Party Pics

Here are the promised pictures from my birthday party. As usual I must wear gift wrap, it has sort of become tradition for me, anytime I get a gift.

At Bible study we had learned in China they have a tradition that they put frosting on each other's face, luckily they left me out of this one. Nate got Rachel good though.
My darling Cala. Inbetween Michael and Bryan. She is such a sweetheart.
Michael, Beth, Bryan and Lani all chatting on the stairs. Beth was also wearing the ribbon.
Here I am putting on my new Hog slippers. They are the SOFTEST slippers my feet have ever known.
Naomi, Rachel, Amy, Gena and Lydia all on the couch. Well except for Naomi she took the uncrowded route.
Blowing out my candles. Rachel thinks there were ghosts above the candles. Too much 6th Sense for her. That is weird though.
I am not sure what look Michael was trying to pull off here but I caught him. Bryan is sucked into the Hogs game. They kept turning the radio on to check the score.
Nate and Aimee. Aren't they cute.
Me and my sister.

Count Down

11 hours and 35 minutes until it is officially my BIRTHDAY. Can you tell I am excited? This weekend Rachel threw me a party with all our friends. It was fun, and actually we had it on my dad's birthday. Don't worry we called and talked to him for a total of 35 minutes. That may just be some sort of record. My dad is a man of few words. I have tons of pictures but I forgot to bring my memory card with me today. I will upload some tomorrow. We had pizza, cheese dip and Velveeta shells and cheese (my friend I think I can safely say is addicted) we talked the whole time. And that night we gained an hour. You would think after gaining an hour this weekend I would be fresh and ready for work at 6 this morning. I guess I was really tired last night at 9 when I went to sleep because I set my alarm to go off at 5 pm not am. So I woke up at 6:30 about and decided to use some of my left over holiday time and just go to work after class. That is the first time that has happened to me in a LONG time.
For my birthday Rachel will be taking me out to Crazy Hibachi for dinner. I am so excited. They have the BEST fried rice I have ever had in my entire life. YUM! I will actually be going to work, because I did not want to take a Tuesday off. So I will be taking Friday off for my birthday. But one of the biggest kill-joys is I have a test that morning. RUIN your day! She could just give me a 100% as a present. But let's be realistic, that won't happen so I need to buckle down and study now.

Getting Excited

My birthday is in less than a week. I am getting more and more excited except for the extra year that will be my age. I know I know give me grief because I am such a baby only turning 24 but I am done with aging now. Stop aging early I think.

Dying Here

So two weeks ago I went home on Thursday because I did not feel well. I ended up staying home Friday too and lounged around. The weekend I took it fairly easy resting a lot. Then I started up a new work week. Things seemed ok until last Thursday. I did not feel like myself. I felt really weak and I realized at about noon that I was not hungry and other than breakfast, which was at 5:30 am I had only had a banana at like 10. Even with my banana I am normally ravenous by 11. I decided to take myself home and into bed at about 1. I started sneezing then and coughing and everything was draining. So when I woke up I felt like someone had rubbed my throat with sandpaper, I guess from breathing so hard out of my mouth that night. I decided it was probably best to just stay home and rest. By noon I had a fever. Just a small one mind you, when I have anything over 100 I am really sick. I just never get fevers. So I rested. My little Hanna was having her 4th birthday party on Saturday. I could not miss it. I slept in and bought a present and went. It was at the Little Gym so I know she would be too busy playing to catch anything from me. So I mostly sat around and took pictures. I chatted with her parents too. Her father is a photography enthusiast also. After an hour and a half I was done for. I went home and wanted to sleep the rest of the day and lay around. But oh no we had to grocery shop. So I leaned on the cart and looked about like I could keel over at any minute. I tried to get it done quickly but my body was not working in quick mode. I was done for the day. Naps and bed and scrapbooking in between was what lay before me.
Oh we also rented Hoodwinked. It was hilarious. Especially the mountain goat with his "Be Prepared" song. I was absolutely rolling. It is a good clean movie too, which is hard to find now-a-days.
Sunday we slept in through Sunday school and went to church. I LOVE choir and we were singing the prettiest song with the kids, so I could not resist. I sang and as I walked down I felt weak and like I could collapse at any moment. Rachel just looked at me and shook her head. She had tried to tell me my lungs could not handle singing. SIGH! She was right. So I am pretty set that I am suffering from bronchitis. I slept until choir practice and moaned that I could not go. Then relaxed the rest of the night.
Monday I went to class, how dedicated am I. I called in sick and got a Dr appointment. I attempted to nap until then. I think for the first time in the history of Dr Hodges I made it in and out of there in a little over an hour. Miracles do happen! He injected me with some steroids and praise God he had a 5 day sample of antibiotic so I did not have to shell out more money for a prescription. Not to mention have to make the trip to go and get it too. I was sad looking. Having went to get my allergy shots, which is now 2 shots one in each arm and then a steroid shot to top it all off. I looked like an infant that has just gotten its first shots.
Tuesday I decided with steroid in the arm and second antibiotic taken I was in good enough shape to take on work. And let me tell you I was ready to get some scanning and editing files done. But my lungs said HELLO are you crazy we are still struggling to exchange oxygen. My chest was so painful my lungs laughed at the 3 naproxen I took to calm the pain down. I am quite frugal with my sick and vacation hours, might I just warn you now. I felt like I was dying, my face started flushing and my faculty told me to go home. But I argued I really don't have that many sick hours left. What if I really need them later. I made it up until 45 minutes before I was supposed to leave and I threw in the towel. I went home and attempted to nap. Rachel woke me up when she came home and then I only slept a few more minutes. I guess the steroids sometimes don't kick in until the next day. Boy was I wired. By 1 am I was still wide awake, had counted backwards from 500 twice, had recited facts for my test the next day then I guess around 2 I finally fell asleep. I am back at work and the pain in my chest has lessened quite a bit. I am on the road to recovery. Thanks for your sympathy.

