A Day of Firsts

Today I did a lot of things for the first time. Some of them good, some of them less good. Like I woke up at 12:45. I was quite ashamed and banged my head against my pillow pet. My pillow pet understood me and used his plush wisdom to comfort me. Then, I read the Sparknotes Twilight blog, which by the way, is HILARIOUS. I keep wanting to read it to my roommates and everyone around me, but they all love the painful series, so I can't say anything without getting called a bigot. Yes, I have been called a bigot for my hatred of that wretched series. If  that is that qualifies one to be a bigot, then bigots rule!

Anyway, back to firsts. I ran around a construction site for the first time! They are building a church across the street and some friends and I went up with them and we ran around and made videos and had a blast!

And finally, the most exciting new thing I did... Drumroll please! I went to my first basketball game wherein I was actually lucid. I mean, I went to one when I was eight because I won Jazz tickets for reading a lot, but it went so long that I fell asleep and ate donuts. The donut part is not necessarily connected to the tired part. And then I went to one in high school, but there was a dramatic situation with friends and I was distracted by that the whole time. But this time, I was there answering and clapping and singing! And we won! GO AGGIES!!!!!!

So that is my day of firsts. Good stuff.

Signing out,
Mandie

Happy Halloween!

Dearest everyone:
I'm so sorry I have not written in a long time, but I have been busy. Like right now I'm supposed to be writing a forever long paragraph about something or other. It's not due til next Friday, so I have time. Besides, it just got assigned today, so I'm ok. See? That's me justifying. I do it all the time. Like "Oh, I don't have to class today. It's 6:00 in the morning, and nobody else will be there." So I turn off my alarm and end up missing the next days class which was actually super important. I have taken to praying about going to class when I wake up so I can know whether or not it's important to go that day. It has been working, because I have not missed one class this week! Except for on Monday, but that's cause I was barfing up my guts.

Anyway, it's HALLOWEEN!! Which means that I'm going to get a crap load of candy, and get the stuffing scared out of me through various means. I went through the lamest haunted house yesterday, and I was still scared. Oh man, I'm a wuss.

Anyway, I'm not really anything this year, cause I'm poor, and I don't have a costume. My roommate is the most epic elf though! I'm just in normal clothes. :( In a couple years I'll dress up. Cause next year I'll be on a mission and I don't know if I'll be back before the Halloween after that, so we'll see.

So, Halloween. Wonderful holiday that it is. It's the kick-off to the holiday season! How much fun! Cider and donuts (that I "don't" eat, cause I'm so good at being gluten free.) and masks and food and parties and gifts and EVERYTHING! I'm so excited that this is finally here.

Also, my brother comes home from his mission in 7 days. It has been exactly two years since his farewell, and then he left, and I have not seen him since, and I am so psyched to see that plane come in, and see his face and laugh like we once did.

I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Signing out,
Mandie

Life Is Good

Life is good, guys. Never forget that. Even when things are tough, life is good.

I have to be careful about posting about my love life on here, because I don't know if I want everyone to know about it, but I'll just say that things are looking up. :) Finally.

I had a choir concert last night. It was "Music for a Royal Occasion" or something like that, and we just sang a ton of British Music. Royal British Music. It was pretty fun. I have friends now, and that is what I've been looking forward to.

I'm getting meat tonight. I'm going to Cafe Rio, and I am so excited to get some protein back into my diet. Instead of ice cream. I understand the Freshman Fifteen now. How someone could gain it, I mean. I have not gained it luckily, but if I keep up with all this ice cream I will soon. Free Aggie ice cream yesterday. And then we have some in our freezer. Not to mention the Cinnamon roll social today, and I have gluten-free waffles now. SO MUCH SUGAR. I need fruits and veggies. And MEAT.

I'm way psyched for the temple dedication tomorrow!

Signing out,

Mandie

The World Lied to Me.

They said that when I went to college, boys would be falling all over me. Well, guess what world? You were WRONG. Where are these supposed men? I can't find them. I mean, I can. But most of them already have someone to hold hands with. Dumb.

If you want to find me one world, go ahead. But right now I'm pretty sure that I will end up an old maid, or I will get married at 86, and then die two years later.

I'm gonna go buy a cat. Oh wait, I can't, because pets aren't allowed where I live. So I can't even have little fluffy balls of fur to comfort me.

Disclosure: It is 12:52 in the morning and life is always 100% more dramatic at 12:52 in the morning. So I probably don't even mean this, and may laugh a lot at myself when I wake up tomorrow.

The part about cats is true though. I want a cat.

Signing out,
Mandie

My First Week

So classes. Lots of fun. I had to trade a ton of stuff around, but I am finally done with that and quite pleased with the final results.

So first I have my music classes. Music Fundamentals, Computer Applications in Music, Vocal Instruction, and Choir. I got to drop my Keyboard Harmony class because I tested out of it. Anyway, I'm in the top class for Music Fundamentals, and here I was all worried because I thought that I might not know anything. Pshaw. It's pretty fun. Basically we just go over stuff we already know and clap rhythms. Fun stuff!

