Things To Do Before I Die #43

I'm random. I know this about myself. I do weird and unusual things because 1. I'm single 2. I can and 3. Why not? Years from now I don't want to be married with kids and ever look back wishing I had done "this", or "that" or not taken the time to do things I had always wanted to do while I was single, living the life. So far, I've done almost everything I've ever wanted to do or try. There are of course a few things on the list but those are in the works. One for example is my love for roller skating. As a kid I would skate around the basement listening to the Xanadu soundtrack and doing the ending Skate scene, that I may or may not have memorized. If you want a good laugh, watch the above link-random I know but awesome!
My sister and I have wanted to Skate-A-State. We decide Rhode Island will work because it's only the smallest state and we can do it in just a few hours, piece of cake.
Along with my love to roller skate, I thought it would be SO RAD to do Roller Derby. I mean after all, I do have a distant cousin who was a Roller Derby Champion back in '72 before the sport died. But ladies and gentleman, IT'S BACK!

Let me give you a little preview of what it actually is in case you didn't already know.




Yea, I know I may look sweet and innocent. A little too nice and even a bit skinny and frail. But if you cross me or piss me off, I can-WILL-unleash the demons and kick some serious trash!

Well this past weekend was the Championship Game in SLC so, of course, some friends and I went. D was in town from San Francisco so we met up and the enjoyment started. We couldn't get enough of it, starting from the first sign we saw as we walked in......




As Melinda and I are sitting there doing what we do best (people watching) we notice one of the players skating by while holding her daughter. The conversation between M and I went a little something like this:
K: Um, I don't think that's the smartest thing- carrying a little girl while on skates.
M: I don't think it's the smartest thing having your two year old dress like that. They're starting early in raising her to be a Dirty Pirate Hooker
------Turns out, her mom's name on the roster is Dirty Pirate Hooker. We had no idea! Here they are in their little DPH attire.


We ended up sitting with the family of the Sisters of No Mercy which were GREAT seats. All we had to do was hold up their signs and cheer. DONE AND DONE. Plus, with a sign like this, why not?


So if you are all as stoked about this as I am, maybe you should just go ahead and join me,........

Picture Picture

I got a new camera. Don't ask me what happened to my old camera and all my lenses- i'm still pissed!

But I am SO excited to start snapping pictures again! I miss the passion of photography and capturing emotion around me!

I worked at a photo place during summer break from college and loved it. Then I took a photography class at school and fell in love! There's just something about the dark room and the smell that relaxes me. I focused on Landscape, mainly Architecture since that was my major but found after school I was taking every opportunity to snap my family and capturing every moment.

Here are just a few of what I have taken over the past few years:






Ahhh, I'm SO EXCITED to get back into it and see the world from behind my camera.

SATC

A gay friend of mine once told me that I was the Carrie Bradshaw of all my friends. I laughed at how funny, yet true, that seemed to be.
At the time, I had broken up with my real life Aidan and was dating this guy who turned out to be Mr. Big in every sense of the word, and character.

Well, Mr. Big is back and we are having dinner tonight.

This Carrie, however, is going to live the alternate ending that should have happened.

"Maybe the past is like an anchor holding us back.
Maybe, you have to let go of who you were
to become who you will be."

Carrie Bradshaw - Sex and The City

Flyin' High

Many of you have requested this for some time now and so here it is. And for those of you who don't know what the H I'm talking about, let me explain......

When I was younger, if I got mad I used to pack my bag and run away. I called it "kid-a-napping myself." I would usually circle the block a few times (because I wasn't allowed to cross the street) and then get tired so I'd go home.

During one of those times, I thought how much better it would be if I could just run away with the circus. This thought stayed with me for some years and when I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life I immediately went back to being 5 thinking it would be so awesome to just up and join the circus...or be a hobo. I even wanted to dress like one and jump a train to see where it would take me but then my better judgment got the best of me. Or the fact that my siblings and I were living Box Cart Children growing up. Plus I can't live off items that will only fit in a bandanna tied to a stick and I don't like sardines.

Fast forward to 2005. I'm living in San Francisco and my roommate and I find out that there is an actual college for carnies...... San Francisco School of the Circus Arts.

Well we signed up! FLYING TRAPEZE here we come! And Mister Catcher at the other end with your shirt off and your glistening muscles calling to me to fly on over so you can catch me and hold on tight...................HERE I AM!

Listo, LIIIIISSSSSTOOOOO!

Now for your viewing pleasure!

Yea, this was how bored I am at work!
Time to take tests and have the computer tell me something I didn't already know.

The Color Code

60% Yellow
17% Blue
14% White
9% Red

YELLOW MOTIVE: FUN

YELLOW NEEDS: To look good (socially), To be noticed, To be praised, Approval from the masses.

