11 February 2012
05 February 2012
Super Bowl Sunday...
I think I want to start a new tradition for Super Bowl Sunday, and actually make it all about foods that get served in bowls. Maybe I'm just hungry for traditional super bowl food.
So, this week has been fairly decent for me. At work I did some more driving and passed my CDL test with flying colors. I got to drive around the city, quite a lot more, but there is still so much to learn.
Side note : Joe explaining football to Sarah is great :)
Well, I've felt homesick this week. Mom told me they're going to put my cat down. Dad said he'd call me once it is done, but he hasn't yet. So.. I don't know if she is or isn't dead. It's weird. I love my cat, undoubtedly, and had a huge breakdown the day after she first dropped the bomb. But I understand the necessity of their actions. Just very sad is all.
So, I still feel out of place at my ward. I only see them 1-2 nights a week and that is not enough for me to get to know them and learn their names. It's odd, because I want to, but at the same time, I am cautious about getting attached and comfortable because when I move out of Joe & Sarah's I do not know if I will be living in the boundaries still.
I'm kind of just bored of being bored. I wanted to go to the library Saturday and then ride the train to and from Ogden, but I woke up late and went shopping with Sarah instead. I just feel like there is something I should be doing. Oh, hehehe, I just remembered I have laundry downstairs still. Oh well, guess I need to go take care of that. Nothing really has changed.
So, this week has been fairly decent for me. At work I did some more driving and passed my CDL test with flying colors. I got to drive around the city, quite a lot more, but there is still so much to learn.
Side note : Joe explaining football to Sarah is great :)
Well, I've felt homesick this week. Mom told me they're going to put my cat down. Dad said he'd call me once it is done, but he hasn't yet. So.. I don't know if she is or isn't dead. It's weird. I love my cat, undoubtedly, and had a huge breakdown the day after she first dropped the bomb. But I understand the necessity of their actions. Just very sad is all.
So, I still feel out of place at my ward. I only see them 1-2 nights a week and that is not enough for me to get to know them and learn their names. It's odd, because I want to, but at the same time, I am cautious about getting attached and comfortable because when I move out of Joe & Sarah's I do not know if I will be living in the boundaries still.
I'm kind of just bored of being bored. I wanted to go to the library Saturday and then ride the train to and from Ogden, but I woke up late and went shopping with Sarah instead. I just feel like there is something I should be doing. Oh, hehehe, I just remembered I have laundry downstairs still. Oh well, guess I need to go take care of that. Nothing really has changed.
22 January 2012
What is the World coming to?
When I post three times in three days, something is up! (Probably my mood!)
So I had a very lovely time at church today, once I found the right meeting! There are so many different wards all meeting at the same time in that building! I skipped last week so I missed the information about reorganization. I headed to the old RS room and intercepted a sister who I knew was in the old ward. She directed me upstairs to the northwest chapel. I thought I went there, but ended up in the southwest chapel with the Central YSA 1st Ward. I excused myself from that and found the OTHER chapel and finally recognized some faces! I am happy to report that those people whom I had met previous are still in my new ward, the Central YSA 4th Ward. We are a much smaller group with a new bishopric, which is a great thing; I'm new, they're new, we can figure it all out together! I set myself up with an interview Thursday so I can get to know him a bit better and see how I can help them out, I really desire a calling! So, I'm just glad it is familiar still.
I woke up this morning after barely any sleep, my own fault. I really did not want to go to church. The only good thing is that I live so close to the building that I can wake up an hour before it starts and still get there on time! (Now if I had to blowdry my hair and scrape snow off my windows I don't know.) It took me fifteen minutes to scrape the snow off my car's front and side windows enough for me to get going to church. My feet were freezing!! It started snowing yesterday around 3pm and did not stop until after 11pm. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, it is covered outside! Beautiful and white! I am really digging the Utah snow because while it is still cold, it melts away really fast from the roads and sidewalks and is left clinging to the trees and grass. So I love it! Plus, the snow cleared up the nasty inversion of smog and the valley is breathtaking! It makes me wish I had a camera and, more so, the desire to hike up a mountain to take pictures of it.
Well, not much else to say. I think I'll share with Grant tomorrow what I felt today in church. That way I can build up a whole week's worth of work stories to share with him the next time.