Computer Applications in Music though? SO FUN. I didn't know what it might be, I mean, computers and music? Might be learning how to download songs off of iTunes, or burning a CD. Even better. It's all about learning your way around composing programs, so all I do is play a keyboard and edit music. Pretty great.

I haven't started Vocal Instruction yet. Just went to the introductory class, and sat there.

Choir. I managed to somehow get into the Chamber Singers, which is so exciting! And we're going to England for tour, so that is super great. I love it in there! I just feel so at home! It's always comforting to know that I picked the right major. :)

My other two classes are Math and History. My math class is at 6:00 pm and lasts for two hours and is a pain in my neck. I come home practically brain dead, and my roommates can attest to that.

My history class though. Wow. I had to change this one about seven thousand times because my original time interrupted choir. So the one after that was apparently only for history majors. Now I'm in Africa in World History. It is so interesting. We learned some Swahili today. I can't remember a word, but it was really fun! And we talked about pictures like this....

...for about half an hour and just the significance and culture in it, and how it explains the area of Africa a little more. Way cool stuff.

So, I thought that I had to go to this memorial thing at 5, but it's a 7. So I'm all fancy, and it's not for another 2 hours. 

It's finally supposed to rain tonight. I have been anticipating rain for the longest time!

I can't believe it's already almost September! It seemed like only yesterday that this year was starting! How things change.

Also, do you want to know the best thing about college? You still run into boys sometimes, but mostly you just meet men. And cute ones at that. ;)

Signing out,

Mandie

College, College, College!

So, I moved in. Fun stuff! It took all yesterday to get everything done. Whether it was unpacking, or buying stuff we forgot. I have a list by my bed of things that I need/things that my mom should bring with her when she comes up here next.

Here are some pictures of my apartment.

 This is my bedroom. My bed, and part of my desk. There's my fan, cause we have no AC.

 My desk and closet. My bags are hanging up over there too.

 My desk.

 The hallway. My room is the middle door on the right. This view is right by the kitchen.

 Living area. There are some cable's and papers laying around, but it's not usually messy. I say from my first day. We'll see if it's usually messy.

 Where the TV is going. And a nice message from me to the girls. And a dinosaur.

 The kitchen. Lots of fruit. I am living off of watermelon.

The sink and fridge.



So it's kind of a dive. But I am loving being independent. Though I am very homesick. All the time. I was talking to my mom and dad today, and I started crying and then one of my roommates walked in. And it was slightly awkward.

I wanted to go to church today but unfortunately, they changed the time on me. Next week too. I was not happy. I missed out. :(

I'm meeting some nice people though! That's what happens when you aren't shy. Though I talk more than I should.

Also, I fell down the stairs today. It was slightly embarrassing but it looked like no one was around to see me flail about.

That's all! I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Signing out,
Mandie

PS. I quote Winnie the Pooh when I say "Tut, tut. It looks like rain." Because it does look like rain. Close all the windows!

The Final Countdown

So, first thing to say, everything is paid for. Textbooks, tuition, fees, rent. Everything. Completely.

Second thing to say, two weeks. That's right. In two weeks I will move out and officially be a college student.

Third thing to say, the date went really well. It was tons of fum. ;)

Fourth thing to say, I went on a mini-vacation this week. It was really fun. We went to Cedar City and saw the Shakespeare Festival production of Les Mis. And you know what? It was ok. I mean, I saw Pioneer Theatre's production a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure that that was the best production EVER. Mostly cause the man who played Jean Valjean was Colm Wilkinson's understudy. It was great. But this one was only ok. I didn't really like some of the voices that they chose. And they actor's voices were so tired that they were pushing and it made my voice hurt just listening to it. The set was fantastic though. Completely. I was amazed. And a lot of the staging was really well done too. So it was good, but I've seen better.

So guys, I really am international. Who knew that a girl from the Western US would be getting views from Russia and China and places like that? This is super cool.

Anyway, it is 2:43 and I have to nanny at 5:30, so probably I should shower and actually make myself presentable, even if it is just for little kids.

Also, this last Monday was National Cheesecake Day. Nobody really came, so it turned into another date with the same people I had gone on a double date with on Friday. Which was ok with me. :)

Farewell everybody!

Signing out,
Mandie

Cool Beans

So, sometimes I forget that I have a blog until I remember late at night. And then I start looking at my stats and stuff. Did you know that 5 people from Russia have viewed this blog? And one from Malaysia. So pretty cool. I'm international. :)

So... I'm going on a date this Friday. With a friend of a friend of a friend. So my friend's friend's friend. I just like typing friend. Which is now starting to look weird.

Anyway, I don't know him, but apparently he's "a ton of fun." So we may get along. But "a ton of fun" could be a euphemism for something else, so I'm kind of nervous. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully I'll be over this cold by that point, so I won't sneeze snot all over him or something.

I really need to start getting into the habit of getting to bed before 1:00 AM again. Unless I have important things to do.

By the way, 25 days until I move out. And I paid the last of my rent today. Now I just have the rest of my fees and I'll be peaches and cream! Yay!

Signing out,
Mandie

Recycling

So, recycling. When I was a kid, I used to hear that word and think it was only "Free Love" hippies with their organic juices that did that kind of stuff. But now, as an adult, I realize that it is for everyone.

