what if we always ran?

When I was walking on campus the other day I saw this guy in a tie just sprinting somewhere. I've always wondered how our society would function if we all just ran everywhere we went. Everyone would start as babies just learning to run and we wouldn't really walk much, unless carrying large things like pianos or in the case of a serious injury. We would all be healthier and get more things done because we would save time by running everywhere. We would all have great stamina to run incredibly far, way more than we think is possible. That's my idea. Who's with me?

the history of your mom

Awhile ago at work some of my friends were telling their favorite "your mom" lines. Recently I was listening to a book called Collapse and it talks about all these different nations and what happened to them. One of these nations hundreds of years ago had your mom lines too. Who knew it went back so far? It was during a time where people were starving and cannibalism was starting for people trying to survive. So this book said the worst insult you could say to someone at that time was "the flesh of your mother sticks between my teeth." I would say that's pretty harsh.

I am dead

I recently discovered that I am dead because I have no blood pressure. I think that is a requirement for a live body, which I am not. I was with Brandon by one of those blood pressure machines and he sat down and got his blood pressure. So I sat down to get mine and it gave me an error message and said my blood pressure was 9. So I tried again and it did the same thing, then Brandon tried again, it worked fine, then I tried again and got another 9. I gave up. A week or two later I was by the machine again and tried two more times. Still no blood pressure. I'm just not really alive.

the comment dilemma

I have so many mixed feelings about this comment number attached to each blog posted on Provo Platinum. I definitely appreciate the ease in which I can see if there is something exciting I should read about, or even more importantly, read additional comments about. But at the same time I am intimidated to write whatever random thing I want to. Now everyone knows before even opening my blog how pathetically few comments I have. I can't decide if I should:

A. use that as motivation to write more interesting and/ or controversial blogs

B. pretend like I don't know everyone is going to be looking at how many comments my blog has

C. join the army and stop blogging altogether

D. somehow learn computer programming and start my own blogging friends website (that could take years... or longer)

E. make as many comments on my own post as possible so that people think it is a really interesting blog

entertaining public

Recently I've seen some really interesting people out on the street. I wish I had pictures but you'll just have to use your imaginations. One guy I saw was riding his bike along a pretty busy street but his bike was very unique because instead of a bike seat he was somehow sitting on the seat from some cushy office chair that had the legs taken off and a bike attached underneath it. I don't know how he managed to peddle while sitting on that mammoth bike seat, but he did.

The other event was when I was driving along and I saw this guy who had long straggly hair and a beard, with bleach streaks, and a button down shirt and super short 80's cut off shorts, and tennis shoes. It wasn't so much his outfit that caught my attention though but that he was just going for a jog down the street while dribbling a basketball. okay, maybe it was the outfit. This was along another busy street. He must've been 60 years old, former basketball star, and now he just likes to go jogging with a basketball. I've never tried it, maybe it makes jogging more fun? I really don't know.

Here are some funny commercials that I'm adding links to just because they make me laugh and I hope you like them too.

Art Show

To anyone who likes to check out art the BYU BFA show is currently hanging in the HFAC. My stuff is alright, but there are some amazing oil painters that I graduated with that are definitely something to see. We are having a reception for the show on Thursday August 17th from 7-9 in the HFAC jungle. I'm not sure what the jungle is, but that's what the advertisements they gave us say. I think it's just the area where they always put the tables of punch and cookies by the stairs. So if you're not into art you can just come for the cookies and punch. It's not a huge show, but still pretty good. And if you know any art directors, feel free to invite them too. We really wouldn't mind. I promise.

matching shirt day

It seems like I may have mentioned before in a blog about how we wear matching shirts to work every Friday. I love it because matching makes me laugh. So every Friday I wear the same navy polo shirt and then I walk into work and about 90% of the co-workers sitting in rows at computers all have on their navy polo shirts too. Which I also love because I don't have to think about what to wear. Last Friday however, (when I meant to write this blog but never did) I hadn't done laundry for awhile so all I had that was clean were some black cords. Usually I avoid wearing black pants and navy shirts, not the best combination. But for matching shirt day I make special exceptions. And that's what I wore all day.

amazing discovery

So Brandon and I were finishing registering at Target the other day and we overheard this couple talking to another couple that was registering also. They asked if they could give them some advice because they just got married recently. We half way eavesdropped, we figured we already knew what they would say because everyone we know who has gotten married has told us how horrible Target's return policy is. You can only return 2 items per person per year (they mark your drivers license or something bizarre like that) and they only give you in-store credit for that specific department, like only the home decor department or just kitchen appliances, etc. Really lame. People shop at Target though, and if they happen to buy you something on your registry that you need to return it's not the best (like stores that give you cash) but still way better. So it's easy to feel obligated to register there.