YELLOW WANTS: To hide insecurities (loosely), Happiness, Freedom, Playful adventure.

SUMMARY: Yellows value play. They consider life to be a party, and they're hosting. Yellows welcome praise. They need to be noticed. LIttle else improves a relationship with a Yellow more than praise. They need emotional connections. They often appear so nonchalant that peope think they don't care about anything. Nothing can be further from the truth. They need a great deal of attention. They need to be stroked. They enjoy touching. To them, physical contact is often the most direct, comfortable intimate connection. Yellows want to be popular. They like to be center stage. Friendships command a high priority in their lives because popularity answers one of their basic needs - the need for general approval. Yellows like action. They are easily bored, and seek adventure. They can never sit still for long, so they choose friends who, like them, refuse to allow the "boring details" get in the way of the most important thing in life - play.

The Color Code introduces the following four personality "Colors," or driving Core Motives:

• RED (Motive: POWER)—These are the power wielders. Power: the ability to move from point A to point B and get things done, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of vision and leadership and generally are responsible, decisive, proactive and assertive. 

• BLUE (Motive: INTIMACY)—These are the do-gooders. Intimacy: connecting, creating quality relationships and having purpose, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of quality and service and are generally loyal, sincere, and thoughtful.

• WHITE (Motive: PEACE)—These are the peacekeepers. Peace: the ability to stay calm and balanced even in the midst of conflict, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of clarity and tolerance and are generally kind, adaptable, and good-listeners.

• YELLOW (Motive: Fun)—These are the fun lovers. Fun: the joy of living life “in the moment”, is what motivates and drives these people. They bring great gifts of enthusiasm and optimism and are generally charismatic, spontaneous, and sociable.


And while I was at it.......

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is PHYSICAL TOUCH

Physical Touch: 10
Quality Time: 8
Words of Affirmation: 7
Acts of Service: 3
Receiving Gifts: 2

What are your results?
Color Code
Love Language

"Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them"

So, what happened this weekend you might ask?

I'll show you exactly what happened this weekend!

That's what happens when your brother in law
is bored at work and see's you driving down the highway.

Thanks for the laughs!

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Yea, odd, I know. I feel like the most smartest person- ever.
Really, I just need to distract my mind from the thinking about those things (or persons) that seem to be taking up most of my time that are irrelevant until proven true which is out of my control.

So I started a new book. I have also started an old book, again. I figure what better way to get ready for the first weekend in October than by reading "the word" in a month. I've done it before and it was amazing, so why not do it again.

Anyone up for joining me? It's only 17.7 pages a day for the next 30 days- that's nothing! :)

GIDDY UP!

Last week I volunteered/participated in a slew of charities.
They were individually raising funds for a good cause and although there were plenty of pictures taken between all three events (Huntsman Cancer, Diabetes Walk, and Mothers Without Borders), this is the best ones that I feel I should share with ya'll.

Hope on the Range
Huntsman Cancer Foundation

to see the actual pictures, click here and here

Epiphany

.....the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference.

I had one of those today.

It went something like this:

I let go of my emotions just about as much as I take off my bra - never.
Sometimes I just need to release the ladies and enjoy life.
Just put them out there and be free.

Weekly Wrap Up

Do you ever find that you re-tell your stories of what's been going on about 5 times a day? Add another 10 for writing in your journal where you usually don't leave ANYTHING out that you normally would with your friends that you don't want them to hear, or know, or the little things behind the wall you occasionally put up. Then there is blogging. The only thing left is for me to start a gossip column or my own version of People magazine all about me, what I'm wearing and if I wear it better than someone else, that I too am normal and grocery shop like everyone else. What books i'm reading, who I had drinks with, what I wore to the gym, or where I was spotted out on a date.
Could be interesting and I know a few people who would get a monthly subscription.

The past week I have had A LOT going on and instead of writing it all down in paragraph form for everyone to spend the next 8 minutes reading during a quick break from work, or trying to explain my every thought, feeling, emotion, and action in my journal, I decided to do something a little more simple and to the point.

So here's a recap of my week:

Have a good weekend!
Uzi

Come Sail Away.......

This weekend I went to Long Beach to hang out with these guys:

But I think Sizzle and I spent more quality time on Catalina Island with this guy:

It's amazing what flirting can do and as Sizzle would say
"oh Marvie, stop teasing me with your Switzerland Sexiness."

After we were leaving the beach, we bought these awesome hats:

I know, a little too late, don't judge! How else can I get the most of Melanoma Madness?

The entire day, we grazed like the buffalo you can find on the island:

However I didn't eat the real buffalo or this one, but I did eat pizza, along with french toast, bacon-mmm bacon, ice cream (more than once), the worlds best onion rings, and on and on.