Go Green people. Honestly, when I think about how much stuff we throw away everyday, that could be used again in a better way, I feel a little overwhelmed. I don't want our world to be like Wall-E. That poor little robot all by himself, watching Hello Dolly and hanging out with his cockroach friend. He got love in the end, at least. And, I mean, come on. Does anyone want to really be like the people on that huge spaceship? Lazy, and selfish? The future isn't pretty, folks, unless we start taking care of our planet. Whether that means planting trees, or picking up garbage, or recycling, we gotta do something.

Well, that's all I have to say.

Here's a link you should click on. It has to do with being awesome and recycling. and printers.

http://www.castleink.com/

Click it. 

Signing out,

Mandie

Ready...Aim...FIRE!

Sorry for the cliche title, but I felt like it was a good idea in this case. I don't know why.

So, fires. They suck. I will smell like smoke for a thousand and ten years. I hate that. And I still have a headache from having to breathe it in. Because, you know, my car doesn't have air conditioning. So driving back from giving piano lessons, I had two choices. Die of heat exhaustion, or roll down the windows and deal with the smoke. I chose the latter option. I didn't realize how super thick the smoke was. I mean, there was the eerie light and everything. So I inhaled much smoke, and I have a headache.

We thought we were going to be evacuated for a little bit there, but then the fire died down and we didn't. It was so sad to see the houses burn down on the news, but I was very grateful that we were spared.

I have a lot of friends that were evacuated though, and I really hope that they get back to their houses soon.

I think it's safe to say that we will not be doing fireworks this year. Which is kinda sad because it was going to be the first year that I could buy them legally. I can wait until next year, but it's a little disappointing.

50 days until I move out! Woo hoo! Utah State, here I come!

Signing out,

Mandie

Oh, and also...

Wow, two blog posts right next to one another. But, I forgot to write a Father's Day post, and so here it is.

Dear Dad:
I adore you. You are the most courageous man I know and I love you so much. I couldn't have asked for a better Dad. You are so kind, and so gentle. And you are turning into such a cute old man! I wish I could have spent more time with you, now that I'm going off to college in a couple months, but I savor the moments we had, and the laughter that you shared.

I love you so much, Dad. You never hesitate to give me blessing when I need it, or help me understand certain impossibly difficult elements of math. You show your love to me everyday, and keep loving me even though I get hormonal and snap at you sometimes. And even though sometimes that does happen, I can not explain how much you mean to me.

I don't know what I would do without you. I admire you so much. You're my hero! Never stop being you, ok?

You are a wonderful human being! I'm so happy that you're my father and that we are sealed together for eternity.

Love you papa!

Signing out,
Mandie

Summertime

Ah.... this is the life. I stay up late reading books or watching funny TV shows, sleep in. I can shower in the middle of the day. I can watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer without having to stress too much about homework and wasting time.

Of course, that will all change when I start my nannying job. I'll have to be more responsible. But for right now? Nothing.

And the best part? Those people who made high school really awful? I never see them anymore. My whole life is just that much happier because of it.

I have new friends, a new attitude, and a new life waiting for me. And I am so excited.

That's the only problem with living in one place for 12 years. You meet people you really life. But if you meet someone you don't like, or who doesn't like you? You're screwed; you have to see them everyday. And it's the worst.

But those people can't bother me now. Because my friends that I like to be around don't really enjoy them. And so, I'm free. Wow. I'm excited to not go to my high school reunion.

I AM SO HAPPY!

I love my mom, I love my dad, I love my siblings, I love my good friends. That is all I need in life. Besides someone to love. *insert Queen lyrics here* But, obviously, nothing has been meant to be so far, so patience will be my friend.

I love the world! (Most of it.)

Signing out,
Mandie

DONE DONE DONE!

I'm out!

This is going to be a really short post, cause I don't have a lot of time.

But I did it! I graduated high school! I am on to bigger and better things!

BEST DAY OF MY LIFE SO FAR!

Oh, and also, I got a laptop. Thanks mom and dad!

Signing out,
Mandie

The Problem with Social Networking

Reasons why I'm still on Facebook:

1. So I can stalk people.

2. So I can be in with the parties and stuff that goes on.

3. So people will remember my birthday.

4. So I can stalk people.

I can't think of any more. Are there? Aren't those the only reasons stable people are on Social Networks? 

I don't know. 

This is a really short blog post. But I don't really have a lot to say. I'm almost done, though I keep writing so it might grow.

Two days. In two days, I can look at the public school system, spit in it's face and tell it "I BEAT YOU! I succeeded! I did it, and now that I've beaten you, I'm not coming back to help you up. Suffer, public school. Suffer." Actually, I will probably be too full of joy and happiness to think that morosely. I'm pretty sure that's the right word for it.

I got my yearbook today. It's a good yearbook. I only had a few people sign it, and then I left, and then I didn't come back. Because now, I don't need the accolades of my peers to feel good. I have my Heavenly Father, and my family. And we are forever. And I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the accolades of my peers. I just could survive if I didn't have them. I still like getting complimented. :)

Anyway, I tried to do a friend clean out, but I have so many friends, and I'm afraid that if someone notices that I unfriended them, then they might get way mad. So I'll wait until nobody sees me anymore, and then I will unfriend as many people as I want! Bwahahahaha! Actually, only the people I don't know. Cause I'm friends with people whose names sound really familiar, but I have no clue who they are. So they have to go. I just have to find them all.