However, this couple had much better information. They explained what you have to do is change the wedding date on your registry so it's after your real one. That way you can just register for the presents you received after you're married and then you can return the ones you don't need. Ingenious! So if you ever plan on getting married and would prefer not to have 43 blenders and 12 toasters, (which I guess happens whether you register or not) plan your registry wedding date wisely. And tell everyone- except Target.

those hanging

Whenever I'm driving around and I say to myself, "oh that's a cute house" it almost always has a hanging plant in front of it, or lots of them. I think hanging plants are the key to good looking apartments. I think I will become a hanging plant collector. I don't know if that is a common hobby or if I could join clubs for that, but if not maybe I'll just start some.
My sister Heather and I have had this theory for awhile. When we lived in our super super ghetto apartment Heather bought us a beautiful green, flowing, hanging plant that changed our living room probably 2 whole steps to. (from super super ghetto to just ghetto) Unfortunately she moved home and I was left to care for our hanging plant and I guess it needed water more than I would think of it. After months of not even sporadic watering it was clearly dead. I kept it for another few months, actually even more than that, hoping it would come back to life. (I still didn't water it though) So that was my first hanging plant experience. But I think I've learned some things from it ( like watering more than bi-monthly is helpful) and I'm ready to try this plant thing again.

best compliment ever?

Brandon has given me tons of nice compliments ever since we first started dating, it's something I have really appreciated. The other day, however, he wasn't quite as smooth as he normally his. We were driving up to his house to have a 4th of July BBQ with his family and we stopped by this farm place so I could see where we're going to have our reception. (It looked really cool, just a pretty park with lots of trees and ducks) Sometimes I get car sick and I mentioned that I felt a little nauseous. Brandon told me that he makes lots of girls nauseous. Then he smiled sweetly at me and told me that there's only one girl that makes him nauseous. I gave him a funny look wondering why he was telling me that I make him feel sick but he was just kept smiling like it was a good thing to say. I let him know that people usually don't like to be told that they make them sick. After we laughed for awhile at how Brandon's compliment didn't really come out the way he wanted it to he insisted that it was the nicest compliment he has ever given me and that he was sticking with it, I make him nauseous. (apparently it's suppose to be like having butterflies in your stomach and being nervous, I'm not sure really how he came up with that)

work bonuses

One of my favorite parts of new jobs are the random things you get to learn that you didn't expect to. For example, at my current graphic design job I expected to gain more proficiency with illustrator and flash, which I have. However, I had no idea I would be learning and permanently ingraining into my brain what covalent and ionic bonding is. That's what happens when you spend many many hours trying to figure out how to get those electrons to spin the way you want them to.

At other jobs I've also learned random things. At my first job I had the Dewey decimal system mostly memorized, I knew what categories were where in the library. At the pie factory I learned how far in advance pumpkin pies are made before Thanksgiving, along with how you say "boxes" in Spanish. At the school supply warehouse I learned about drug dealing and how to use a box knife with great skill. At the grocery store I was pretty proud of my ability to name the aisle for any food item you might be trying to find. That's just a few examples, but I think you get what I'm talking about.

alternatives

I'm realizing that I'm a person that doesn't care too much about traditions. If they have a purpose behind them that's fine but why do we eat cake at weddings? Personally I think wedding cake is one of my least favorite foods. (that might be an exaggeration, but I just really don't like it) I was at a reception recently where all they had was really nice cheesecake and some kind of thick chocolate pie. No other random foods to snack on, no disgusting cake, I thought it was great. I heard of someone having cupcakes on platters with pillars as if it were a wedding cake. So it makes me wonder, what other wedding cake substitutes are there? Brandon suggested ding dongs. I think a couple of vermonsters from Ben and Jerry's would be good.

