"I can always remember their birthday because it's either on an odd or even day"

It has been such a good day, and I plan on it staying that way! All signs pointed to it being such a hard day: I didn't get to bed till almost two, I slept on my floor, I slept in on accident...AN HOUR AND A HALF, I didn't shower, oh yeah, and its MONDAY!
Even though all of this happened/was, it has been a fantastic day!

Here's my I LOVE MONDAY THE 29TH OF MARCH list:

• BOTH diagnostic reports just need highlighted changes made
• my TX summary came back with just "continue to add" - no changes needed to be made in the stuff I've done
• Sunshine!
• I was NOT sore from sleeping on the floor
• Jorin and Jantzen get to come hang out with me tomorrow
• Less paperwork than i planned

Oh, and it hasn't happened yet, but I plan to add on: went to the gym, cleaned my room, and got to bed before midnight, onto this list!


Alright, I'm just going to end it I guess...

"So how was YOUR shower today?"

Alright. (Do I start all of my posts like that?) I'm going to try to get this story into writing. I have a feeling its going to be one of those courtesy laugh, followed by a "guess you had to be there." Hmmm, I haven't even started typing it yet, and I already know its going to be like that. Shoot. Well, Rome wasn't built in a day...I mean...no that doesn't fit does it? I felt like I should add in some sort of cliche phrase to tie-off the situation. Well how about you just insert your own cliche phrase that fits...
Today I had a meeting that ended a little bit awkwardly. I think when we were done, a few of us left walking on pins and needles. I wasn't sure if it was just me, or if everyone felt that way though. As I was walking down the hall, I said Hi to one of my friends (lets call her Heidi), then started heading towrads door of the department. As I was walking by the bathroom, one of the other girls in the meeting (Brittany) came out, so I decided to ask her about the meeting-to see if she felt the same way. So as we walked together, I said quietly "so how did it go back there?" She said, "ummmm, I don't know, I was kind of worried about it etc..." We continued talking about the meeting in "hushed tones" but right in the middle of the hallway. Heidi was still close by, however, and asked with a worried look, "Brittany, is everything ok?" We looked at her, and thought about it, and I finally said, "Oh my gosh, do you mean in the bathroom? Thats definitely NOT what I was asking her about!!" It was so funny! Heidi thought that I had just asked Brittany, "How did it go in there?" about her going to the bathroom, and we were talking all sneaky-like about it! I probably laughed for about 5 minutes before finally gaining the composure to finish our conversation and head out the door. I am pretty sure that 2 other students had to wait for me to stop laughing and blocking the door so they could also get by.
Ok...is that a courtesy laugh I hear? Yeah, I should have just left well enough alone and not told the story, probably. That would have been better. I guess the moral of the story is, don't ask your friends how it went in the bathroom...at least when other people are listening.

But what a lovely way to burn

This is what I look like right now:

Ok, well hopefully I don't look EXACTLY like that right now...but at least my bronchial tubes look very close to that. On Tuesday (the day before St. Patrick's day) I came down with a pretty wicked cough and a fever. This was not fun, but kinda crazy because it was exactly one year since my last fever! After Tuesday my fever went down, but the cough persisted and got worse! Finally on Thursday a decided to take a "day off." (That means I left school at 3:30 instead of 5:00). When I got home, I turned all the light off in my apartment...and we have no window so it gets pretty dark!...and "watched" Return to Me/slept/laid on the couch for about 4 hours. It felt so good!! Since Thursday I've pretty much tried to take it easy. I was at work/school from 8-5 yesterday, and finally decided to go visit the doctor.

Diagnosis: Acute Bronchitis
Cure: ...dangit, its viral...no cure
Good News: It will go away in about a weekBad News: The cough will probably stay much longer
More Bad News: I can't go to the gym, so that free month-long gym membership I got (see previous post) is running out of days!!
More Good News: I have been able to do/plan on doing some relaxing things that I usually don't let myself do -

Playing my guitar - well, playing might not be the right word - maybe trying-not-to-sound-terrible on my guitar is more accurate. (No, that's not me or my guitar in the picture-I'm too lazy today to actually take a picture and upload it onto my computer. Thank Google Images!

Watching Lord of the Rings #1 Extended Edition! I have been listening to the soundtracks alot while I do homework, so I've been dying to watch it! Thanks Sam Ferguson!

Oh my, did I accidentally post another picture from Lord of the Rings? And did I accidentally make it HUGE? Hmmm, my bad... (I am thoroughly convinced that only Viggo Mortenson can fully pull off the long-haired, greasy, sweaty, I-haven't-showered-in-5-months look.)

I've also been reading some C.S. Lewis, sleeping, doing homework, etc... Its been a nice and relaxing few days!!

Shoot, this post started out as an apology for not posting sooner and for how short this one was going to be. Well...i guess this is what happens when I am procrastinating homework...

B-B-B-B-Baby you ain't seen nothin' yet

Seven Days of Spring Break!!

(Yeah, I' m not sure if these things happened on the right days...actually I'm sure that they didn't. It's just seven significant events from spring break...)

1. 1 Irish Flag Cookie...turned on its side!!

2. 1 Incredible Music Video. I WILL learn to play this song.



3. 1 visit to Ozark fitness where Sarah was accused of not having a job or having her priorities in the right place...and where I caved and half-got a gym membership for a day, just because I couldn't say no! (I'm sorry Aaron, I know I would have been your first contract, but I just couldn't!! You were nicer than Rick though!)

