Window of Opportunity

Every night I catch a glimpse of this beautiful little slivver

(who else thinks "sliver" should be spelled like this?) of...

wait for it...

FREE TIME!

So, I have to very strategically plan my to do's within that time slot.

And if I'm lucky, 30% of them get done.

Wish me luck! ;)

I'm Thinking of Writing Scripts for Soap Operas

My goodness,

I am just too tired to even blink right now.

Like, I'm amazed that my fingers even have the energy to type this.

And it doesn't help that the more tired I get

The more melodramatic I become.

Perhaps you've noticed.

I'm thinking this could be a melodramatically long day.

Just a hunch.

We're talking eons in length!

Like, 5:30p is lightyears from this very moment

And I can't even move more than a centimeter

Without gasping for air

And getting lightheaded.

Except for my fingers, of course.

But my fingers are tired, too, I can tell.

Like, if they had respiratory system of their own,

They'd be yawning,

Like in 10 second increments.

Seriously.

And NOW,

My eyes are so dry from lack of blinking

Due to lack of energy

That they'd probably be able to soak up more eye drops

Than an entire roll of Bounty quilted paper towels could!

Just sayin'

Time For Feeling

Today was one of "those" days. I'm using past tense like it's already over cause it makes me feel better. You know "those" days, right?

The ones where you are SO frustrated that you nearly cry whenever you try to talk.

The ones where your teacher misuses their stubborn power to make you late for your internship...the one that THEY are enforcing.

One of those days where you listen to hymns on your iPod to keep you from snapping innocent people in half when they merely attempt to interact with you.

One of those days when you simply chant, "We're all children of God. We're all children of God. We're all children of God..." to keep your ears from blowing steam.

Ok, ok. Ventilation terminated.

Crazy busy + BIG changes + BIG decisions - Sleep = Moody Me

So. What now?

As I see it, I have TWO decisions:

1) Continue to be moody, crabby, and miserable for matters beyond my control. Snap at people, take a nap to smother out my responsibilities and emotions, listen to sad music, and potentially spread my lame unhappiness to all those I come in contact with...

OR

2) Breathe in. Breath out. Give myself a pat on the back for doing my very best. Change that misery to happiness right this instant and share it with those who are rooting for my success. Listen to happy music, dip strawberries in chocolate, give people hugs, smile and keep working hard...

Because frankly, Life has this strange tendency to keep happening whether I'm ecstatic or completely peeved. So...I can either sit and stew and watch Life pass me by or I can GO AND DO and cherish the things that are going right. Those things that Heavenly Father has, in perfect love, placed in my path as His way of saying,

"I know you are doing your best. Here is something wonderful to make today easier for you, because I love you perfectly and desire your happiness."

It makes my heart hurt to think of the times that He's reached out and I've huffed right by in my childish crossness, completely oblivious to His tender mercies and love. My goodness! WHY? "I'm only human" has never seemed like a more inadequate excuse. And the only "I'm sorry" that will cut it, is the kind that requires my feet to move, my hands to serve, my heart to soften and my soul to sing praises of gratitude to all that He has done for me.

So. What now?

I check this day off as another lesson learned in a moment of weakness and frustration and I try a little harder to be a little better. Starting NOW.

Because today the sun shone on my face. And today Trax didn't break down on the way to my internship. And today my friend texted me a hilarious picture when I was about to burst into tears of frustration. And today Dad gave me his extra sandwich for lunch and offered to drive me to BestBuy to buy a new pedometer (thanks for the tip-off, Lindsey!).

See! Today isn't so bad after all.

Heavenly Father is in the details

Today and every day.

Stop and feel His love.

You know?
All those beautiful things

Surrounding you like a hug.

Call Waiting

One of the great things about Life is that when you get moving Life has no choice but to move with you.

"Whoa-ho-ho, Lindsay Kay! Whippin' out the profound stuff!"

Ok, but seriously. Sometimes Life just seems so stagnant, yes? Oh-ho, yes! You better believe it does! I can personally guarantee that when Life seems to be holding still, there's probably a part of you that is holding still, too...whether or not you'd like to admit it.

We all know what it's like to wait by the mail box or inbox or keep our ear tuned to the vibration of our cellphone, just waiting in anticipation for something, ANYTHING, to happen. But sometimes the thing we overlook the most is our ability to push the send button or stamp the envelope or dial the number ourselves!

