I'm IN!!!

I think I have officially been accepted into my ward. Oh, sure, they read my records in a couple of weeks ago, and I got a calling, but as of today, I know I'm in! You may ask yourself, "What happened that Jennifer finnally feels like this is offical?" Well, I'll tell you.

I got Visiting teachers. That is not what did it for me though . . . The ladies in Relief Society are setting me up on blind dates. That is how I know it is for real! They would never try to set me up with their brothers, sons, nephews etc. unlesss they thought I was one of them. So there we go! I don't know how I'll be able to tell once I'm married . . . . maybe they will have me over for dinner. I think that is what they do with non-single people.

I have a new favorite artist too. Her name is Kate Nash and I think she is HILARIOUS. Don't worry, I'll let you all know how the blind dates go. :)

See Mom & Dad, I do have friends!

Yea! I have a life.

These are my office people. Starting in the back, from left to right, we've got: Kathy, Sherrina, Mindy (-kins), Brienne, Liz (in the brown shirt), Pam, Jess & Doug. Front row: Monica, ME (Jennifer) & Ali.

Friday night I went to a Demolition Derby with my friends Dave, Monica, Gavin, Jess and Nick.

This first shot is me and Dave

Monica and her husband Gavin

Me and Monica (and Gavin is in there too!)

This is one of Dave's previous roommates (?) Monica had a picture of him, so I posted it.

Jess and her husband Nick. This was my first time meeting Nick. He's a nice guy.

This car got pushed through the dirt wall, it was really cool and, well, I think I'm lucky to have seen it.

Dave and I got to play musical chairs. We didn't win the grand prize because one of the kids playing totally cheated. I'm not even kidding.

We didn't get the "Grand" prize, but come on, these are pretty "Grand"! Maybe I'll go to a ball sometime and wear this . . . Oh, wait! Dave convinced his friend to trade a t-shirt for the

visor. It didn't fit my little head.

We did try to make the visor work for me . . . it squished my ear.

Jess, Me and Monica.

Ah, the casualties of war.

That's it for now kids. I'll beef it up a little later.

Lauren made me do it.

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Not much is new

So, just in case I have really devoted people who check my blog regularly . . . not much is new. At work we've switched from sending paper evaluation forms out to departments to sending electronic evaluation forms. SO MUCH FUN! It really isn't bad, but like any new thing it takes time to get used to.

I am still reading a lot of books.

Oh, I know! I tore up the carpet in my bedroom yesterday. I was using a crowbar thing to take up the tack strips and I hammered the crowbar, it slipped and cut my knee. The cut is . . . 3/4 of an inch long (I just measured it). Then I was cleaning my bathroom and, not thinking, I was kneeling to clean the floor when I noticed blood all over where I had been kneeling. What???? You didn't know cuts bled either? So relieved, because I thought I was the only one who didn't know that. Ha Ha. Just poking fun at my self for not thinking through the whole "cut on the knee" thing. Since I still don't have a digital camera (Student loans and medical bills come first!), I've attached a picture I found online. Just so everyone can relate better.

Update and a request

Ok. New stuff in the life of BIRD: I have just transitioned to working a four day week rather than a five day week. It is not to save energy, it is just something that that our department is doing. We have some people taking Monday off and some taking Friday off. It is true that some Utah State offices are only open four days a week to save on energy costs, but UVU is not one of them.

My pelvic pain is back. Not quite in all of its glory, but it is there and annoying. I finally took some pain killers, thus admitting that it is back. I will call the doctor on Monday and see what they have to say about it.

Now to the fun stuff. I am NOT planning on dying anytime soon (what 24 year old does?) but nor do I plan on living forever. We live in a crazy world and I want things to be in order when I die. Yes, I said when, not if. Like I said, I don't plan on living forever.

On to the question. Is there anything in particular that any of you feel like you want when I die? The Government already pretty much owns my brother (He is in the Navy) and I'd rather not leave them all of my worldly possessions. I have some plans for Hayden and his future, should he still be alive when I die. Please don't freak out. I am just getting ready. Mom and Dad are my Beneficiaries for life insurance. I think I will have them put it into a trust fund for the grandkids (theirs, not mine) to use for college education. I don't know what happens with a 401k when you die, but all of my investments have lost value this past quarter, so there isn't much there. I will do some research on what happens with that.