For a quick view of our vacation:

And if you'd like to see more of the pictures or more stories, click here or here.

I've been sick for the past 2 weeks. First the flu and now the cold and it's really cramping my style. I think it really comes down to me constantly on the go and being so busy that the one time I finally stopped to breath, my entire body just crashed.
Well no matter how I feel, I can't let it get me down. Besides, i'd much rather be sick on a beach then in my bed.
Good think i'll be chill'n with Sizzle here this weekend and hang'n with our boys!
Best medicine I could think of!

Catalina Island

Bon Voyage and have a great weekend!

Parties, Pictures, and Pickles?

So my sisters and I spend almost 6 months planning for my mom's surprise 60th birthday party. We spend hours and weeks on the decorations and all day setting up, that come party time, we forgot to take any pictures of our accomplishment, which turned out amazing. Instead, we took a family picture and posed like we were back at the prom!

Then there was the tea party. Princesses and Pirates was what we went for and here you can see some pretty feisty pirates and one pissed off princess.
AWESOME!

We had each of the kids write down something they wanted to do the next week. I tied them each to a balloon and the kids released them so the "wish fairy" could get them.

Now here's my favorite moment of the week. We were hanging out at my sisters house and we were all exhausted. So what did we do, we came up with our own games and activities for the kids. I taught the kids Colored Eggs which is my favorite night game as a child. The kids loved it and had so much fun. Then we played a game of "Guess that Taffy". Never played? Well probably because we made it up. Tam happened to have a bag of taffy in her cupboards so we pulled it out and began the game. The kids had to close their eyes as we put a piece of taffy in their mouth. They had to guess what flavor it was. It went a little something like this......

And this is what happens when us Uzi's do what we do best, take it one step further.......

What's sick is that we used to play this game all the time when we were younger and
no parents were home, which was ALOT!
Good times were had FOR SURE!

Surprise!

This past week have been crazy busy! Somehow involving a lot of surprises and parties.

Surprise Birthday Celebration
Surprise Pregnancy Announcement
Pool Party
Tea Party
Surprise friend in town
Surprise taste test
Surprise nieces with a trip to Arizona
Family Reunion

Wow, all of that within 8 days. And in all of that planning and partying and surprising, I was somehow surprised with the flu and now the cold. It will be over sooner than I will put pictures and videos up of the events.

Hang tight! :)

Sneaky Sneaky

If I haven't told you before, I LOVE to scare my nieces and nephews. I love it so much that they know that when I'm coming to town, I will most likely scare then.
Well this past weekend I went to Bakersfield California. Mostly work but mostly play. We were able to balance it out nicely, along with the delicious places we wanted to eat at.
Well, my sister told her kids that they were going to come pick me up at the airport Friday morning.......... I got in Thursday night.
So how did I scare them?

See for yourself:






Man I'm hilarious! Thanks to my Sister for setting it all up! We're good, real good! :)

McZundelac

Last weekend two of my best friends came into town. First was Silvia aka Popozao. We chilled by the pool, listened to some R&B/sang karaoke on my phone to R&B all while she was making this:

Reasons why you should date Uzi

Uzelicious, Funny, Beautiful, Hot, Beautiful Eyes, Plays the guitar, Plays the piano, Plays the drums, Interior Design, Architecture, Creative, Out Going, Has An Awesome Phone, Can Drive With Her Knee, She Can Get Ready Really Fast, She Can Do Her Make up In The Car, Successful, She Can Text While She Drives, Singer, Nice, Cares About Other People, Good Person.

Haa, thanks PZ! :) We then went to meet Stephanie at the Rio for some delicious food and good laughs. That was just the start of many good, no AMAZING laughs where tears were streaming down our cheeks! This picture was late, I mean LATE saturday night. We were beyond tired and just slap happy right around the time that we were tricking Weston with my fart app on my phone. Little did we know he was tricking us with his own "fart app"

Thanks for the amazing times, for reminding me how much fun we have together and I can't wait for our NADE REUNION come August! Until then.........

Heart ya, mean it
Fart ya, bean it

UZI

Speak a little more clearly next time

Last week for FHE they had a fundraiser for African children. They had guys up for a silent auction, for a date. Some friends and I started to put our names down so that it would get the silent bidding going. I mean, we didn't want the guys to feel bad that they didn't have any takers. And at our age, no girl wants to be the first one to put our name on the sheet. Talk about desperate. well we definitely took one for the team and really got things rolling......... You know, for the kids.
We left before we found out the winners and I pray it's not me. I mean, I don't want my faith to be skewed because I ended up paying for a date when my actions the night before was praying for a date.
I'm just hoping the man upstairs got my request loud and clear. I'd hate to resort back to the thought that he went on vacation and the person taking over somehow wrote down the wrong thing when listening to his messages.

