Something I just threw together a few minutes ago...

WARNING: As I did just throw this together, it may be INCREDIBLY cheesy...just sayin'...don't judge, okay?? Also, its kinda long...brace yourself...
I'm working on Changing Tyde again, now that I have time (HOORAY!!!) I feel as if I have been neglecting my characters, which is not a good thing. Fortunately Jason and Kyla are both patient people by nature so I'm sure everything will be fine. I have been e-mailing the lady from whom I won to have my manuscript evaluated which has been a learning and neat experience. Any way, here is an excerpt that happens just after Jason finds his wife cheating on him and he walks out, hops in his car and starts driving:

My phone started ringing again. It had been going off every few minutes since I left the house. It was the only register of time I had. Brooke kept calling over and over and over again. I finally took my stupid Blackberry and chucked it out the window, and pushed the gas pedal down a little further. It was close to 2:00 AM before I finally made it to the beach house. There were three messages on the phone there when I arrived. Without listening to them, I unplugged the phone and went straight up the stairs to bed. I was exhausted, I was already dragging when I had gotten home three and a half hours ago. The messages would be there in the morning. I could already guess who they would be from, Brooke, and Phil. I walked into the master bedroom, dropped my bags on the floor and didn’t bother to change my clothes. I took off my shirt and my shoes and crashed on the bed, not even bothering to get under the covers. I tried to turn my mind off and just sleep a long dreamless sleep…then maybe things would seem better in the morning. Maybe I’d wake to find the whole night had been a dream.
I opened my eyes and everything seemed so bright. I stood and realized I was in my beach house still, but things were different. Nothing was in its usual place, and the walls were a pale blue instead of the stark white Brooke was so fond of. I knew Brooke could not possibly be here because the tall windows were open. I could hear the ocean behind them and could feel the breeze as it gently moved the curtains in a soft swaying motion. I picked my white shirt up off the floor, put it on, but didn’t bother to button it up. The sun was streaming in from the East telling me it was early in the morning. I left my room and walked down the hall. I knew it was my house, but it didn’t feel the same as when I had walked in last night. I walked down the stairs and none of the furniture I was used to was in the house. Instead of the cream, white, and tan colors that Brooke preferred, everything was colorful. The furniture in the front room a vibrant spring green to go along with the cream and ocean blue stripes on the walls. All the wood was a light colored oak instead of the dark mahogany. I walked over to the mantel, which still contained pictures, but as I approached, I realized they were not the pictures I had been looking at last night. These were different. I picked up a frame with a few different pictures in it and examined them closely. I was shocked to see myself in them; one of me and a little boy running outside on the beach. One of me holding a baby girl with a bow in her hair, my head next to hers with an expression peaceful contemplation-not something I do often, especially lately. One with me holding a dark haired woman close to me…I couldn’t see her face, you could only see my profile next to her long dark hair. My eyes are closed and my expression is one of sheer joy. I can imagine the scene at which this picture is taken, but I have no actual memory of it. All I know is the feeling in my heart tells me how much I love the people in these pictures. It was strange, I looked so happy in these pictures. I looked like I belonged somewhere, instead of the stranger I currently felt like-even to myself.
Voices caught me off guard, I thought I was alone in some alternate universe. They are coming from down the hall where my office was supposed to be. I wanted to go listen to recognize them, but part of me just stayed where I was. This was all so surreal to me. I didn’t know what to think. An unconscious thought told me that the people here were my family, but logically it couldn’t be, because my family had fallen apart and I was lost and alone. I just stood there looking around my house when the voice from earlier that night returned, it was peaceful and simply urged, “Go see them, they are your family”. I hesitated slightly, but I finally turned and walked quietly down the hall. I heard soft whispers coming from what was supposed to be my office. I didn’t look in at first, I just stood outside the doorway listening. The voice was gentle, a woman’s voice. It sounded peaceful and welcoming. She was telling a story about a little rabbit who wished he had a pair of red wings, and the calamities that came when he got them. There was a second voice too, a little boy. He kept asking questions about the story. His mother, I assumed, answered them patiently and would continue with the story when he was appeased. My curiosity was starting to pique as I inched towards the doorway. I entered the room slowly, the little boy turned to see me immediately and I saw a head of dark spiky hair, accompanied with crisp ocean blue eyes staring at me with a gasp of excitement crossed his lips as he ran over and hugged me around the knees…
I gasped for air as I shot straight up on my bed. Everything had been so vivid, so real. I looked around, half expecting everything to be changed to how it had been in the dream, but no, everything was how I had left it. The stark white walls, the dark mahogany bed that stood out like a dark cloud on a sunny day. I sat there until my breathing calmed. I finally looked at the clock, it was 11:45 AM; time to face reality. I walked over to the windows and opened them. I picked my shirt up off the floor and started buttoning it as I walked out of the room and down the hall. I passed by a few pictures of me and Brooke that hung on the wall and paused for a moment. It was like comparing the difference between night and day when I looked at these pictures of me and Brooke in comparison to the girl I was with in my dream. I took the pictures off the wall and when I reached the bottom of the stairs with them, I dumped them all on the floor by the mantel determined to rid the house of any trace that Brooke was ever here. First, however, I knew I needed to call Phil and tell him to calm down because undoubtedly he would be near having a heart attack right now, if he hadn’t had one already.