So this turned into a longer blog post than I thought it was going to be. I'm super tired, and I'm typing in the dark, so if there are grammatical errors, I apologize. 

2 DAYS!!!!!!! 

Also, About 5 months until Alex's return!

Signing out,

Mandie

ALMOST.... THERE.....

I feel like one of those guys in the desert, who hasn't had water in about seven years. And then suddenly he sees a tall cool glass of water that has three fat ice cubes floating delicately, and a thin layer of condensation on the outside, but every step he takes towards the cup sinks into the sand, so it takes him a long time to get there. So replace the guy with me, the desert as high school, and the glass of water as graduation.

I'm thirsty now.

Anyway, there are only seven more days of school left until I graduate, and they are taking SO LONG. I can't even stand it! What the crap?? What happened to two weeks ago, when school started and ended in the same hour? I mean, that's how it felt!

I take comfort in knowing that I only have two and a half more days of me evil Foods teacher. She's evil. And quite awful. She's not good at teaching. The only reason I passed the test is because I read the textbook. Well, not really. But I did some brushing up on my internal meat and poultry temperatures the night before the test.

Does that mean I'm going to be a good college student? I doubt it. I've always had a problem procrastinating...

I also want to find out who my roommate is, and who my kitchen mates are. I'll only be sharing a room with one of them, but the rest of the apartment belongs to me, and five other girls. And I WANT TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

What if they don't like me?

Also, the eclipse was bomb. Apparently, I did a bad thing by not buying the fancy eclipse glasses, and looking at it with seven pairs of sunglasses on my face. I was looking for my sunglasses this afternoon, and I had to sift through a huge pile of them on the table for ten minutes before I found them.

I'm really excited to graduate. Really excited.

Seven days.

Signing out,
Mandie

Mother's Day!

It's Mother's Day today! How fun! We started celebration yesterday. We had a nice breakfast and then my brother, my dad, and I went to go get flowers for my mom. We have this tradition that we get her flowers to plant in her flower garden, and so every year she has a different garden to look at.

Anyway, so that happened. And then my day was really busy, going to rehearsal, and being really tired, and then babysitting. So then today we celebrated more. We had another good breakfast, and then went to church, and then my sister and brother-in-law came down, and then MY BROTHER CALLED! So that was fun. It is really fun to talk to him. I can't believe he only has six months left! Wow!

So we had a fancy dinner, and cheesecake, and now we're all just sitting around talking. Right now about Rush Limbaugh... 

Anyway, so now I'm going to write a special blog post for my mama. Even though she probably won't read it, because I don't even think that she knows that this blog exists. So here we go.

I LOVE MY MOM! Why? Because she is my best friend. Other than my sister. But because I live with my mom, she is my best friend. She is so wise! Whenever I'm going through various trials (like the other night) she'll just calmly listen to me, and then be there for a shoulder to cry on. Not only does she have to deal with me being an emotionally volatile teenager, but she also cooks and cleans and raises my little brother too! And she takes care of my cancer ridden father! What an amazing woman! I really just adore her. I don't know what I would do without her. 

And now here is my religious moment of the hour, and if you aren't LDS, I'm sorry. You won't understand. Find some missionaries (maybe my brother?) and ask them what's going on. But I am so happy that I am sealed to her. I'm going to be with her for forever! And she is just wonderful. 

She's funny, and beautiful, and she is my very best friend. Because right now, I don't really have friends. But I can always count on words of love when I see her, except when she's telling me to take out the garbage or pick up my shoes. But even then, it is with love. 

What an amazing woman! From the difficult situation she came from, to taking care of 4 children under the age of 7 while having a husband with a brain tumor, and then having to go through that again, without the 4 children under 7! I cannot comprehend how she does it. She amazes me. AMAZES me. And so mom, this is for you. I love you, and I'm glad that you are a part of my life, and even though sometimes we have our spats, I'll always love you. Always.

Also, only 13 school days until graduation. Thanks to my mom for helping me get through the stupidity of high school, as well. 

Happy Mother's Day, to moms everywhere! But most especially mine. :)

Signing out,

Mandie 

Sadie Hawkin's Dance, In my Khaki Pants...

There's nothing better! Oh, oh oh!

That was my Reliant K moment of the week. Listen to that song. It  is wonderful.

So Sadie's was yesterday! How exciting! It was really quite fun, the funnest (I know bad grammar) dance I've ever been to. I had Solo and Ensemble that morning, going into the early afternoon, but so did my date, so it worked out well. We went to DI and chose super ugly clothes for each other. I ended up wearing a teal/turquoise jumpsuit. I felt like I belonged on a sitcom in the 90's. My date was wearing some adult sized footie pajamas. It also doubled as a robe....

This is our group. See how ugly our clothes are? Fantastic.