*update: turns out i got myself a date for $8.

Last Chance

I have this friend, we'll call her "Tiffany". She has a friend, who we'll call "Tony". Tiffany and Tony have known each other for years. They are quite possibly the type of best friends that any guy and girl can be. Kind of like Will and Grace, but Tiffany isn't an interior designer. Tony is, but he's not gay.

They are extremely close and have traveled together several times, even sharing rooms but nothing has happened because they are such good friends. There has never been any reference to dating between the two......until recently. For some reason, Tony keeps making comments to Tiffany about making out and asking questions like "when was the last time you kissed somebody?" You don't say that unless it's to the person you want to kiss, like on a date.

Well I was talking to Tiffany the other day and told her that she should just go in for it. The best way to see if he's serious. If he pulls away, you'll know he was joking and you can play it off as a joke. If he stands there and let's it happen, then you know it's an actual thought on his mind. Plus, you can just get it over with and move past the talk.

Well, it just so happens that Tiffany was in the city, where he lives, for work and they were going to hang out that night. I wasn't quite sure how the night was going to go but I'm pretty sure Tiffany didn't have any intentions on trying.

"Maybe he would instead?" she thought as Tony began wrestling with her. Rolling around, laughing and then being trapped by his huge arms, she found herself pinned with no way to escape. Was it going to happen? Was this to be THE moment they had talked about. For sure, it was going to happen, until.......................... Tiffany tooted.
"It just came out, there was no force or push.
I wasn't even holding anything in."

Really!?, really. I mean talk about bad timing. You can't even recover from something like that. You can't even try to blame it on something like a "barking spider" or the ducks outside of the 16th floor hotel room or even the TV that wasn't on. It was apparent what had happened and he was well aware of it.
Tony just sat there with this look on his face as if to say "Did that really just happen?" before quickly moving. By this time, Tiffany didn't even have time to be embarrassed because she was laughing too hard which made him laugh even harder.

Talk about good friends! If you are that comfortable around someone, you're pretty much married. They're just one kiss away from marriage but I don't think that will be happening.

EVER

What I meant to say was.....

So the other day I was talking to this guy. Just small chit chat, you know just having a good time. Somehow we got on the subject of transplanting eyeballs. I quickly made reference to that Tom Cruise movie Minority Report. He wasn't familiar with it and as I began to explain in excitement the following came out:

"oh yea, it's that movie where they identify everyone by scanning their eyes. Tom is trying to hide from the law so he get's somebody else's eyes put in so they won't recognize him when they do a rectal scan"
..............................................

"...................did I just say that?"

"Haa, did you mean RETINAL scan?"

"haa ha haa, um, yea............gotta go"

Kinda reminds me of that one late, LATE night in Tahoe where I was doing Chinese acrobats with Marshall and he dropped me hitting my head on a stool. I shook it off but turned to Sizzle and said "I'm ok but will you wake me up in the middle of the night and check if i'm dilated?" to which she replied: "I love you, but not that much!"

Which of these things is not like the other?

Soon after I moved to St. Louis, two more girls moved into the ward and we instantly became best friends. There was a time where we were inseparable, doing everything together. Oh except those many nights of watching Dirty Dancing in the basement so we wouldn't get caught, somehow there were just two of us.
This was all during our awkward puberty years and it's obvious in this picture. Really?...........really. Those glasses are horrible, I don't even know what I was thinking other than "don't smile with your mouth open so you don't show your braces." Very similar to my 8th grade picture where I just look pissed.


Then there's this next photo. I don't remember this day too well other than L and I thinking we were so cute in our outfits so we ditched the classes at Youth Conference and walked around the University where we were at and took "modeling" pictures of each other and even tried to meet some local college boys that were there for the summer but no such luck. Hey, sounds like my 4 years at EFY. Go figure.

Then came high school where in some cases, friends drift apart. I could go on and on about my own feelings about the situation but I will spare you the stories and let you reflect on the fact that it's like water off a ducks back.




Here we are years later and, well ................ does it seem to you that I am the only one who still looks the same? Have I even gone through puberty? Probably not since I'm the only one NOT married and NOT pregnant. And at this Open House/Baby Shower, in no way did I ever feel sad or depressed about that......................................really! I was actually happy where my life was, what I have accomplished, the things I was doing, where I am now and the person I have become. Life is good!
It was good to see them after so long and even though we don't really keep in touch or see each other that often, that's ok. We each live in different states and probably won't see each other again. If we do we'll always have good times, like in Vegas......, but for now, I wish them both the best of luck in life and all the happiness. Love you girls!