Here is a list of some of my possessions that will need to be dealt with:

• Hayden (like I said, I have an Idea of what to do with him, if he is still around, but still willing to hear what you all think.
• my swirl sculpture (Probably going to Kristin)
• all of my black and white pictures . . . (hey, once I die they might be worth a lot of money. It happens to a lot of artists.
• The rest of my portfolio
• My books (Picture, juvenile fiction, young adult fiction, adult fiction and other)
• extra-long twin bed
• star quilt
• patchwork quilt
• My PEI painting (my only piece of real art that is not by me.)
• clothes
• TV
• Chemistry Goggles (not yours Dave!)
• Entertainment center
• Tall bookshelf
• Little bookshelf from Grampy
• My Precious Moments figurine that Grammy and Grampy gave me for my 8th birthday (my baptism present)
• Jewlery
• The star Mobiles that were Grammy K's
• My glass ball collection
• Little tiny couch
• Tall people Statues
• Lemon trees (Probably for Clint and Ambrie)
• My MP3 player
• My Blankie and Buzz (for those of you who have no idea to what I am referring, it's probably better that way.)
• My new Blankie that Mrs. Claus made for me last year
• Dishes (dinner plates, salad plates and bowls, plus glasses)
• Silverware set (it is good stuff! Not your typical college student cheap stuff)
• Grammy K's sewing machine and my other sewing stuff (self-healing mat and Rotary Cutter)
• The acorn bedroom set . . . Just kidding Dad. I know it isn' mine . . . yet.

That is all I can think of. I would like you to think about this for yourselves, but also please includ your children. I want to know what my Nieces and Nephews would like. Those of you that I work with, remember that my family is in Vermont and probably won't want to ship all of my stuff out there, so I want to hear from you too! I know that it is not a lot. Afterall, I am only 24 and I don't have a house, or children. This is just in case. As time goes by and I accumulate more stuff that I can't take with me when I die, I will update my will accordingly. If there is anything not on this list that you are interested in, just let me know. I am going to try to make it so that you can post comments to this blog post. Please don't freak out about this, but also please don't ignore it. I am serious about making up a will and I would be really sad if you all say you don't want any of it. Once again, I AM NOT PLANNING ON DYING. But think how much easier it will be once I do have more stuff if I already have started a will.

That is it for now. I hope you all take this as it is meant to be taken. Just a preparatory measure.

Da' BIRD

Utah Valley State College To Utah Valley UNIVERSITY

For those of you considering a blog, think carefully. It can become an obsession . . . an annoying one. If anyone can give me hints as to how to put pictures on easier, PLEASE tell me.

This is a series of pictures documenting my activities for June 30th and July 1st.

On the 30th UVSC held "UVUphoria", an event celebrating our transition to University status. There was a concert with Josh Gracin, Colin Raye and Joe Nicols.

Monica and I went together. We didn't get off of work until 5:15 and gates opened at 5:30. There was a mondo line, but because of our VIP status . . . fine, we cut in line. As you can see from the first picture, cutting has advantages. Look at how close we were!

The babe in the yellow shirt is Ambrie. (I snuck a picture). Then Monica and me. (I'm the one in the green shirt) Oh, Monica is my co-worker . . . (sigh) fine, and friend. Just kidding, I am glad we are friends. This is a picture of Clint . . . he took it himself. :)

The next picture is Josh Gracin. Since you now know what he looks like, I don't need to document which pictures are of him. The guy with the Aviator sunglasses smokes, but I still thought he was cute. Plus, I am pretty sure he doesn't use hair gel. Monica was kind enough to take a multitude of pictures for me.


This is a picture of Monica and her sister, Brette.

Then we have the bull from H-E-double hockey sticks.

You can't really tell from the picture, but there was this huge inflatable bull (with horns, maybe we should call him Devil Bull, DB for short.) when they set off this "V" (we assume it stands for the "V" UVU).

it looked like it was coming out of his head, and the fire works were red and yellow (for those who are slow, these are also the main colors of fire).



Ok, bed at 12:30AM on the 1st, then at work by 8:00AM. Our office went to the library ribbon cutting ceremony. It was dang hot. As you can see from the pictures, we started out in metal folding chairs, but when I asked Monica if the sweat on my back was soaking through my shirt, and the guy behind me said, and I quote (hence the quotation marks) "Gross", we moved to the shade. The people in the first picture are (left to right); Monica, Melinda, Mindy and Ali. All co-workers of mine (Mindy is my supervisor). The picture of me is more than it appears at first glance. It is actually a picture of me with the new UVU logos. Ha! Caught y'all with that one, eh?

President Monson (The Prophet of our day and President of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints) was there to give the dedicatory prayer. The Minister from The Church of Christ gave the opening prayer. During the dedicatory prayer this guy (I call him sideshow Bob, a reference from The Simpsons) yelled "what about separation of church and state?" I thought it was funny, 'cause he missed the fact that there were actually representatives from several faiths on the stand, which was reserved for VIP's. Anyhow, this is a long blog, but it was a busy couple of days!

Thanks to Monica for letting me use her camera, and her pictures.

Da' BIRD

Introductions

So, this is me, working on the white house.

Clint wants to strip it, so we are! Ambrie is not allowed, due to her preggie status.

Oh wait! Introductions. I am me. I live in a studio apartment located on the backside of a garage. The garage is attached to a house (SURPRISE!) owned by Clint and Ambrie Gordon-Carroll. They own Cassius, a black lab/golden retriever/chow mix. Cassius and Hayden are really good buds, as are their owners.

Clint, also working on the white house

And this is Cassius. Wonderful, cuddly Cassius.

I will have to get Ambrie to get on the other side of the camera so Y'all can meet her.

That's all for now.

Da' BIRD