I was featured in the Monster Parade at Travelin Oma. I love her blog. It's so thought provoking and fun all at the same time! Check it out.

Matt brought in Olive Garden breadsticks with alfredo sauce for treat day. I really think I love him today.

Friday Morning Phone Call

Today, while at work, I answered a phone call that proceeded to go like this:

Me- How may I help you?
D-bag Customer- Ya, I deposited a check earlier this morning and it doesn't show that it's available in my account.
Me- Well sir, when a check is deposited, it clears overnight and isn't available until next day. (He's been a customer for months. This has never been an issue.)
D-bag Customer- No! That's unacceptable! You're going to change that for me right now. Here's my account number.
Me- Sir, I understand your frustration, but it's just policy. I can't do anything to make it clear faster. (Keep in mind, as the conversation progresses, I show a lot more attitute and blatant pissed-offed-ness)
D-bag Customer- Yes. You ARE going to make my money available. I'm sick of this bank!
Me- I'm sorry, sir.
D-bag Customer- Well you should be!
Me- Would you like to talk to my manager?
D-bag Customer- Um. Yes.

I tell my manager, who's in a meeting with my coworker this customer's name and how our conversation went. He proceeds to say, "Not him again. Ya, I'll take the call. Just give me a minute." D-bag customer holds for a few minutes, the phone rings again and it's him.

D-bag Customer- Hi. It's me again. I've been holding for 6 minutes.
Me- I'm sorry. I told my manager you were holding, he was in a meeting, and he said it would be a minute.
D-bag Customer-Well I have better things to do than to hold on the phone all day for the manager!
Me- Sir, you're the one who wanted to talk to the manager. I told you it would be a minute, and he's finishing up his meeting.
D-bag Customer- This is ridiculous!
Me- Well, it's just our policy. I don't make the rules. We're not doing this to be belligerent. This is how it is for everyone, not just you.
D-bag Customer- Well I'm not everyone, am I?!
Me-Okay well looks like Matt just freed up. Bye.

He then told Matt that he IS in fact, better than every other customer, and just had lunch with the CEO of Zion's bank. Matt then says, "Well, did you yell at him, like you do with me and all of my staff?" Hahaha. Sometimes, I love him.

Welcome to my job.

148

And...here we go!

1. It was a dark and stormy night, exactly how I love it.

2. Reading is my passion, so I offered to take the books myself.

3. Rushing out, but cruising by.

4. Ew I hate coyotes...I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... Listen to voices on the wind.

6. Trick or treat! Trick or treat! Give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to a Tongan Halloween dance, tomorrow my plans include a Halloween date :), and Sunday, I want to relax at movie night!

So Clarissa had a dream about me last night. I won't go into detail, but I can't stop thinking about it. It's weird. Her dreams have a tendency to become reality. It's kind of freaking me out a bit.

When I woke up this morning, I noticed I only had one earing in. I found my earing in my bed thinking I had probably lost the back, but no, I found it, with the back of it securely on. I do some interesting things when I sleep.

Things are going so well for me right now. I couldn't ask for more.

Ode to hot cocoa

Starbucks is usually not my favorite, but last year, as a seasonal treat, they made their Signature Hot Chocolate. This drink was so spectacularly delicious that they kept it around indefinitely. It's a dark chocolate hot cocoa with whipped cream, drizzled caramel and sea salt. It's probably my favorite thing in the world right now. Just bitter enough, but not as much as coffee. It's perfection in a cup. Mmmm.

Bag Envy: Part 2

I want this bag from Urban Outfitters so badly. AND it's on sale. I'm so obsessed with plum(and also mustard) right now.

I'm not so happy with Modcloth.com right now. There's a huge sale going on. I found like 5 amazing items, including a bowling bag, a scarf, a necklace, earings, and shoes, that totaled $45 including shipping(I know, right?!). As I checked out, the site malfunctioned and by the time I got on the phone with someone, the earings and the purse were sold out. I ended up just nixing the whole order. There's my sad moment for the day.

Impressive.

So, I just have to say, my friend Lindsay probably has the rad-est blog ever. Her blog is one of the first ones discovered and fell in love with. She's got killer taste in evverything from music, to movies, to photography. She also takes some pretty awesome pictures herself. Check it out.

P.S. Tried the candy corn yesterday...Epic fail. I guess it had to happen sometime.

Me and Robyn last night. And these are for Clarissa.