So we came back and ate some food and it was really delicious. And then, I rode a horse. It was really old, granted, and barely moved, but I did it! And it was quite terrifying. It was only the second time I'd ever ridden a horse! Which is strange considering that I've grown up with all my neighbors having horses and seeing them everywhere. But it was fun, and now that I'm over the initial terror (a day later) I kinda wanna do it again!





This is me on the horse.  It is eating, which was a problem the whole time I was riding her. She kept stopping and bending down and chomping on grass. It was very enlightening, learning how to make a horse walk.

Then we went to the dance and had a lot of fun. My date died in his fleecy pajamas, but he made it the whole dance without having to change! After the dance we went to another girl's house and watched Captain America! I love that movie, by the way. And then I dropped off my date, and I went home.

At home I then discovered that I had gotten a 1 at Solo and Ensemble, and I got the part of Factory Girl 5 for Les Mis! She's the one that gets Fantine fired. She's also having an affair with the foreman.

I should look up who got that part, so I know who I'm supposedly having an affair with.

Anyway, it was a great day, and great fun. The best dance I've ever been to! Thanks to my date for coming with me!

Signing out,
Mandie

Holding My Tongue

I am finding as I get closer and closer to May 31st, that glorious day of days,  I have a harder time not speaking my mind.

I'm mean, I've always been honest. I try not to be mean about it, and if I am, I always get permission first.

i.e. Them: "Hey Mandie, what do you think of the guy that I'm dating?"
Me: "Do you want me to lie, or to tell the truth?"
Them: "Tell the truth."
Me: "Do you want me to tell the truth in a soft sugar coated way, or like I usually do?"
Them: "Like you usually do."
Me: "Ok."
And then I state my opinion. But it's not like "I hate him and think that he should burn in the fires of everlasting hell." Just a nice way of saying that I think he's stupid. Or super attractive. But usually the former. It's true of most high school boys.

Anyway, that example happened months ago. I'm talking about the present.

My facial expressions. They give me away. I always thought that I was good about hiding how I feel, but nowadays? Not so much. Today this girl mentioned this guy who bugs the living daylights out of me. Nobody knows this, because I am good at overlooking the things about people that bug the living daylights out of me. But she mentioned him and my nose crinkled up and I looked disgusted, and said, "Ohhh." In a disgusted way.

I fixed it when she looked at me shocked and horrified. But the damage was done.

And when people are annoying and I have something sardonic to say, I just say it. And I don't even realize that I'm saying it until people around me look appalled. It's actually getting on my nerves.

I always liked that about myself. If I slightly don't like you, or sometimes you annoy me, you will never know. Well, apparently not! Because now my mouth is unhinged and my face is being freely expressive. Darn, it is so frustrating.

Today, this other girl was talking about how she didn't want to be in high school anymore and she would just leave. And I don't know why this bothered me, because I do it all the time, and others do too, but this time. Oh, cheese grater against my soul. So what did I say? "Good. Nobody wants you here anyway. Goodbye and good riddance." Luckily I said it quietly enough in the loud environment that she didn't hear. Nor did anyone else really, hopefully.

So that's what's been happening this week. Sorry if I say something rude to you. Which, if you actually read this, I probably won't. Cause if you take the time to pay attention to this feeble little blog of mine, you probably actually slightly care about how I feel, and that is not annoying.

Also, I have to tell you a story about the mock disaster. I will try to remember.

The end. I am just sitting here waiting impatiently for my Pottermore account activation e-mail to be sent and received, but it hasn't happened in 2 hours, so I doubt it will happen anytime soon. So I might as well go to bed and try to catch up on all my lost sleep.

Good night internet!

Signing out,
Mandie

Spring Break

Do I HAVE to go to school tomorrow?

I thought perhaps that a rest from the daily life of school would renew my spirits and get me ready to endure the last month and a half. I was wrong. Did it renew my spirits? Yes. Am I ready to endure the last month and a half? Yes. CAN I endure the last month and a half? This, I do not know. Right now, my heart is screaming, "NOOOOOO! NO! Mandie! Why are you purposefully subjecting me to this pain??" And I answer and say, "So I can go to college and get you to a doctor." And this is the conversation that constantly goes on between myself and my heart.

If I could talk to my heart, it would look like this. 

And I didn't get this one off the internet. Paint is a wonderful thing. Except it makes you write in cursive and have bad handwriting. It's a good thing I figured out how to insert text.

Anyway, Spring Break has been pretty much bomb. The first part, eh. But starting Friday? AWESOME! Passover, and Easter eggs, and egg salad sandwiches, and The Muppets, and Captain America, and kite flying, and getting kites out of trees, and sleeping in! Oh man! I wish it would never end. I guess I just have to wait until the summer.

Easter Sunday though. Oh the funny stories. I volunteered to teach for  little four year olds at church because their teacher wasn't there. Anyway, one little girl kept asking me if I was married, and where my ring was, and when I was going to have a baby. I told her that I would only have a baby after I got married. When she asked why I wasn't married yet, I told her that I hadn't found someone that I love enough to get married to. And her reply? "Well, find someone." She didn't seem to comprehend that I'm not even old enough to be married, and that I don't like any boys right now. Cause they're all in high school, and how much fun is that? Zero fun.

