Lessons Learned while at Disneyland

So I just got back from another Disneyland trip and needless to say, it was AMAZING! I love being there. It's like I'm stepping out of reality and into a magical world. (Obviously it's magical) Anyway, I have learned a few lessons while at Disneyland and I thought it might be fun to share them with everyone!


I had a rough time in July with my shoe situation, so I figured that this time I would go in my most comfortable shoes--my Dr. Martens. So I was excited that I would be free of that worry this time around, but unbeknownst to me, while I was enjoying being a child, my feet were forming blisters from my "most comfortable shoes." So lesson number one: Despite how comfortable you think your shoes are, they really aren't.


That brings us to lesson number two: when walking for hours on end, choose wisely as to where the hotel is that you will be staying. I love to walk, don't get me wrong; but at the end of an adventure-filled child-like day of magical creatures, beautiful princes and princesses, and exotic jungle cruises you just want to be able to leave and quickly crash into a comfy bed so you can get ready for the next day of dillusion. Point being, our hotel was about a half a mile away from Disneyland and we decided that we didn't want to pay for parking so we walked. In the morning it seemed like a very quick walk, but after our day of endless walking, it seemed like we were never going to get home and put our feet up.


Ever refused to try something new that really won't harm you? Well, when I was with my family at Disneyland in July, my 10 year-old sister really wanted to go on the Tower of Terror and the California Screamer and no one would go on them with her. As I recall, that is all she talked about. I felt bad for her because I was too afraid to go and she was too young to go by herself, so with the help of my parents and other sisters, I convinced her not to go on those rides, telling her that it was just going to make her sick or something to that affect. Well, this time my roommate Laura dragged me to each one of those rides (with me really freaking out on occasion) and I ended up loving them. Lesson number three learned, never refuse to do something that is not really dangerous just because you're afraid. Cassie, I'm sorry for whimping out on you!


I've decided that I am really, really not a tourist! I want to apologize to any wonderful toursists out there who like to have tangible evidence to a memory of something great by taking pictures. It has been discovered and decided that I am not one of those people. I don't like to stop at every little thing to take a picture and I don't like to look at life through a camera lens. So when my wonderfully amazing roommates found something cute and possibly a photographic memory, needless to say I was irritated and agitated just waiting for them to get their pictures taken. As for lesson learned, number four is the one I know for a fact, I don't like to waste wonderful exploring time and adventures just to stop and take a picture. (For those that knew me as a child, I was the same way.)

Never underestimate the power of an egg. My roommate Yasmine did and all it did was explode in face. Which was actually quite hysterical for the rest of us. You see we were staying at a hotel where there was contiental breakfast and Yasmine got a hard boiled egg (the shell was already peeled off). When we got to our room the egg had gone cold, so Yasmine thought logically to heat it up in our microwave. Little did she and the rest of of know (or realize at the time) that because microwaves heat from the inside out, the egg's yolk got so hot that the heat had no where to go. When Yasmine used her fork to cut the egg so she could eat it, it literally exploded with the popping sound and everything. The egg was everywhere and Yasmine was left trying to figure out what just happened. We will forever get a good laugh out of that one! Thanks, Yaz!

Final lesson learned was the most important. Never take for granted the power of good family and friends to spend an amazing experience with. I had so much fun on both of my Disneyland trips, and I have wonderful people to thank for that! My parents, sisters, and yes even my roommates! I love acting like a kid and who better to do it with than people you love to spend time with!

What's in a name?

So I've finally named my new car. I chose this one with no help from anyone else! His name is Wentworth. I know unusual name, but it comes from one of the most gorgeous men alive. My friend introduced me to a TV show called "Prison Break" and I absolutely love it! I think it's because it reminds me of "Alias" because of the constant never-knowing what is going to happen. Anyway the main actor is Wentworth Miller and he is seriously beautiful. My roommate, Laura told me that a friend of her's described him as "Smoldering" and I completely agree. Therefore he has officially been dubbed "McSmoldering." Okay, so enough already with my ranting about Wentworth, but it does give you an explanation as to why I chose that name for my car!

It starts, continues, and ends...

Wow! It's been so long since I last wrote. I honestly don't care if anyone actually reads this, but I just enjoy writing.

Anyway, life has been crazy since I last wrote! My family came in July and we went to Disneyland together! I love them so much and we had an amazing time! I really miss my family, I am more homesick these days than I let myself think about. I guess it's just a fact of life. I really miss being able to be in a home where the Priesthood is present everyday. I look forward to the time when I have that blessing again. Now, I'm getting too sappy. Anyway....