So...What did you think? Let me know. I don't know if it will stay or not since I already have the other dream sequence with Kyla and Jake...I don't know, I just had to get it out of my head and onto paper. It might just be one of those scenes that stays with me and doesn't make it into the final manuscript.

I know that you are probably sick of reading, but quick update on me: I passed all my classes this last semester!!! I am so grateful for an ever mindful Heavenly Father for helping me through this one. I am taking a semester off to save up money so I don't have to worry so much about money when I go back. I still need to post a picture of my "new" car. Names that have been submitted so far: Button, Kris or Krista, The Original Ghetto Cruiser, and Steve. I like Button, but I just don't know if I want all my guy friends accusing me of naming my car butt (because they are childish and stupid and I know I need to find new friends...I'm working on it.)

I have given up on Luke. Having said that, funny story for you. I went to go see Avatar with a few of my brothers and my dad and on the way out (mind you, I was surrounded by my brothers and my dad) I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be funny if I saw Luke here?" and then not a minute later I saw him waiting for someone! It was so funny. He saw me first and said "HEY!!" sounding rather surprised and I said "Hey Luke!!" and had to keep walking as I was in the midst of very fast walkers. My family generally walks at missionary speed, which is not conducive to stopping to have a conversation with someone. So yeah, it was cool. Sorry this post is FOREVER long, thanks for hanging in there, those of you that did!! YOU'RE AWESOME!!

It's Christmastime!!!

Okay, so I finished school (HALELUJAH!!!) and am praying this semester went better than last, but we will see. It is Christmas this week, which is awesome and I am super excited! I love spending the holidays with my family! They rock!!
     So, remember in the spring when I posted about my BFF Tex?? If not, here's a refresher.  So, once again I am faced with a whole new set of people that had no clue my best friend was a guy as of a week ago. I got to hang out with Tex for the first time since March and all my coworkers at my morning job are convinced that I must be in love with him because heaven forbid my best friend be a guy. They didn't even know he existed a week ago. So crazy.
    Any way, I am doing good. I have a new car now since Cecil is dead. Its a Toyota Tercel, formerly known as The Ghetto Cruiser. I'm taking suggestions for new names. I will take a picture soon and post it so you know what kind of car I'm talking about. Its a manual car, and I've only ever really driven an automatic. Its been an adjustment. My first day driving to work  in my new car I was stuck in stop and go traffic...yeah, I stalled my car in the middle of I-15. AWKWARD!!! Bet you can't beat that for awkward car experiences!!