Scones!

Last night I finally bought the ingredients I needed to make chocolate chip scones! My best friend growing up always brought these delecious morsels to school and would share with me. I loved them. Almost more than life. Haha. The other day, I was at this blog when I stumbled upon a recipe for them (I left out the hazelnuts)! I was so excited to try it. After some stressing about whether the consistency was right, they came out perfect. Mmm. Delicious. :)


Image from Angry Chicken

I've also discovered that people in Utah think scones look like some variation of this:


Michelle was sorely dissappointed to see what real scones look like. Kathy is afraid to try one. Oh well. Me and Robyn (and Julie) thought they were amazing. :)

Another baking success for me! Next on the agenda: Homemade candy corn. I can't wait.

Back in business. Thank. Goodness.

So bugged.

My phone got shut off. If you need to reach me, I guess you're out of luck. Awesome.

147

And...here we go!

1. The crickets sing, melodic symphonies.

2. You can make the best of any situation wherever you are.

3. I want to get far away from the snow before it hits.

4. I was in the MTC and Natalie was showing me around; this was a dream.

5. But as for me I will always have hope.

6. I know and love where I come from

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a night in, tomorrow my plans include work and a date and Sunday, I want to study the scriptures and hit up ward prayer!

Today is shaping up to be a really good day. :)

Thankful Thursday!

Here are some things I'm thankful for today:
-Natalie Bautner! Faithfully serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
-Nyquil and 800 Milligram ibuprofen
-Lanea had her little one yesterday! Welcome to the world little girl!
-I have a job in an enconomy where many people don't.
-Yoga Wednesdays
-Lovely fall weather
-Oreos. We have a love/hate relationship.
-Institute
-Amazing, incredible, wonderfully delightful friends and roommates.
-Losing 5lbs! What, what!

Mis Dientes

Today is the day. I'm officially done with all of my dental work!!! I've been seriously blessed with great friends who hooked me up with this great dentist (Dr. Baugh), and his wonderful staff, who took such good care of me! He even gave me a suitcase for my mission! Now that my teeth won't be worked on every week, they can move on to more adventurous things! Haha.


On a side note, I went to Barnes and Noble today to get a copy of Rigoberta Menchu's book, the one I'm writing my Spanish paper on, in English. I found it, read the corresponding pages and was severely dissatisfied. I'm not great at Spanish, but I'm good enough to know when something gets lost in translation. I was hoping to understand more from the English version, but apparently, some things just shouldn't be translated.

Best 30 Rock Episode EVER

A Margarita Debayle

So, it isn't very often that I am enraptured by what I'm learning in my Spanish class, but the other day we had to read a poem by Rubén Darío entitled, "A Margarita Debayle." It's so beautiful and a lovely example of the Atonement. If you know Spanish, definitely give it a shot.

Margarita está linda la mar,
y el viento,
lleva esencia sutil de azahar;
yo siento
en el alma una alondra cantar;
tu acento:
Margarita, te voy a contar
un cuento:

Esto era un rey que tenía
un palacio de diamantes,
una tienda hecha de día
y un rebaño de elefantes,
un kiosko de malaquita,
un gran manto de tisú,
y una gentil princesita,
tan bonita,
Margarita,
tan bonita, como tú.

Una tarde, la princesa
vio una estrella aparecer;
la princesa era traviesa
y la quiso ir a coger.

La quería para hacerla
decorar un prendedor,
con un verso y una perla
y una pluma y una flor.

Las princesas primorosas
se parecen mucho a ti:
cortan lirios, cortan rosas,
cortan astros. Son así.

Pues se fue la niña bella,
bajo el cielo y sobre el mar,
a cortar la blanca estrella
que la hacía suspirar.

Y siguió camino arriba,
por la luna y más allá;
más lo malo es que ella iba
sin permiso de papá.

Cuando estuvo ya de vuelta
de los parques del Señor,
se miraba toda envuelta
en un dulce resplandor.

Y el rey dijo: «¿Qué te has hecho?
te he buscado y no te hallé;
y ¿qué tienes en el pecho
que encendido se te ve?».

La princesa no mentía.
Y así, dijo la verdad:
«Fui a cortar la estrella mía
a la azul inmensidad».

Y el rey clama: «¿No te he dicho
que el azul no hay que cortar?.
¡Qué locura!, ¡Qué capricho!...
El Señor se va a enojar».