Wow, friends! That is my week summed up in a single sentence. Life is for learning, for pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones...in as safe and healthy a way as possible. Don't go diving on any cliffs just to get "outside of your comfort zone"...that's not what I'm getting at!

Now, that's not to say that by standing still the phone will never ring. Heavenly Father lets the phone ring for you every once in a while. I love it when that happens. When answers just come! When friends just know that you needed exactly what they have to offer! A true testament of God's hand our Lives. He is in the details.

But another profound way that God shows His love for us is by letting us work things out for ourselves, rather than catching "the fish" for us. They say that the best things in Life are free...but I'd add that some of the most cherished things in Life are a result of tears, sweat, prayers, and patience.

Don't shun work for fear of sweat,

That's why they invented deodorant.

Ticked Talk

Next time you see me, I might be bald...

Cause, unfortunately, I'm about to pull my hair out!

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

...final projects.

Memo to you: If your teacher ever tells you to design and build a clock that works...and you happen to be a graphic design major (a senior at that)...just say 

"No!"

Just. Say. No.

Just a Little Homework

Homework is threatening to kill me...

{I think I spent 98.4% of my childhood watching Arthur. Ah, who am I kidding? I still do. This "musical" episode is by far my favorite. "Cause I was Jekyll Jekyll Hyde Jekyll Hyde Hyde Jekyll..." Ah. Thanks, Marc Brown!}

I'm just glad my homework doesn't involve too much math.

Hm, suddenly I'm feeling inspired to make a trip to the Pet Store.

Next Friday WILL come...right?

Temporary Solution

If end of semester projects are driving you insane, bang head here:

...or take a break to go shopping at Target. Whichever!

Can't Wait

…to graduate!

{Let's be honest, if I had time this would look a lot better}

I'm convinced that May could not come any slower!

Then again, it makes me sad when the holiday season flies by...

BUT, as soon as January 1st hits, I'm expecting a pick up in the pace!

I can't wait to have time to do stuff again. This'll sound weird, but I want time to do graphic design...Like my OWN projects and most likely some for...my CAREER! GASP!

I can't wait to have time to draw! Holy cow, I miss that! I'm oil painting for the first time tonight and I have a feeling I'm gonna want more time to do that, too.

I can't wait till I have time to write again. There are stories and poems itching in the back of my brain, just waiting to be written down!

I can't wait to have time to clean my room...and actually master how to keep it that way, for once. Sheesh!

I can't wait to have time to "kidnap" each and every one of my n&ns and spoil them (and myself, I'll be honest) with a day of unending fun.

Oooh, I can't wait till I have time to bake/cook. BUT, I am making the mashed potatoes and a pie for Thanksgiving. I'll post pictures! I'm so excited to be in the kitchen!

I can't wait to have time to read. Oh yes. So many books, so little time.

I can't wait to have time to sleep in for a couple more hours...till, I dunno...7am?

ah.

I'm so anxious.

I just can't wait to have time...period.

But for now...

...gotta go live it up,

Homework style!

I have a feeling I'm actually going to miss that someday, too.

Death by Backpack

If the weight of school doesn't kill me...

...the weight of my backpack might.

OhSoCraving!

French toast!

Oh yes! Just give me a stack of sweet and lightly crispy, moist and buttery, maple drenched heaven and I won’t utter another word of complaint about today...

Made ya drool!

Oh, P.S.

P.S. Madre and Dad reminded me this morning that it’s ok that school be my first priority. I’m planning for my future life, whatever it may be, and that’s pretty darn important. I feel much better knowing that.

P.P.S. I’m going to the Utah Shakespearean Festival for the weekend to see “Pride & Prejudice” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” Wahoo! Good thing I can do homework in the car, huh?

Hope you’re having a fabulous day!

Head First

Picture me writing this on a big chalk board in a lab coat with hair like Mr. Einstein and a crazed look on my face, like I’ve been awake for way too long…

TOTAL HOURS IN 1 WEEK: 168

Subract Sunday = 144 hours

Subtract Ideal Sleep Schedule (42 hours) = 102 workable hours per week

Monday: 10 hours on campus

Tuesday: 9.5 hours on campus

Wednesday: 13.5 hours on campus

Thursday: 8 hours on campus

Friday: 5 hours on campus

TOTAL HOURS SPENT ON CAMPUS: 46 (including work)

Add hours required for homework/study: 26+

TOTAL HOURS SPENT ON SCHOOL: 72 out of 102 available

Hours remaining for extracurricular/personal activity: 30 hours

The interesting thing about this WHOLE equation is that school isn't even my first priority.