Notebooks are for notes, not for kissing...

Okay my twilight friends, and even for those of you who hate it bitterly, I doubt that any of you will be able to keep from laughing even a little bit from this:


HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, that was so funny.

PS: I'm now done with finals and FREE AT LAST!!! HALLELUJAH! I will update soon, I promise!!!

Today is the first day of life on a new horizon

November is seriously not my month. This time last year give or take a week or two I got laid off...for real that time. I didn't know what I was going to do. I ended up working 2 part time jobs at lesser pay than I was making. It was not fun, and I really dreaded going back to the good ship, but it was the only option I had left. I was truly blessed that I was able to find a couple of jobs so quickly and not really skip a beat. I know that the Lord needed me where I am now so that I could help people, and it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I have met some of the greatest people through both of my jobs. A wonderful blessing in disguise.
    Today, November 23, 2009, is a day I will not soon forget either. I was driving to work and was involved in a car accident, totalling my car. Cecil, as he was called, passed away about 7:50 ish AM. No one was hurt, thankfully. My knee is bruised pretty bad, but that's it. My first thought was concern for my car because I knew that I can't really afford a new car right now. I'm trying to get through school and everything has been really stressful for me lately. But, everything is going to work out. I called my sister, who is literally my own personal angel, and she came to help me out. She has been the greatest blessing in my life, from the very begining. I will always be grateful that she is my sister. She has an extra car that she is letting me borrow (see, angelic!) so me and George (my sister's car) are becoming good buddies for a little while until I can figure out what to do for a car.
    I had a paper due in Spanish today, so I took it in, got a temporary parking pass for George and went to Institute. I was sitting there while our substitute in Institute was going on and on and on about how 50 minutes just isn't enough time to do the first 5 chapters of Revelation justice. I'm trying to keep my knee away from anything because it is very sore and at this point I don't know if anything is broken or if its just bruised. The thought keeps coming to mind "go see if Bro. Hunter is in his office" over and over again. When class was about half way over I finally heeded the thought and left my class. Bro. Hunter is my other institute teacher on Tues/Thurs and I really didn't expect to find him in his office, but I went any ways. He was there and was talking to a couple of students when I came by. I asked if he had a minute and he said he would shortly. When he came back to his office, I sat down and explained that I had been in a car accident and was hoping to get a blessing before I went to see the doctors. He very kindly said that wouldn't be a problem and got one of his students that was passing by to come help him. It was one of the most amazing blessings I've ever been given and it completely strengthened my testimony in the real and true power of the priesthood. Not only did it bring peace and understanding to everything I was dealing with in dealing with the accident, but I was also given very specific answers to some of my prayers that have been between just me and the Lord, I hadn't told anyone else. It was powerful. I was so grateful I went and got that blessing.
    Isn't it so funny how one split second can have such a profound impact on your day, and your life. Everything can change in just one split second. I am just so grateful that I am okay and that no one was seriously hurt today. The Lord was truly watching over me.

Midnight Movies and Such

Yesterday was a very Vampire-y day. After racquetball I watch VD, which was awesome...I LOVE that show! and then I met up with some friends and waited for 2 hours in the FREEZING cold to watch New Moon at midnight. I'm still cold, just thinking about it. brrrrrrr. I got to chat with a friend from one of my old jobs, which was fun. I was so hyper, even though it was so cold. I was still shivering uncontrollably halfway through the movie...but then after it was over we got back into my friends super awesome car with heated seats and warmed right up.
    Now to my opinion of the movie. I liked it. I liked it a lot.  I HATED Jacob in the books, in the movies I understood him and actually felt like he needed a hug at a couple points. I still don't think Kristen Stewart can act, and I still don't think that Robert Pattinson is more attractive than Paul Wesley (who I think would have been and AWESOME Edward, but that's okay because he's a much cooler vamp on VD any ways) but I was grateful that the cut Edward's hair! So he actually looked somewhat normal. And there was no awkward studdering in this one either. It drove me crazy in the first one to have them not be able to complete a coherent sentence. There was some awesome action in this one and although  They did a good job on this one, in my opinion, and I am glad because if it was like Twilight, I don't think I could have handled anymore. I can't wait for Eclipse to come out next June!! (Eclipse was my favorite of the series any way)
     Um, on a completely different note, AHG called me today, which was fun. I like talking to him as a friend...emphasis on FRIEND. I might get to hang out with Luke this weekend and I actually held a conversation that lasted more than 2 minutes with him (Luke) which was AWESOME!!!! Lets pray that everything works out well for Sunday. I really want to hang out with him, and get to know him better!!!

