps. This next paycheck may actually not suck! With the cold weather coming to drive everyone inside, I'm very much hoping to have more weeks like this.

On a more festive note, I did go to a haunted house last Saturday. Well, the Haunted Hollow up in Ogden, strangely enough, and I was tricked into going. I went costume shopping with my friend Kristi and her roommate Sam. Kristi had made plans to meet with her cousins and some of their friends for dinner at The Pie after the Priesthood session. Sam feels much the same way I do about haunted houses, so Kristi chose to omit the fact that we were doing the haunted house thing until we were on our way to dinner. Tricksy. But we both survived, and had a good time. It helped we were in a group of about 14 people. And yes, I made people do the arm-linking thing with me. We now have plans to go to Vegas with one of these cousins and his friendlies for Halloween. Should be fun!

So, guess what? I'm moving. For sure this time. It's kinda far, about 80th south and way east. But close to freeways so it won't take me much longer to get to work. The rent there is over $100 less than it is here, which is my main reason for going. Utilities will also be pretty cheap. It's a basement apartment, so we'll be splitting our half of the costs 3 ways. My friend Brady has already taken care of our first months rent and started moving in yesterday. I have to get my stuff packed and get someone to take over my lease here, which I already have a couple people interested in. Our 3rd roomie, Chelsea, is a student from Southern Utah and will be moved in soon as well. Only problem is, the place already has a washer and dryer. Since more than likely I'll be there less than a year, I don't want to sell mine then have to buy another set in a matter of months. Does anyone have room to store a washer and dryer for 6 months - a year at the most? Or if you know anyone who needs some, I'd even loan them out to a good home as long as I can have them back when needed.

That's it for now. Tune in next week. Same bat time, same bat channel.

High Times, Hard Times

So I guess this is what is known as the "hard times". I've been somewhat in denial about it. Kinda hoping if I just ignored it, it would go away and life would return to normal. That does not seem to be happening, so I guess it's time for me to make some decisions.

Work has slowed down to a very frightening trickle. This comes as a sad blow, since just a couple of weeks ago we were very nearly back to normal. Unfortunately, the you-know-what then hit the fan on Wall Street. I've been noticing a direct correlation to how the economy is reported to how busy we'll be at work. When things are holding or looking up, people come in. When things go south, or in this case right down the toilet, appointments are cancelled and the phones don't ring. And those few who do come in are stingy with the tips.

So now I have to decide how to best handle this, and I admit I'm at a loss. Do I grit my teeth and stay put? I love where I work and have been very happy there, and would be sad to have to leave. Also, the holiday season is right around the corner, always (at least in the past) a busy time at the spa. I'm not losing money at this point, but if things get much worse I will be. Do I start looking for a second job and cut back on the days I work at the spa? And if I do that, should I look for another massage job or fall back on my only other job skill which is retail/sales? (Which I hated and why I went to massage school in the first place to escape from.) Also, and this would be my last resort, at what point do I cut and run completely, hoping to return when/if things even out? Being a grown-up SUCKS!!!

So that's my main source of crazy-making these days. I've kinda put boys on the back burner for now, as I can only handle one disaster at a time. So feel free to send any advice my way. As well as lottery tickets or rich bachelors :-)

Me too, me too!!

Thought I might as well jump on the band wagon.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Not to my knowledge

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I'd rather not answer that one . . .

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I do. It's messy and unique. Like me :-)

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Tuna!

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nopers. Two fishies though.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD THEY BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Ummm . . . I think fishies aren't too social.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Who, me? Nah . . .

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
What's left of them, yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Oh yeah!! Bring it on!!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
My yummy vanilla Kashi stuff. Kinda oatmeal-esque warm cereal. Very good with strawberries and banannas

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not if I don't have to.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Getting there

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Homemade vanilla

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Mouth/smile. I have a bit of a lip fetish, especially on guys.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My habit of second-guessing myself.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Depends on the day.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Sure

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
None. I like barefoot.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Fruit Gushers Blue Bursters. Fruit snacks with blue stuff in the middle. Very grown-up and sophisticated.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The crickets chirping outside. They won't be doing that for much longer.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Greenish-blue. Or blueish-green.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Fudge cooking, reminds me of Christmas. Hard to describe it, but that "summer" smell in the air when it finally gets warm. Food cooking when I don't have to make it. I could go on for days.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Brady, couple days ago. I don't talk on the phone much.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yep. Hi Mom!!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Soccer and Hockey, but I enjoy just about any sport. Except golf.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Brown

28. EYE COLOR?
Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Cheese fries!! Although Cadbury Eggs are fabulous, not sure they count as food.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
At the theater, Iron Man. Otherwise, Holes at my parents yesterday

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Yucky black work shirt

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
All of the above

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Chocolate cake with lots of frosting
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Dunno

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
Dunno

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
This Is Your Brain on Music. It talks about how our brains respond to music, why we tend to like the music from our teenager-hood, why annoying songs get stuck in your head, all kindsa stuff.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Not applicable. Magic tracking thingy I work with my finger!

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Lots of stuff, my parents have satellite. Football, Holes, Batman Begins, Ever After, I forget what else we flipped to.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
I'm a cuddle-er, I love to hear heartbeat and breathing. Ocean waves are up there, too.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Both
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME???
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I think. Or is Orlando farther? Might be Orlando.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Locking my keys in my car.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Lay-uhn
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Whoever decides to do this, too.