Y ella dice: «No hubo intento;
yo me fui no sé por qué.
Por las olas por el viento
fui a la estrella y la corté».

Y el papá dice enojado:
«Un castigo has de tener:
vuelve al cielo y lo robado
vas ahora a devolver».

La princesa se entristece
por su dulce flor de luz,
cuando entonces aparece
sonriendo el Buen Jesús.

Y así dice: «En mis campiñas
esa rosa le ofrecí;
son mis flores de las niñas
que al soñar piensan en mí».

Viste el rey pompas brillantes,
y luego hace desfilar
cuatrocientos elefantes
a la orilla de la mar.

La princesita está bella,
pues ya tiene el prendedor
en que lucen, con la estrella,
verso, perla, pluma y flor.

* * *

Margarita, está linda la mar,
y el viento
lleva esencia sutil de azahar:
tu aliento.

Ya que lejos de mí vas a estar,
guarda, niña, un gentil pensamiento
al que un día te quiso contar
un cuento.

Los Fines de Semana

So nothing too exciting going on right now, although I did have one of the most wonderful, absolutely perfect weekends ever.
Friday night: I went to Erin's wedding reception. She looked so beautiful! It's wierd to not have her around. After, I got a big group together and saw Where the Wild Things Are. It was very well done, but all in all, super emotionally draining (and quite scary at some points). Despite this, I was with some of the people I love most in the world, and Alyssa and I drew some stellar mustache fingers.
Saturday:Deep cleaned the whole house with Julie then Alyssa came over. The three of us went to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes (so tasty!), then went shopping at Target and World Market for some home necessities. Afterwards, we picked up Michelle and went on a hike in the Wasatch-Cache Forest. I've never really been hiking, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it, especially since all the leaves have changed in the mountains. It gave me a little taste of home. Later, I just did a bunch of homework and it was lights out.
Sunday: Me and Liz did some of our visiting teaching. I went to church, and as always, was lovely. After, Liz, Julie, and I sang Disney songs and showtunes. It sounds mundane, I know, but it was SO fun. Like no joke. I love those ladies. We decided to go for a nice Sunday walk through the park, so of course we called Michelle, and she brought James. We threw leaves, swung on swings, sang and laughed...a lot. We ran home, where our home teachers were waiting for us, went to ward prayer, and had movie night (We watched Ghostbusters. Classic).
Monday (not the weekend I know, but still awesome): I did some last minute homework, skipped Personal Finance, went for a bit of Spanish, got hit on at a red light by a chubby guy with some serious tattoos, worked and went to the Stake Musical. It was so good! Shout out to all my amazingly talented friends who made it happen!

This whole weekend was full of lovely fall weather that was just chilly and windy enough. It rained a bit too. We found perfection in the ordinary.

#146

And...here we go!

1. So are we going to take a drive?

2. The unimaginable is what's up ahead.

3. I love to love.

4. I really want chocolate of some sort.

5. I walk a straight and narrow path.

6. Having childish enthusiasm is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Where the Wild Things Are and Erin's reception, tomorrow my plans include homework, homework, and more homework and Sunday, I want to do the usual!

Where the Wild Things Are tonight at 10:45 at Century 16 at Fort Union. Everyone's invited!

Stresssssssss.

Today I'm super stressed. I really just want to drop out of school, though I never would because of my own sense of responsibility and the fact that the guilt would eat me alive. Really, it's just Spanish that is killing me. I have to write a critical analisis (all in spanish) on an excerpt from Rigoberta Menchu's book, Me Llamo Rigoberta Menchu y Asi Me Nacio La Conciencia. I barely understand the excerpt from the book, and I'm not advanced in speaking, let alone writing in Spanish, so how the heck am I supposed to write this?! I have no idea. I need some serious help.

It Started Feeling Like October

So I couldn't find a version of Annie Use Your Telescope that I could put on here, so go to the Jack's Mannequin website and check it out. This song my October theme song (and not just because it's says "It started feling like October"). It signifies a whole new change that took place in me. Also, it's a ridiculously beautiful song. Enjoy.

Fotografia

I love love love these pictures by Jena Ardell.

I hope they call me on a mission

So I talked to the bishop and, drumroll please..... I can start my papers!!! Granted, this is the first time he, or I have ever done them (him being a brand new bishop and all), so it will probably take a bit longer than normal, but I'm doing it! It has begun! I'll keep you all updated. :)

To learn a little bit more about my church, go here.