When my family left I was put in charge of getting a group at church ready to compete in our own "So You Think You Can Dance" competition. I had no idea what to do for it, so I called for reinforcements! My friends Derek and Ariane came to our rescue. We told them what we wanted and they put the routine together for us! When the night came for the competition we were ready! I was nervous because I didn't want to let my group down! During our performance, I messed up a few times, but I made sure that I didn't laugh when I danced with Nick (something I had been doing during practice and I was supposed to!). We ended up winning the competition and tickets to see a show on the Strip! I was so proud of us! Yeah!

Last week was my first week of school and I was anxious for it, happy to have something to do, and I had a cold! Go figure! My class is really good so far and I really enjoy most of the students, however the like to talk! I have no idea how to end the chatting and I really hope that I don't have to rearrange the desks in the room so the students aren't in groups. Maybe I'll try it one day and see how the students like it. I don't know. This year is already a better year than last and I am hoping and praying it stays that way.

As for the dating aspect in my life-let's see...I went a few dates during summer break and I had a great time. On one, we went to a play called Aida which was adapted from the Broadway version. I loved it! It reminded me of when I was growing up when we went to the Oakley Opera House in Idaho to see plays with my family every summer! I miss those days. There is a guy that I am interested in, but fear talking to him because I know I will screw it up. But right now I just can't seem to do anything right in the relationship department, so I've decided to quite trying. I am just going to "let the chips fall where they may" and not worry about men.

Now that you are probably sleeping a ready to get off of this website, I ending it right now! Oh, I might be adding funny quotes from my favorite movies or TV shows just for laughs! Have a happy day!

Change is gonna come...

There has been some major changes happening in my life lately and I am not sure if I like them. I have always struggled with change and it makes it all the worse when I have no family close by to talk to-or even get a good hug from. I can't even remember the last time I had a really good hug.

The end of the school year is coming and I am so excited for it, but I am so worried that I haven't taught my students anything worthwhile this year. I feel like I haven't done enough for them and I wish that there was some way I could tell them that. I am also nervous about starting my next year in school, I still feel very inadequate as a teacher and I don't know what to do! I am going to miss my class and really am going to have a hard time saying goodbye to them. I am also worried about new calling at church, I mean I am excited for it, but I am worried that I am not going to do a good job.

One of my roommates is getting married on Friday and I am going to miss her like crazy, it won't be the same around the house without her! I am so excited for her and she is going to be the best wife and mother! I also feel like I am getting left behind again. I'm not saying that I am desperate to get married, all I am saying is that I feel like life is running away from me.

I just wish that I wasn't feeling so insecure about me and my abilities with work, family, and other relationships that I have in my life. I am having a hard time trusting myself and my ability to make good judgements. So trusting other people is also just as hard. What am I going to do?! Sometimes I wish that I could seriously disappear from life for awhile, just so that I could take a break and get my bearings back-but that never happens does it? I mean even when you go on vacation, you never truly vacate your life do you?

Slow on the uptake?

Have you ever wondered why things are either happening too quickly or slowly in your life? Man I have. I was talking to my mom on the phone tonight and she said that the family decided that it takes me forever to clue-in on important things in life; prime examples dating and dressing like a girl. I was quite shocked to say the least about that statement, but after pondering on it for awhile, I realized she was right, she always is-

You see growing up I was always hanging out with the boys, because I thought girls talked too much about stupid stuff like clothes, make-up, and how cute boys were. I hated brushing my hair in elementary school and because of the natural curl I have it was all over the place and so the girls made fun of me. Anyway, to sum up-I preferred playing sports and proving to the boys that I was as good as them.

I even dressed like a boy. I hated girlie colors like pink and purple, so I always wore baggy T-Shirts that were bold colors like red, blue, and green. My shoes were basketball shoes, because they were the best shoes to run in, and my hair (when it was long enough) was always in a ponytail-pulled back flat and tight. I seriously didn't dress like a girl.

I finally clued in after I graduated High School. I mean I did occasionally dress all cutesy and stuff, but never did I own something pink until I was in college and one day I decided to try something new. I bought my first pink shirt! I wore it to work one day and this guy I liked stopped what he was doing, looked at me and said, "Dang, you look good in pink, you should wear it more often." From then on I was attached to the color pink.

Anyway, back to the whole uptake thing-

So I have been talking to several dear friends about dating recently and one of my guy friends told me that I should just go up to the guy I like, put my arms around his neck, and wait for him to either kiss me or pull away. Is that crazy or what?! I seriously don't think I could ever do that unless, I already knew the guy was into me that way. I don't think I could handle the embarrassment or rejection. What do you think? Is this another example of being slow on the uptake?

So those of you that know me, know that I am pretty outgoing and social, but when it comes time to spend one-on-one time with a guy, especially one that I like, I freeze and get a tongue-tied. Do you think because I was "one of the guys" growing up that I actually missed the important stuff like 'how to act around guys I like' or 'how to dress like a girl' or even 'what do I talk about on a date?' Seriously I need help. Any advice would be great! I don't want to be slow on the uptake anymore! HELP!