So I had a very lovely time at church today, once I found the right meeting! There are so many different wards all meeting at the same time in that building! I skipped last week so I missed the information about reorganization. I headed to the old RS room and intercepted a sister who I knew was in the old ward. She directed me upstairs to the northwest chapel. I thought I went there, but ended up in the southwest chapel with the Central YSA 1st Ward. I excused myself from that and found the OTHER chapel and finally recognized some faces! I am happy to report that those people whom I had met previous are still in my new ward, the Central YSA 4th Ward. We are a much smaller group with a new bishopric, which is a great thing; I'm new, they're new, we can figure it all out together! I set myself up with an interview Thursday so I can get to know him a bit better and see how I can help them out, I really desire a calling! So, I'm just glad it is familiar still.
I woke up this morning after barely any sleep, my own fault. I really did not want to go to church. The only good thing is that I live so close to the building that I can wake up an hour before it starts and still get there on time! (Now if I had to blowdry my hair and scrape snow off my windows I don't know.) It took me fifteen minutes to scrape the snow off my car's front and side windows enough for me to get going to church. My feet were freezing!! It started snowing yesterday around 3pm and did not stop until after 11pm. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, it is covered outside! Beautiful and white! I am really digging the Utah snow because while it is still cold, it melts away really fast from the roads and sidewalks and is left clinging to the trees and grass. So I love it! Plus, the snow cleared up the nasty inversion of smog and the valley is breathtaking! It makes me wish I had a camera and, more so, the desire to hike up a mountain to take pictures of it.
Well, not much else to say. I think I'll share with Grant tomorrow what I felt today in church. That way I can build up a whole week's worth of work stories to share with him the next time.
21 January 2012
Jordan River Temple & Jenna
Today was a very nice day. We went to the Jordan River Temple with Jenna Slaven and her husband Jon. The temple is very beautiful. It is simply and naturally gorgeous. Decorated enough to amaze, but not as intricate or ornate as others, but just amazing in its own way. It was so good to see Jenna after almost half a year. We ate lunch with them at New Thai, which was delicious and then said our goodbyes. We're going to get together again in the future too.
20 January 2012
Finally Working
Today was a grand day! I started working at the Utah Transit Authority. Well, working was not quite what I did today; rather I started the process of working. You know, the legal mumbo jumbo required for me to be in their systems. I was processed thoroughly and now have an identification card and a free rider's pass to raid the buses and Trax system here. I also was able to pick up my three training shirts, which shall be in use until I am able to receive my uniform stipend and purchase my own. I had to purchase new shoes and socks because my own were not black, polish-able shoes and I own no black socks. Thankfully Joe helped me purchase those because I am currently lacking in the funding department. Perhaps I should run for office, then people would give me money :P I kid. I really have no taste for politics. They're to political and too many politicians.
Well, not much really else to tell. Right now I am watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie and I love it! I remember seeing it in theatres with Sam and Ashley Ransom. That bear is so great! However, I LOVE Eeyore the most!!! No rumbling in my tummy! We had pizza for dinner! Tomorrow we are venturing to the West Jordan Temple to have a wonderful time with the Slavens for Jenna's birthday. It should be fun! Oh well.
Well, not much really else to tell. Right now I am watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie and I love it! I remember seeing it in theatres with Sam and Ashley Ransom. That bear is so great! However, I LOVE Eeyore the most!!! No rumbling in my tummy! We had pizza for dinner! Tomorrow we are venturing to the West Jordan Temple to have a wonderful time with the Slavens for Jenna's birthday. It should be fun! Oh well.
17 January 2012
How to Begin...?
Well, I'm here! I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and am living with my brother Joseph and his wife Sarah. How did I get here though? Well, it certainly wasn't an easy process; it was trying both financially and emotionally. I decided, I think in late November. Possibly after my 26th birthday, but I'm not entirely sure. I really just finally felt right about moving to Utah after years of encouragement from Joseph; he's wanted me to go for quite a long time now. He always said that I would love it here and fit right in. I also did a lot of praying about the matter and always felt a sense of peace about it.