office excitement

This morning as I was clocking in at work I heard some girl yelling about something and I wondered what was going on. Apparently there was a weasel running around the office! We all thought it was a ferret at first but after doing some quick internet research we realized it was a weasel. We chased it around for awhile and watched it run up the wall and across all the computers. Eventually we chased it upstairs so KBYU had to deal with it. They thought they had it locked in the conference room for awhile, but then it got out. Eventually someone chased it outside. Kind of an unexpected way to start the week. great entertainment.

modern ideas

I was talking with some friends at work about the tradition of having rings when you get married. Jim mentioned he thinks we should go with brouches instead of rings. That was a fun idea to picture. The other idea was tatoos. When you get married you get a tatoo, but that way you don't have a ring getting in your way or scatching things or people. I think out of those ideas I'm still voting to continue with rings.

big news: my real love

You might not believe this, or you might be expecting this, but guess what I'm engaged! I'm really excited. Yesterday we discussed what kind of things we'll buy so we don't have to worry about figuring those things out later. We've already decided on nonfat milk and cinnamon toothpaste. And we've also decided to have matching scooters.

my new found love

I realized that I really really really love root canals. I always heard about them and had this fear, that it would be more painful than any other dental procedure I've been through. However, after having a root canal yesterday I would just like to say it is a GREAT experience. That might have something to do with the fact that I have been in pain for the past 2 months, and unbearable pain the past few weeks. I was ready to just drill the tooth out myself if root canal day didn't come quick enough. Ever since I got my root canal I haven't had any pain. (that might also have something to do with the special shot they gave me so I don't feel pain for a few days, the best investment I've ever made) So to anyone that has a fear of root canals as I once did - don't worry - they're great!

over the hill already

I recently heard that after 25 your body is a lot more susceptible to diseases and injuries, physical problems in general. After taking 12 pills of 4 different varieties in the past 8 hours I've decided that this is true.

the heater

The purpose of this blog is to publicly complain. All week the heater has been running at work. Not in the whole building, just the section where 30 or so of us have our computers all lined up. It's pretty bad. Whether it is 60 or 90 out the vent has been blowing hot air on me. I feel like I have a fever the whole time I'm at work and complaining to people at work hasn't gotten me anywhere so I thought maybe if I complain to more people it could become a more widely discussed topic and maybe someone will finally fix it. The saddest part is I am no longer wearing my pink sweater. Although I did recently receive an independent study polo shirt so at least I get to match half the people at work, that's the exciting part about Fridays- matching blue polo shirts.

now it's serious

The other day my friend came over and we were talking about how things are going with Brandon and he asked me if I had googled his name yet. I said no, not realizing that was an important thing to do. But apparently it is. He said, oh, I thought you guys were serious, but maybe not. So I googled his name the very next day. I found some guy at Iowa St., a race car driver, and a football player as the first three. It would take quite awhile to look at everyone with his name because his name isn't exactly one you'd classify as odd or unique. Then I was also instructed that I needed to check his name on the FBI's most wanted list, so I did. Brandon wasn't listed. So there, now it's serious.

pilot g-tec c-4

I can't believe I haven't written a blog about these pens yet. Anyone who knows me even fairly well knows I am obsessed with these pens. They can be bought in Canada, England, Japan, Singapore (at a great price too), but not in the States. It's a tragedy. Most illustrators I know also like these pens and love to draw with them. There really isn't any pen that is a suitable replacement. They either don't write smooth enough or aren't thin enough. I even emailed the company hoping to figure something out but there are some kind of patent laws that don't allow them to sell them here. So if anyone is going to any of those mentioned countries anytime soon, please buy these pens and my friends and I will buy them from you. It could be a great side business. Sometimes I see them on ebay for $5.00 a pen, plus shipping. It 's hard to justify when I can use them up so fast. (or lose them) Maybe I will just become an engineer and create my own. Or regularly vacation in Singapore. I think I better keep brainstorming for other options.