I have this new medicine now. Well, vitamin. Vitamin B-12 to be exact. But it's in liquid form. And I have to hold it under my tongue for 30 seconds every morn. And it tastes like musty sinuses had a baby with Dial soap. So for thirty seconds, all I taste is musty, soapy sinuses, and then lots of water. But the whole day, I keep tasting this liquid vitamin B-12. SO GROSS.

Passover was pretty much the bomb.com. It was weird though. We couldn't find any of our regular matzoh at the store, so we bought some new stuff. But it was DELICIOUS! So it didn't feel like Passover. The end.

Signing out,

Mandie

Anticipation

Tomorrow.

In 24 hours, I will be on a bus to Anaheim. When there, I will spend all day at Disneyland, go to a Medieval Times festival, and have crazy fun times with my room buddies.

If this was Facebook, I would tag them.

The only downside is that I still have to go to school tomorrow. And, of course, the one day that I was thinking I might not go to school, my Lit teacher gives us homework, for the first time in weeks. Thanks.

Anyway, I'm super excited. I have garlic-y cheese-y chips, so everyone can enjoy my foul breath. I have popcorn, and a new knapsack, and excited feelings in my stomach.

I don't know how I am going to handle the whole "trying to sleep for an adequate amount of time" on a bus. With no boy next to me, so I could use his shoulder as a head rest. Cause that's the reason I was excited for the road trip. Boy's shoulders are comfy! But, alas, district policy dictates that boys and girls must be segregated while travelling overnight.

And it makes sense. But still.

SO EXCITED.

I'M SO EXCITED I'M GONNA DIE!!!!!!

I hope not. Cause then I wouldn't be able to go.

Shout out to my friend with the broken nose. I hope it feels better, and I will buy you a souvenir. Ok? Ok.

Maybe some Mickey Mouse ears...

Signing out,
Mandie

Blood

This isn't going to be a creepy Sweeney Todd-esque post. Not at all. It will talk about that iron filled red liquid that flows through your veins and keeps you alive and that vampires crave. That's right. Blood.

More specifically, getting your blood taken. Not your's really, mine. I got it taken today at the doctors. One problem.

I hadn't eaten since lunch, except for a  piece of custard pie right after school, and that's not super great.

This was me today. Minus the tears and the black hair. I'm blonde.

So I'm sitting there, and I hate needles. But I'm being brave, and my mom didn't even have to bribe me with coloring books or a trip to the dollar store! Anyway, so I'm sitting there and my blood is being cruelly taken from my arm and she has the squeezing thing on my arm to make my arm feel all tingly. And I'm like, 'Wow, my arm feels like it's being deflated.' And they just tell me that it's cause the bloods being taken. And then she takes the squeezy thing off. And then the needle and tells me to hold gauze on my arm. So I'm like, 'Cool. That wasn't so bad.'

Except it was. It was so bad. Cause then my head started to freak out. You know that feeling when you stand up too fast and you get the dark spots on your eyes and your head feels full of compressed air? Yeah, that started happening. And I said so. But this lady, really nice lady, by the way, doesn't hear me, cause maybe I was talking all muddled or something.

But then my ears start to pressurize. And I'm trying to pop them, and be able to hear. But it's not working and then I start feeling super woozy. And I'm trying to stay conscious, but I'm feeling myself slipping. And I'm breaking out in this awful cold sweat.

Dang I was feeling awful. So I put my head down, and the nurse looks at me and asks me if I'm ok. Nope. I'm not. So my mom gets me water and the really nice lady puts a wet paper towel on my neck, and I'm not feeling any better and everything sounds like I'm underwater. And all I want to do is succumb to this overwhelming urge to throw up and die and pass out and punch myself in the head. But I don't. I stay awake.

So close to fainting though.

If I were actually underwater, this is what I would be doing.

Anyway, so they call in the blood pressure lady to come and take my blood pressure. Keep in mind that they took it when I came in and it was something like 110/75. So pretty good, yeah? Well guess what happened next? Blood pressure at that moment was 78/52, or around there. I can't remember the exact numbers. I was underwater at this point. So I'm super nauseous and I keep getting told that I need to drink this Capri-Sun 100% grape juice but I just feel so sick. And they have to put my feet up and I'm apparently super pale. And I still feel awful.

Awful.

Finally I drank the juice and my blood pressure starting going back up. It was like 90/64 or something when I left.

Anyway, so my fear of needles and getting my blood taken has not been helped by this experience.

I will not be looking forward to the next time.

Holy cats, I am so grateful that I'm not allowed to donate blood.

Signing out,
Mandie

Days Off

Nope. I didn't do a lot today.

Thank heavens. I mean, I cleaned the house, and taught a piano lesson. But that doesn't really count. I've been doing nothing for the past couple hours. Hanging out, not putting on make up. Stuff like that.

By the way, not wearing make up is wonderful. I love it. I mean, I like looking pretty more. But I also like not having to worry about rubbing my eyes and eyeliner and mascara smearing. So great.

And tomorrow, I get to make money for singing. Pretty great. I'm excited.

And now I'm watching The Dick van Dyke Show and Phineas and Ferb while blogging and listening to some great Showtunes (Part of Your World at this point.) Life is good.