What about my family, my ward responsibilities, my friends...uh, my LIFE period!?

Today when I went to my 4 hour Letterpress class and heard the workload of at least 8 hours outside of class, I nearly cried. I have never been so busy...and perhaps that's pathetic to the majority of the world, but to each his own. My own says, "Whoa, Nelly!"

Thankfully, I have never had more confidence that I can conquer this semester...not by myself of course, but with Heavenly Father's help. In Him ALL things are possible, IF you get your priorities in order. Now, my priorities might be completely unbalanced right now, but Heavenly Father knows how hard I'm trying, which, I'm happy to admit, is 10x harder than I've ever tried in my life. I want to be my very best and He gives me strength in so many aspects of my life. I couldn't make it through even a single day without His compassion and blessings, without the strength of the spirit through the instruction and examples of the scriptures, and through my persistent pleadings in prayer.

It's going to be hard, but OH the things I will learn.

And you know what's cool about learning hard things?

Those lessons strengthen your foundation for the rest of your life.

It's ALIVE!!

It’s a miracle!!!

Read THIS and you’ll see what I mean.

So, I’ve been doing some SERIOUS cleaning in my bedroom. Like, welcome to Day 2 kind of serious. Thankfully, it’s been fairly entertaining going through old school papers and projects, finding old notes and drawings, etc.

I even found my old American Girls Premier CD-ROM! It lets you make plays using your favorite American Girl characters. I think it’s safe to say that this game took up a good percentage of my and my friends' childhood.

Anyway, so I also happened to find my old pink RAZR. I’ve been using my brother’s old grey one since the tragic death of mine, but I decided it wouldn’t hurt to put a battery in it and see what would happen.

So I did.

And it works.

YAY!!

Ok, now you’re probably all thinking, “Big whoop! It’s a RAZR. Get an iPhone.” If so, it’s ok, you just don’t understand one of my mottos. Ah-hem:

“If it’s working and it does what you need it to do, why get a new one?”

Yep, that’s me. Call me crazy, but I just use my phone for calling and texting. I’m already at the computer 24/7, I don’t need my phone to do that, too. Plus, I think it's cuter than an iPhone. Sorry, Apple, you'll have to convert me later. Or sooner...I mean, I got my RAZR in April of 2007. It's bound to die sometime soon (knock on wood).

Anyway, YAY for old cellphones that still work despite...well...certain mishaps!

Peace out.

P.S. Funny story. My mom just walked in the door declaring that she just bought the first 5 seasons of Lost based on her viewing and liking of the very first episode. Haha! I love that lady! J

It's official...

I am HOME for the rest of the summer.

Ahhhh.

Seriously, folks.

I am SO ready to have an unbelievably busy schedule and use my maximum brain power, again… I mean, I guess if I were especially cool I could’ve found ways to do that during the summer holiday…

…but I’m not going to lie, it was nice to be lazy, at least for a little while. It doesn’t take me long, however, to remember that I THRIVE when I’m busy. I like to think that’s human nature.

In other news, my niece is “buzzzzzzzzzzzzzing” (literally) around the house, trying to attract an obnoxious housefly, which she intends for me to smash. She even drew me a picture to make it easier to find.

Gotta go! ;)

Like An Egg

I cracked.

I had to.

I’m currently undergoing the SLOWEST, DRAGGINGEST, most MIND-NUMBING & MONOTONOUS work shift in the history of the universe!!!! (that’s 4 exclamation points worth of boring)

No WAIT . . . . . . .

Ok, yes. Yes I am.

So, here’s the slightly incoherent update of my latelies:

room cleaning. book of mormon reading. spray-on tanning. half marathon training. school clothes shopping. orange nail painting. boring working. sister sleepovering. double cousin blind-dating. karaoking. amazon scouring. facebook breaking. brother logo designing. 5am waking. salad eating. ‘losing it with jillian michaels’ watching. school scheduling. madre cooking. parade-spot saving. walking and walking. googling. feet itching. bus commute napping. chocolate craving. nothing but ponytailing. not so good sleeping. shin splinting. blog book making. emailing . . . and somehow still breathing. not complaining.

PHEW!

Hope you're all enjoying the remaining drops of summer, too!

P.S. Smile.
P.P.S. Are you smiling? Good.