For Dad

Our Union Pacific Choo choo train engine
I love how the flash was catching the reflective tape.
This thing is massive. The stats they gave were eighteen feet four and a half inches tall. 98 feet long. It weights 545,432 pounds. It travels up to 80 miles an hour, and holds 8200 gallons of fuel.It is called a Centennial. The largest diesel-electric locomotive to by built. Comprised of two engines in one frame. They were exclusively built for Union Pacific. The first one was delivered in 1969 so it could participate in the Golden Spike celebration in Utah.In 1984 they were retired.

Here is the back of the engine

The First Attempt

Here is the first picture I attempted to draw.

And here is the result. I know this one is a little uneven, but hey I never knew I could draw I deserve a break on my first one.

Ta Daaa

Soo Exciting

A few months ago, I went through my foot locker that has been hidden in my closet. I am not sure what I was looking for but I found my old sketch book from the 4th grade. That was 13 year ago. I looked through and was pretty impressed by my work at such a young age. I was really good at looking at cartoons and then drawing them pretty accurately. I used to do it a lot and then I stopped and later on just could not seem to do it again. This inspired me. The book is only half full. So I thought I would try to pick it up again. I would take that tablet with me, but I never did anything with it. Until the other night. I pulled out some baby pictures of me and found one of my favorites and started to draw. It was not going so well. The drawing was not proportionate at all. I put it up. I pulled it out again with a different picture and started working on that one. I got the nose go and was getting frustrated with it. I put it aside for a minute decided to be patient and work on it and this is what I have so far. I am very happy with it. I will put the photography in and then the drawing.
This is the picture. I am going to try my best to insert the drawing on another post. It will not cooperate on this one.

Fun About Me

I found this on someone's blog and thought it would be fun. And a way to get to know me better.
Not that any of these are things to be proud of! Bold is what I have done.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins (on the list)
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid (on my list)
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath
08. Said "I love you" and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped (on my list)
11. Visited Paris (on the list)
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights (this too is a goal of mine)
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa (I would have had it been open at the time to go up, they were still working on the foundation)
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon(yep want to do that too)
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten tipsy on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope.
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment.
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can ( I try not becausease I sound like someone is killing me)
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states (I am getting there)
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing (does it still count if it was indoors?)
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving (plan on it)
51. Visited Ireland (plan on it)
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a strangers table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan (yep would love to)
55. Milked a cow (with my hands and by machine)
56. Alphabetized your CDs (so I am a little OCD)
57. Pretended to be a superhero (well I more pretended to be married to one)
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. *edited*
61. Gone scuba diving (yes this too is on the list)
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China (take a wild guess)
67. Started a business (currently working on this one)
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (really I mean really?!!?!?!)
72. Gotten married (plan on this too)
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced (NEVER)
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice (ok that is not romantic in any way, I opted out, it smelled like sewage)
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. *edited*
89. Gone to Thailand (another on the list)
90. Bought a house(someday)
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents(wish I would not ever have to)
93. Been on a cruise ship(not sure if I would like this one)
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children(someday)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge (yes this too someday maybe)
102. Sang loudly in the car and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking (every day)
103. Had plastic surgery (NEVER)
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (may I never have 100 pounds to lose)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someones heart
111. Helped an animal give birth ( twice and once I also helped save the calf after it was born, it was born backwards)
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari (oh this would be a dream)
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery (pilondial cyst and wisdom teeth)
120. Had a snake as a pet (well I did not own it but I lived in the same house as one for a time, and I actually held it, and loved it)
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon(it of course is on the list)
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours (possibly when I got back from Italy)
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states (would love to)
124. Visited all 7 continents (this is on the list, lets be honest I would love to visit every country)
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi YUM
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed(someday in Kauai)
132. Petted a cockroach (killed yes touch NEVER)
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad (plan on it)
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Bambi killers! Naw I would do it)
137. Skipped all your school reunions (I haven't made it there yet but I plan on it)
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language (GEEK)
141. Thought to yourself that you are living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork todidn'teone who didnÂ’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair (once and it was just red)
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someones life (from drowning)