And then I'll go back to school and I'll be grumpy again. Which, frankly I really don't like being. But sometimes a girl just has to be grumpy. And she doesn't want people to tell her that she needs to stop being grumpy and to be happy, she just wants to yell and gnash her teeth and have people just sit there and nod and say, 'I understand' while secretly thinking that this girl is crazy. And yesterday, I got both of those. Though, funnily enough, once I got home, I wasn't so grumpy. Maybe it's the Dick van Dyke Show. I dunno, that show's hilarious.

Anyway, days off. Delicious.

Haha, Candace is having a bad hair day.

Signing out,
Mandie

Being a Confidante

So, I'm a confidante, to a lot of people. And really, I don't mind it.

But then when I start getting dragged into stupid drama that I really don't care about, that's when it's a problem. Go ahead, talk to me about boys, crappy family life, and other such things. I can handle that. But when you start using me as an excuse for poor behavior.... that's an issue.

(This is happening in my life, if you couldn't tell.)

Cause really, I don't care about half the stuff I hear. I mean, I always like to hear about love, and I feel sorry for people who have sucky lives, but I'm there to listen. So go ahead and tell me these things! I'll probably nod a lot and say, 'yup.' Or 'Oh my goodness!'

I hate it a lot. I'm going to make a movie about it or something. Especially when random people start getting mad at me for listening to someone share their feelings. And yeah, if someone asks me, I will tell them that I talked to you. Will I tell them what it's about? Probably not. Not if you've told me not to.

In this case there is this feud between two people. And they each tell me how they feel. And standing from the outside, I see faults on both sides. But when I'm listening it seems like I am on the side of the person talking. I'm not taking sides.

I get approached today and told that I told someone else something about another person which that person then told another and then it looped back around in a confusing circle of twisty-ness.

Really, what happened, is one talked to me. And then the other talked to me. And the second asked what the first thought. And I said, "From what I can tell, they feel targeted." And then the first asked me what the other thought and I said, "They feel like you are being untruthful."

Is that bad? Cause I told the truth. And I followed it by saying that if they really want to work it out just go talk to eachother instead of using me as a messenger. And that I wouldn't do it anymore.

So maybe I didn't do the best thing. But I did what seemed the best at the time.

But this turned into bulimia rumors and me being a pernicious meany.

What the heck??

And this, exactly this, is the main reason why I am so ready to not be in high school.

On a happier note, I got my haircut, and it's really cute.

Signing out,
Mandie

Ok, Maybe Not

Ok. So I feel better now. I am not an obsessive blogger. I even forgot I had one! Until somebody told me that they'd read it (you know who you are) and then I remembered!

So happy President's Day yesterday! Let's celebrate some presidents! Mainly George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

I don't have a lot to say today. I have a headache, and that's blocking the flow of my writing juices.

Buh buh buh buh! *snap snap*

Name that song. Hint: I'm listening to it right now on my show tunes channel on Pandora.
No? I'll tell you later.
Quote: "They'll never know you're just a bagel."

If you haven't it gotten it by now, I'm ashamed. Not really.

I rocked the side ponytail today. Complete with an orange cloth flower that fell out as I was driving to school. I found it in my car after school, and then I put it back in.

Let's see. Comments on society? None. Comments on high school? One: I'm sick of it! Comments on economy? Stupid gas prices. I'm so glad my car gets over 35 miles to the gallon! I filled it up three weeks ago and I'm just barely under a full tank! Dang I love my car. Garbanzo, you have done me well.

That's it for today.
The song was Razzle Dazzle from Chicago, by the way.

Signing out,
Mandie

Some Bad News

It looks like I'm turning into one of those obsessive blog writers. Maybe it's just cause I'm home sick (sick at home?) and I don't feel like analyzing poetry, but I've written like five posts. I can't remember exactly when I started this blog (thanks cold medicine), and I'm feeling a little too lethargic to look, but it wasn't more than five days ago, was it? Ok, now I'm going to check.

Ok, it was February 11. Today's the sixteenth. So that means I haven't missed a single day!

Is this my cold medicine making me freak out here? I don't want to be one of those obsessive bloggers!

I'm doing better writing on here than I do in my own diary! Holy cats, this is getting bad, yeah?

Maybe I should go analyze some poetry. But see, I really don't want to. And look what I have accomplished today! And it is only 10:01 in the morning! I

• Took a shower
• Checked Facebook
• Watched Say Yes to the Dress
• Practiced the piano
• Played some Sudoku and Spider Solitaire
• Taped a bunch of music together
• Wrote half a blog post
• Checked Facebook again
• Checked my e-mail
• Went to Utah State's website and checked stuff on there.

Wow! I've done a lot! Maybe not a lot of productive stuff, but still a lot. Who needs poetry? I do. Cause it's due tomorrow, and I'll probably be feeling well enough to go to school. Also, it's a B day, and those are just awesome.

I'm hungry. It looks like the gluten-free waffles with nutella and assorted berries didn't stick with me. Or maybe I'm just bored.

Signing out,

Mandie

PS. I love Nutella. YUMMMM! Here is the picture for the day.....

YUM.

Herriman High Presents... Lockdown! The Sequel.