To use or not to use: that is the question.

So I got this advice from a friend and I have taken the advice and am now using it. The advice was to be myself and don't worry about what others think, so I am being myself-now the people around me either don't take me seriously or they think I am too serious! I am not obnoxious or rude, but I do tell people how I feel about situations and I do like to laugh, have serious conversations, and be silly-but now I don't know what to do, either I'm too serious or too silly. Apparently, I've lost myself and now finding it can be a hard thing. I want to be myself and I know that people tend to change who they are to fit the crowd and I don't want to do that. I shouldn't have to change me to keep the friends I have right? I mean if they were true friends, they wouldn't harp on me for being myself, right? Anyway you have just seen the confused and frustrated side of me!

Keep Breathing

I am in love with a song by Ingrid Michaelson song called "Keep Breathing." This song is extremely calming and it really makes you step back and take a look at your life to see the good in it, instead of focusing on the bad.

In the song it says, "I want to change the world...instead I sleep." How many times do I think about wanting to make a difference in the world? I have that opportunity to do everyday because I am a teacher-but I complain about having to go to work? Isn't that a contradiction? So goal starting tomorrow-NO COMPLAINING about work! I can do it!

The song also has a line that goes, "I want to believe in more than you and me." Well the thing is, that I am learning to believe and trust in people again. It has taken me awhile to step out of my comfortable, safe shell that I put myself into so I wouldn't get hurt, and now I kinda look forward to the challenge because I will grow from it. Does that sound weird?

Anyway all I am trying to say is, "All we can do is keep breathing." If we stop, then ironically so do our lives-mine did and believe me, it's pretty lonely.

~Nik

It's been decided

It's been decided that I was wrong... about a few things and I've finally have gotten a wake-up call.

Something New

So this blog thingy is all new to me. I had a friend tell me that blogging is a good way to release tension and to get whatever I am feeling off my chest, so that is why I am giving it a try.
I had an extremely rough month in April, I mean nothing went right and I mean nothing!

The month started off great because I was on my vacation from school and during those first few days all I did was read-something I haven't been able to do since before college. Anyway, I took a break from reading and rented a movie-so I needed to return it obviously and I didn't want a late fee, so I returned it. On the way out of the parking lot I was crossing all of the many empty parking spaces like I have done thousands of times before and I ended up getting hit by an oncoming van. Needless to say, we were both going fast enough for both of our cars to be totalled. I was devastated.

The next week, my wonderful roommate decided to break up with her boyfriend, because he wasn't the guy who she thought he was. That was hard for me because it made me think and then worry about that happening with me and the men I date. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that thought still was there.

Well the week after that, I several phone calls from my family members in the same day (which is completely out of ordinary) one of the calls being my mom, she was crying on the message and I freaked out. The first thought I had running through my head was that my brother was dead. This thought came because this particular brother of mine is making choices in his life that have and are still affecting the man he is capable of becoming. Anyway back to the phone call-I called home and my dad told me that his mother passed away two days prior! Needless to say I heart-broken. I got the first available flight out and spent the weekend with my family. At the funeral all of the grandchildren sang, "Families are Forever" and I couldn't get through the song because I was crying so hard! I was standing next to that troubled brother of mine and he was singing every word of the song from memory. It gave me hope that one day he would pull himself off of the path he is on right now and he will eventually be guided back to the straight and narrow one.

The weekend with my family was a much needed one, but while I was there I got a phone call from my roommate telling me that a friend and my other roommate's fiance had an accident and was in critical condition! Man was it crazy and scary!

The next week when I got back to Vegas, I needed to get report cards done and I needed to be "mentally there and available" for my students, and it was so hard. I fortunately had a good friend of mine come to my class and she helped my get my report cards done and edited and she forced me to go to her house for dinner because I didn't eat lunch. Can I just say she was my angel when I needed her. On my way home from her house that day, I was rear-ended in the rental car I was in. The ironic thing was that it was the last day of April.

Throughout the month of April I kept thinking to myself, "Why is this happening to me?" I had a dear person point out that what was happening was not happening "to me" it was happening "for me." I know that sounds weird so let me explain it. Everything thing that I experienced was for my good and my growth. The Lord wasn't punishing me for anything I did and he wasn't letting me suffer. I realized that I have grown a lot since my car accident, because I realized that materialistic things are just "worldly stuff" and nothing more. I won't be living in eternity with a car, a cell phone, or a laptop. The most important things in this life are the gospel and my family. I will be able to live with my family forever and I will take all the knowledge from every pain and joy I've had in my life. I and I willing to do what needs to be done so I can learn more. So if that means I need more trials and tribulations in my life-I say "bring it on!"