Viernes

1. Sweet dreams for the good at heart.

2. Next month is going to be a great one, especially for me.

3. Silliness here and there can be just what the doctor ordered.

4. I have the sickest costume this Halloween.

5. Outstanding or not, warrants for your arrest are never good.

6. To not be working is what I want right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning the house, tomorrow my plans include going to the temple and Sunday, I want to take it easy!

Dixie came and visited me at work today as a surprise! She brought me juice and we went to lunch. It totally made my day. :)

Such good weather today! I wish it was always like this!

Dissociative

So today a lady came in and opened an account. She requested we put a comment for the tellers to see. This was the comment:

"Jane Doe has multiple personality disorder. When running transactions for her, verify her identity by asking if she is in fact Jane Doe or another personality."

Apparently one of her other personalities can be quite spendy.

This whole event spurred a slew of ridiculous jokes such as:
"Maybe we can catch her other pesonality one day and get her to open another account! Maybe we can open new accounts for all of her personalities! We'd make campaign by next week!"

"Christina! Get her to bring you to lunch. Get every one of her personalities to bring you to lunch! You won't have to eat for 3 years!"

And so on. Ohhhh, sometimes I love people.

My shins hurt. Ow.

And. Nobody says "Bless you" anymore. It's not a huge deal, but isn't it just polite to say it? What do you all think?

It started feeling like October.

It's finally October! Thank goodness! I had a pretty delightful weekend. Friday night I did a bit of homework, though I would have rather been at Leah's birthday party (Everyone went to the Haunted Forest) :( Funds were low, so it didn't happen. This last weekend was the General Conference for my church. It's when the leaders of my church speak of the many ways we are blessed and remind us of the covenants we've made and temptations to avoid (just to name a few subjects). This year I was so excited to watch it. We have a living prophet here on the earth! He recieves direct revelation from God! How amazing is that?! Saturday, for the first time, I watched both conference sessions. I usually have to work, but a girl I work with was nice enough to cover for me. It was so lovely. I got to hang out with Julie's family, make chocolate chip cookies, roll down a hill, watch Julie throw rocks at geese, go for a run, do a little more homework, and be spiritually uplifted. What could be better than that? Sunday, conference was wonderful. My favorite talks were in the second session when Elder Holland and Elder Nielson spoke. I just can't get over it. I love General Conference! Anyways...Haha, after conference yesterday, Liz brought out her Halloween Decorations (5 boxes worth) and we went crazy. Our house is completely decked out and lookin fab. I love decorating for Halloween because it reminds me that Christmas is coming soon (Yay!). I went to ward prayer later, where I saw an old friend who moved to Seattle a bit ago. I was so excited to see him! He really is the bomb. I think the phrase originated when someone tried to describe him. Haha. Today I skipped Personal Finance and institute. I just went to Spanish, despite the fact that I hate it. We got our tests back. I thought I did awful, but as it turns out, going to institute that morning and praying my heart out helped me and I got an A. My teacher also told me I'm doing great in the class and there's no need for me to do busy work anymore! That was such a relief.

In class today we started learning about Guatemala and the blantant violation of human rights that has been, and is still going on there. People who try to take a stand are murdered in cold blood. People are dissappearing. On one specific occasion, protesters were being killed in the streets as people in the Spanish embassy watched. They could have opened the doors and helped save some lives, but because of politics and the global effect of taking such action, they did nothing. Rigoberta Menchu Tum, an author and political activist for the indigenous people of Guatemala has suffered so much because of this political unrest and blatant disregard of human life. Her mother, father, and brother were all murdered. Some people even see their family killed in front of them. I was brought to tears. The world has really become an awful place. I'm so greatful I live in America. I'm greatful I have the pillar of light that is the gospel. In a world like ours, we can't afford to not have faith that there is something better.

There is my Monday commentary for you all. From ecstatic to tormented, these are my emotions today.

Another Friday

And...here we go!

1. I have a history of never liking any job I have.

2. How to not try to please everyone is something I wish I knew.

3. I'm eating (or recently ate) a delicious peach muffin from Albertsons.

4. I wish I could be on the road.

5. So that's it, that's how it's going to be.

6. Something is better than nothing!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing, tomorrow my plans include conference (yay!) and Sunday, I want to watch some more conference!

Sometimes I really hate work. And my managers. High five for negative reinforcement. Gotta love it.

Yesterday