So advertising a blog on Facebook makes people want to read it. Or just makes 'em curious I guess. Apparently I need more pictures though. I, in my amateur blogging state, was unaware of the necessity of photos. So, I will do better. Sorry about that.

But this post is not about how Facebook can work miracles for a blog. It is about high school. More specifically my high school. Even more specifically my high school's tendency to get gun threats.

What is it with us? Are we all just really spawn of Satan conveniently placed in homes of people who are bound to live near each other? And now some person is saving the world by killing us all? Well, if so, that sucks, because this lockdown system is way too fool proof, so we all survive.

The world is now taken over by little high school demons. Bwahaha.

Ready for a picture? It's going to be a math equation.

+

-

=

Good for the pictures? Did I succeed there?

So, I'm glad no one was hurt, but I don't see why we are now a target! 

Not that I had a bad time during the lockdown. I got to watch movie trailers in my Sci-Fi/Fantasy class. So I was ok.

Also, I'm still sick.

Signing out,

Mandie

Oh yeah! A punch line!

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Signing out for real,

Mandie

Valentine's Day

So today is Valentine's Day. More importantly, it is my sister's birthday. But it's Valentine's Day.

One of my pet peeves. When people call it Single's Awareness Day. Ok, it is only single's awareness day if you are single. And honestly, all those people in the hall making out are too busy making out to notice us lonely ones. So suck it up and stop whining.

I mean if you're super old and single, you have a right to complain. But if you are in high school, come on! Not worth the sorrow.

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Banana.

Banana who?

So, this Valentine's Day, I decided to treat it like a weird high school tradition. I made cookies in my first period, and since I couldn't eat them, I gave them away and whoever got one was my Valentine. What a way to get 'love.' Bribe boys with food. Anyway, I had four 'Valentines.' I don't really count them.

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

No creepy stuffed animals, or chocolates, or flowers for me! Just fake Valentines and some stale M&Ms. And you know what? I'm ok with that.
What I'm not ok with is catching a cold. I'm sure a red runny nose, and clouded eyes, not to mention not being able to hear anyone speaking, was not good for my attractiveness.

Banana.

Banana who?

Signing out,
Mandie

Next Blog Post

Nope. Nobody reads this. I was right. That means I can tell knock knock jokes to myself! And then I will laugh and have a good time. Then I will maybe eat some ice cream, and watch 500 Days of Summer. Oh wait, I'm probably doing that on Prom night, so I'll have to change plans. Sorry myself.

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Anyway. So in my theatre class we have to write a play. I'm assistant directing it, but I don't know how it will turn out. I think we have some really good ideas, but also that it's turning into a very cliche high school play written by cliche people who love cliches so much that they will avoid anything original like the plague. (Did you like that cliche that I just added in there?) Anyway. The play is going to be about different perspectives and death and grudges and stuff like that.
Banana.

Banana who?

So it could turn out really well. But it could also go super downhill. It's not like the Alvin and the Chipmunk movies, where you just KNOW that it is going to suck. No it's like when you watch a trailer for a movie and you don't know. Like Kung Fu Panda 2. I was so nervous for that. But it turned out to be super cute. Not like Cars 2 or Avatar: The Last Airbender, which I was also quite nervous for, and they turned out to be stupid. Waste of a midnight showing for that last one.

Knock knock.

Who's there?

It was fun to make fun of it in the movie theatre parking lot afterwards though.

So this play. I don't know. I think I will try to write it first, but who knows what the other 11 people in my class might do to me, if I do. Oh well.

Banana.

Banana who?

Can't wait to hear the punch line, yeah?

Next post.

Signing out,

Mandie

Blog Post Number One

I did it. I finally gave in. I have a blog.

I've been resisting for so long, and then today I just realized, 'hey! I should have a blog!'

So you people out there who might be possibly reading this, you have won. I now have a blog. And I don't really know what to do with it.

I'll probably just write my thoughts and feelings and how it is to have awful senioritis. This will probably help count down the next two and a half months until I graduate.

I want my blog to be something special, see? Like maybe they'll make a movie out of it, like in Julie and Julia. That would be pretty rockin' yeah?

I doubt that will happen though. Basically I'm quite sure that nobody will ever read this in their whole lifetime. And that I am writing to open space.

Hello? Are you there? Wanna hear a knock-knock joke?

Now here is an interesting question, invisible people who may be reading my blog; if nobody reads a blog, is it still a blog? Or is it just a diary? Cause I'm not writing anything I wouldn't want people to know on here, even if nobody reads it.

Invisible people? Would you read my blog? That's what a blog is for, is it not? To be read? Would you read it? Would you share it with people and tell them to read it so I can get my moment of fame where a wonderfully beautiful actress plays the part of me in the the movie of my blog?

At one point, I'll cast my life with the greatest actors and actresses. And then maybe my life will be interesting. A little. Not just stupid high school and homework and piano and voice lessons and no social life. Maybe that would happen.

Meh. My life will be interesting in college.

Signing out,
Mandie

PS. I have no social life because I am intent on graduating. There is no way that I am ruining my chances to move on with life just to hang out with some people that I probably don't even like. I'm not a loser. Disclaimer: If I say I can't hang out, it doesn't necessarily mean that I don't like you. I may just be doing homework.