More Stuff About Me

JANUARY
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year? Yes to not have a resolution ever. I did have a year verse. James 4:13-15
2. Who kissed you at midnight? No one
3. Does it snow where you live? ice and then like an inch of snow
4. Do you like hot chocolate? sure do, anything chocolate lets be honest
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop? nope, why would you do that to yourself
FEBRUARY
1. Who was your Valentine in 2006? No One
2. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class? yeah didn't everyone have to
3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not? no I always forget about it
MARCH
1. Are you Irish? Swedish
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Yeah
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2006? Wore Green
4. Are you happy when winter is pretty much over? I like all seasons
APRIL
1. Do you like the rain? yeah especially when it thunders and I can fall asleep
2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year? no I never remember
3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter? no
MAY
1. What's your favorite kind of flower? Stargazing lily
2. Do you like the spring? yeah EXCEPT for pollen
3. Finish the phrase "April showers": bring May showers (are there any other endings)
4. What is the first color you think of when think of spring? green
JUNE
1. What year did/will you graduate from highschool? 2001
2. Did you realize nothing special happens in June? My sister was born and my parents anniversary is then. Summer starts too.
JULY
1. What did you do on the Fourth of July? I went to the lake and grilled out and then watched the fireworks after Bible study
2. Did you go on any vacations during this month? Um nope
3. Do you blast the A/C all day? No but they do at my work. i bring a sweater year round
AUGUST
1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer? Um nope
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '06? Getting into Surgical Tech school
3. Did you get sunburnt. More than I would like to admit
4. Do you go to the beach a lot? WHAT BEACH? If we had one i would be there.
SEPTEMBER
1. Did you attend school/college in '06? Yeah I went back for Surgical Technology
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher? Gennie even though she is my only teacher she is marvelous
3. Do you like fall better than summer? Well I like the temperature once it realizes what fall weather encompasses but I don't get to swim then.
OCTOBER
1. What was your favorite Halloween costume? UHHH probably one of the ones I made (Alice in Wonderland, French Maid, or Little Red Riding Hood)
2. What's your favorite candy? Caramello
3.What did you dress up as last year? Little Red Riding Hood
NOVEMBER
1. Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving? The Allisons
2. Do you love stuffing? LOVE IT, really lets be honest if it is a starch I am addicted
3. What are you thankful for? God's love for us, salvation, my family, on and on
DECEMBER
1. Do you celebrate Christmas? Yep sure do, it is the day reserved to celebrate my Savior was born
2. If not, what do you celebrate?
3. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe? Oh really that is a tough one, I don't remember
4. Get anything special last year? Pride and Prejudice (the five hour A&E one) Rigaletto
5. What do you want this year? I don't know I still have my birthday coming up, then I can think about Christmas
6. Do you like the cold weather? Only when it snows or when you are cuddled up in your down comforter, or cuddling with (someday) the man of my dreams

Ouch

So a few weeks ago I had to go back to the allergist. You see when they give you those immunology shots they consider that medication, so you have to get checked up once a year legally. So my time was up, actually I was past due because no one had told me in the first place until they would no longer make my extract and I only had one shot left. I got lost in their system. So anyways, do I really have to tell you I was dreading getting tested again. Tons of little scratches on my back with allergens that cause itching redness and swelling and you can't touch them for 20 minutes. The doctor has to see the full reaction so he knows how allergic you are. To start with I am allergic to almost everything that grows. Before he tested me he asked me how I was doing compared to this time last year. Sadly I had to tell him I felt the same. He said he was not happy but that did not really surprise him. With people who are as allergic as I am to as many things as I am have a 1-3% chance that they won't see much change with the shots. I have NEVER been in the 1-3% I always tend to hang out in the 97%. AHHH I say! So then the testing. I was tempted to bring my camera and ask him to take pictures so I could document the findings and show people what us allergy people have to deal with. Alas I did not. But let me tell you I took a look after he checked them all and let me tell you it is NOT pretty. The good news was, although I did not feel it, many of my allergies had decreased or ceased. Oh but we can't have all good news. I have 2 new allergies. They are both spring ones so they don't affect me now, but I have to build up on extract for those before they come out. Since I am on maintenance with my others until I get up to maintenance with the new one I will get two, yes count it two shots. Cruel world, I say cruel. I got my first set of shots today. I look like a 3 months old who had to get their shots (other than the fact that they get them on their wee little legs, with two bandaids, one on each arm. He put me on new medications. Lets be honest after a few months I gave up on the old ones, they did not work. So far the nose spray has done some good and the eyedrops don't feel like alcohol on my eyes. Sigh. Some day I just might get rid of these EVIL allergies. My allergist did ask if I ever got a CAT scan of my sinuses. I said no and was content that he never brought it back up again. I don't do so well in small tight places.