4. 1 insanely amazing singer. Yeah, for real-check it out. There are no words to describe this amazing video. Keep these words in mind as you listen: wig, eyebrows, Oklahoma, and future husband. (oh and pay special attention to 1:25ish)! Be careful you may find yourself walking like him after you've seen this about 47 times...not that I'm speaking from experience...



5. 1 awesome improv show at the Skinny Improv! Check out their website!


6. 1 super fun few days with Mom and Kiely! They came up on friday, we went to The Gem of India and had a really good Indian Buffet-then went to Branson on Saturday. Sister Allred from the General Relief Society Presidency came up and spoke, then there was a presentation by the Springfield South Stake. We had a really good time-complete with midnight runs to the store for toilet paper, nearly getting killed by a trolley...three times, cheeseburger Doritos (yep, still gets me), and Old Dogs!

7. 1 cheeseburger from Big Whiskeys!! I did it folks, I broke down and got a cheeseburger. I ate the whiskey river burger on a basil focaccia bun. It was delicious!! Sam, Sarah, and Stephen came with me, and I think they took a video of it, so if you want to see it (i'm not sure why you would) you can get a hold of them.
This is everyone except Sam at the Restaurant


Bonus!! 1 Break through! When I was at Institute on Thursday morning, we were studying Elder Bednar's talk: More Diligent and Concerned at Home
In the talk he says: "We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. I just had two thoughts, and its probably very simple and I should have gotten it long ago-but it just struck me that day. We never ever regret saying something nice. No one ever looks back and feels bad for something nice that just "slipped out." Its usually the other way around, we feel bad for something mean that just "slipped out." The other thought was, how often do we feel like we should say something nice, but dont because we feel awkward about it? I think it happens more than we would like to admit. If we DID say those things, however, we would never regret it! I don't think that we will ever look back at the conscious decision to speak kind words, and be ashamed or it, or regret it. Like I said, its very basic and shouldn't probably have made such an impact on me, I hope I'm a nice person, but I just liked how it was worded. Man am I glad we have prophets and apostles on the earth today!
Hmmmm, now the next step is to apply that in my life...today!

New February Recipe!!

African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup!!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 4 1/2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chopped, unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Mix in the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir in the tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrot, and continue to cook and stir about 5 minutes.

Pour water into the saucepan, and season the mixture with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

Remove the soup mixture from heat. In a food processor or blender, blend the soup and peanuts until almost smooth. Season with cayenne pepper. Return to the saucepan. Whisk in the peanut butter, and cook until heated through. Serve warm topped with fresh cilantro.

Warning: This post isn't very funny or witty...not that any of the other post are...but due to my complete lack of sleep this week, combined with the fact that I'm watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs...its mostly just informational...

Holy cow. It's Spring Break week now. Basically, that means last week was...CRAZY!! I'm gonna go ahead and say that that's why I haven't posted for so long. (I know, I know, you were all on the edge of your seat, waiting for me to post again!) Class, clinic, homework, etc... Excuses excuses. Anyway...

A few other things happened this week too though, that were pretty fun too though! First was March's new recipe! Last sunday Sarah and I made

African Sweet Potato and Peanut Soup!!
(see the recipe on the next post...)

It was so delicious and it was fun to try something new! Kim, Vanessa, and Ariana came as well.

Another fun thing that happened was last Wednesday. Clinic was a little bit rough in the morning so I was a little bit down that day, but I had the chance, before my next clinic session, to talk about the Plan of Salvation with a few of my friends. It was just so great to share something that is so important to me, with a few friends-exactly what I needed that day!

Alright, have you heard of Cheeseburger Doritos? They are...completely bizarre and confusing to say the least. Laura got a bag for me because I have been craving a cheeseburger like crazy this week! It was her effort to prevent me from compromising my vegetarian status for one meal. It was a very valiant effort, as they tasted EXACTLY like a cheeseburger. I coulnd't believe it! You can taste the pickle, and mustard, and ketchup, and everything! I still would really like the real deal however, just this once. I have a bunch of friends trying to figure out what the best burger is in Springfield. Stay tuned...I'll let you know what they find out. I mean really, If I'm going to eat ONE burger or meat meal-it has to be good.

Other good news...my friend Meagan came out and spent the weekend here in Misery...I mean Missouri (yeah, I bet you've never heard that one before all you Missourians lol. I got that all the time when I moved here). It was SO FUN! She spent the morning wowing the Independent Schools of St. Louis with her amazing teaching skills, intelligence, and fantastic personality. While she began taking over the midwest, one private school at a time, I spent the morning...at the mall :( You should all be very proud of me. I officially spent an hour and a half walking around the mall, and I even bought some jeans!! For someone who HATES shopping and hates buying jeans even more, that was a big deal!
After I picked her up, we went and saw the arch, and ate lunch at Fitz's Bar and Grill. Three words: Sweet-Potato-Fries. They were to die for. Not only was the dinner so so good, but since it was Meagan's birthday, they brought us the world's largest Root Beer Float! (Ok maybe not the world's LARGEST, but the largest I've ever had...)

It has four different kinds of ice cream, hot fudge, and a ton of root beer. We basically ate the top and couldn't even finish it; especially after the huge lunch!

Okay, I warned you-it wasn't that witty, and I have no good way to end it. So, I guess I'll just go. Lets hope next time I am feeling more creative :)