My first priority was to find a job before I got to Utah, that way I would not be in dire straits financially. The last thing I wanted to be was a burden to Joe & Sarah when they only have her part time income and school money to rely on. I applied with a small busing company called Red Star Transportation and the owner was really excited to hire me with my experience as a driver trainer. I also applied with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and the Campus Shuttle at the University of Utah where Joe goes to law school. So I was happy to know I had a job when I got there.
Getting there was a little bit more work though. First, I had to tell First Student that I was quitting, which was horrible for me because I did love my job there and the people I worked with. Luckily my manager was amazing and even wrote me a fabulous letter of reference. After that I had to tell everyone at church that I was leaving. That was hard. I wanted to keep it a secret and tried my best, but of course, it had to get out eventually. There were plenty who told me that I could not go, which made me feel guilty. I just wanted to tell people that they should be happy for me and not feel sad. I did not feel sad. I was going to miss some people, surely, a lot of people, but I really was not sad about the decision. I never broke down and cried, I haven't still. I sold most of my dolls, donated the rest of them and a bunch of stuff to Goodwill. I wasn't able to bring more than a box or two of things, all of my clothes, my beanbag chair, my pillows and three blankets. I had to buy an air mattress when I got here (I'll save that woe for later though.)
We left two days after Christmas about 9 in the morning. We stopped over in Denver for the night at our cousin Micheal's house and went to dinner with him & his wife Nicki and Sarah's sister Ginny and her new husband (whose name escapes me.) We went to a great Italian restaurant and then got some cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. I got a piece of their white chocolate blueberry. However, I was too tired to stay up and eat it, so I ate it for breakfast, so healthy right? Hehe! We left the next morning at 7am and made it into Salt Lake City about 4:30pm.
We stayed that first night in Joe & Sarah's original basement apartment, which they were moving out of the next day. That night we packed up that apartment and got it ready to put into a trailer to move. Their Elders Quorum came the next morning and moved them while I attended an orientation meeting with Red Star. I got back from that and dragged all of my stuff into the apartment. After that we had to go to Wal-Mart for some essentials, which for me meant an air mattress because I was not resolved to sleep on either the hard tile floor or the tiny little love seat that I now sit upon. I think I fell asleep the minute it was blown up. Those first couple of nights I was sincerely exhausted and was always going to bed early.
I think the next three weeks can't really be explained day by day, mainly because I do not remember them all that well. I met my new ward, which apparently is too big and was split this past Sunday. There are a lot of people in it and a few nice girls have introduced themselves. The ward clerk is pretty cute in my opinion, but I've always liked the tall ones. I don't work for Red Star anymore because they were really just too green for me to get on board with. All of their buses were at least 20 years old and so out of repair that they barely ran. I did not feel safe with them. So I quit them and applied at the campus shuttle, where Sarah works. They were really cool there and hired me no problem. After my first day of training I finally go the call back from UTA and had to tell the shuttle I would be working for them. They were not pleased, but understood. UTA pays better and has benefits because it is guaranteed hours! My schedule for the next year will be absolutely crazy, but hey, that happens. My air mattress lasted perfectly for about a week and then it got a hole, which has expanded and become quite a pain. I cannot wait to save up some money and buy a real one! Until then, I patched it up with tape and just live with it. I spent a lot of my time, which I have a huge amount to spare, watching shows on Netflix.
Oh, huge side note about Utah! TEMPLES!! There are so many of them here and it is crazy cool to be able to see at least one on a daily basis! So far I have been to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple and the Salt Lake City Temple and on Jenna's birthday I am going to the West Jordan Temple with her, Joe, Sarah, & Jon. I have seen SLC, Mt. Timpanogas, West Jordan (from afar), and Oqquirhh Mountain (from afar.) I am SO excited to go to many more of them. I have attended a live session at the Salt Lake City temple and it was so peculiar. It really was great and made me see things in a different light. I am just really excited to go again and see more. I feel really blessed and I do not know if those living here truly grasp what a blessing it is.
Right now, I'm just waiting until the 20th. That is when I sign my new hire paperwork with UTA and then afterwards I begin training with them. I am so excited to work and have a purpose again, and to start getting paid again!! So, until then, this week I am going to watch television, make some corn chowder, and attend my Institute classes. I guess that is how it goes.