Patience is a virtue that I happen to lack

I am learning to be patient. I don't feel like I should give up on Luke just yet. I think something could happen there...I just have to be patient. Something that doesn't come easily with being the youngest...I've never been very patient. That's probably why the Lord has been so insistant that I learn this wonderful and amazing virtue so thoroughly. Yay. But in the end it will be worth it.
     Random fact for you...before this week I had never waxed my eyebrows...I don't know why I never did, but I absolutely love how my eyebrows look now...I am so lucky to have an AMAZING best friend who happens to teach at a cosmotolgy school up in Salt Lake. She is the only one I let cut my hair (because it always looks FABULOUS when she's done with it) and she pretty much ROCKS.
    I went to lunch with AHG (I know, its been FOREVER since I mentioned him, but there you go) and I was telling him how I have issues talking to guys and he said "Yeah, but you have no problems talking to me" to which I kindly replied, "Yeah, because I'm not interested in you..." his face was quite priceless. A few of my coworkers said they would have paid good money to see his face at that moment. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy...he just thinks he Mr. Fantastic and Wonderful. He thinks he can get any girl he wants...but now he know's he'll never get this girl.
     Any way, praryer works, school is still hard (although I did get the highest score I've ever gotten on a biology test today WOOT WOOT!!) and I have been sucked into watching Veronica Mars and I love it.

Music of the Heart

Back in the day, a long long time ago, before I knew who The Fray was...I was a HUGE Josh Groban fan. I mean HUGE. I LOVED his music. I even went to his concert the day before my 19th birthday and my awesome room mate at the time gave me her seat that was 3 rows from the front on the floor. Like right next to the stage. I almost touched him. At the time it was like my life's greatest achievement. W-O-W. I was a freak. I mean I still listen to his music. Some members on my mission gave me his Christmas CD the year it came out, and saved my sanity from completely disappearing. In fact, that is the main Christmas CD I still listen to when I feel so inclined to listen to Christmas music. I bring all this up because I was on Facebook today and since I'm a fan of Josh Groban on Facebook, they sent me a notification that Josh Groban has redone his website and to go check it out. Since I was sick of looking at my biology book and had a spare minute, I went to check it out and took a walk down memory lane of my freshman year of college. I'm sure Meredith remembers all this, as she was my room mate at the time.
    It is interesting to me to see how people influence my taste in music. For most of my life my brother B had a HUGE influence on what I liked, which is odd because we didn't really get along until I lived in Logan. But yeah, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode, etc. were all bands that my brother liked, so I liked them too. Except now I actually do like them. Not just because my brother does.
    Then I moved away from home and went to college and met some really awesome friends. It was amazing and was introduced to all kinds of new music and because of those friendships, I am now a huge fan of Josh Groban, THE FRAY, Jack's Mannequin, Meese, Yellowcard, Maroon 5, Paramore just to name a few. And really, it has just been in the last few years that I have really realized how much I rely on music everyday. I have to have it on when I write (or I go crazy and people end up dead in my stories). I listen to music when I cook, when I scrapbook, when I drive, whenever its quiet, I just need sound.
    Any way, I hope you all have a fabulously, music filled week!