My first priority was to find a job before I got to Utah, that way I would not be in dire straits financially. The last thing I wanted to be was a burden to Joe & Sarah when they only have her part time income and school money to rely on. I applied with a small busing company called Red Star Transportation and the owner was really excited to hire me with my experience as a driver trainer. I also applied with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and the Campus Shuttle at the University of Utah where Joe goes to law school. So I was happy to know I had a job when I got there.
Getting there was a little bit more work though. First, I had to tell First Student that I was quitting, which was horrible for me because I did love my job there and the people I worked with. Luckily my manager was amazing and even wrote me a fabulous letter of reference. After that I had to tell everyone at church that I was leaving. That was hard. I wanted to keep it a secret and tried my best, but of course, it had to get out eventually. There were plenty who told me that I could not go, which made me feel guilty. I just wanted to tell people that they should be happy for me and not feel sad. I did not feel sad. I was going to miss some people, surely, a lot of people, but I really was not sad about the decision. I never broke down and cried, I haven't still. I sold most of my dolls, donated the rest of them and a bunch of stuff to Goodwill. I wasn't able to bring more than a box or two of things, all of my clothes, my beanbag chair, my pillows and three blankets. I had to buy an air mattress when I got here (I'll save that woe for later though.)
We left two days after Christmas about 9 in the morning. We stopped over in Denver for the night at our cousin Micheal's house and went to dinner with him & his wife Nicki and Sarah's sister Ginny and her new husband (whose name escapes me.) We went to a great Italian restaurant and then got some cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. I got a piece of their white chocolate blueberry. However, I was too tired to stay up and eat it, so I ate it for breakfast, so healthy right? Hehe! We left the next morning at 7am and made it into Salt Lake City about 4:30pm.
We stayed that first night in Joe & Sarah's original basement apartment, which they were moving out of the next day. That night we packed up that apartment and got it ready to put into a trailer to move. Their Elders Quorum came the next morning and moved them while I attended an orientation meeting with Red Star. I got back from that and dragged all of my stuff into the apartment. After that we had to go to Wal-Mart for some essentials, which for me meant an air mattress because I was not resolved to sleep on either the hard tile floor or the tiny little love seat that I now sit upon. I think I fell asleep the minute it was blown up. Those first couple of nights I was sincerely exhausted and was always going to bed early.
I think the next three weeks can't really be explained day by day, mainly because I do not remember them all that well. I met my new ward, which apparently is too big and was split this past Sunday. There are a lot of people in it and a few nice girls have introduced themselves. The ward clerk is pretty cute in my opinion, but I've always liked the tall ones. I don't work for Red Star anymore because they were really just too green for me to get on board with. All of their buses were at least 20 years old and so out of repair that they barely ran. I did not feel safe with them. So I quit them and applied at the campus shuttle, where Sarah works. They were really cool there and hired me no problem. After my first day of training I finally go the call back from UTA and had to tell the shuttle I would be working for them. They were not pleased, but understood. UTA pays better and has benefits because it is guaranteed hours! My schedule for the next year will be absolutely crazy, but hey, that happens. My air mattress lasted perfectly for about a week and then it got a hole, which has expanded and become quite a pain. I cannot wait to save up some money and buy a real one! Until then, I patched it up with tape and just live with it. I spent a lot of my time, which I have a huge amount to spare, watching shows on Netflix.
Oh, huge side note about Utah! TEMPLES!! There are so many of them here and it is crazy cool to be able to see at least one on a daily basis! So far I have been to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple and the Salt Lake City Temple and on Jenna's birthday I am going to the West Jordan Temple with her, Joe, Sarah, & Jon. I have seen SLC, Mt. Timpanogas, West Jordan (from afar), and Oqquirhh Mountain (from afar.) I am SO excited to go to many more of them. I have attended a live session at the Salt Lake City temple and it was so peculiar. It really was great and made me see things in a different light. I am just really excited to go again and see more. I feel really blessed and I do not know if those living here truly grasp what a blessing it is.
Right now, I'm just waiting until the 20th. That is when I sign my new hire paperwork with UTA and then afterwards I begin training with them. I am so excited to work and have a purpose again, and to start getting paid again!! So, until then, this week I am going to watch television, make some corn chowder, and attend my Institute classes. I guess that is how it goes.
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