Slice of Life Day 13: Thinking About Thinking

It's nice to have someone else to pray for. I pray for myself so much that I sometimes feel whiny when I talk to God. But today I offered a lot of prayers for my friend Cody, his sister and my roommate, Amanda, and their family. Cody was in a bad snowboarding accident, and he had surgery today to stabilize his spine (one of his lower vertebrae was completely broken). Thinking about somebody else, praying for somebody else, worrying about somebody else was refreshing, because sometimes I'm so self-centered and so focused on my own problems that I rarely feel empathy for others. But empathy, compassion, and charity are all godly attributes, and whenever I feel these things growing in my heart, I feel a little closer to heaven. So even though I'm worried about others, I feel love. When I'm searching for something to do to help someone else, I feel like I'm working towards something higher. When my thoughts are focused on others, I feel happier (it's kind of paradoxical, but it's real). Today was a good day, because I thought about what how I can be better this week, but most importantly, I was thinking about, praying for, and sending encouraging text messages to some of my best friends in the whole world. It hurts my heart that their family is going through this, but at the same time, it gives me the opportunity to forget about myself and work to show my friends how thankful I am for their presence in my life.

Slice of Life Day 11: Raquetball

Ball smashing.
Racquets flailing.
Walls echoing.
Brows perspiring.
Welts forming.
Mind thinking: "Please let this be over soon."
Jimmer scoring.
Me not watching.
Date dragging.
Us hugging.
Solitude comforting.
ESPN summarizing.
Eyelids drooping.
Sleep impending.

All I need are a few absolutes (a grammatical term describing the combination of a noun and a participial) to sum up my night.

Time of My Life: Not in the Testing Center

I took a test today in the testing center. I always get really bored when I take tests. Today was especially bad. I blazed through the fill in the blank portion, but when I got to the essay question, I would answer a question, look at the clock, listen to the people shuffling in and out, look up, look down, look to make sure the testing center monitor isn't looking at me because he thinks I'm cheating. I was just bored. Then I would answer another question, look up at the clock, look over, look up, look back, breath in, breath out. Bored. There were only five essay questions, but it took me an hour because I was bored and distracted. I knew all of the material, well, most of it, but for some reason, I just didn't want to write it all out. "Brain dumping" was just not interesting to me at that moment. Studying is waaay more interesting than actually taking the test. Not that I like doing either activity: I would much rather read a book or take a walk or write my Slice Of Life. But I pushed through. Despite my apathy, I finished the test, and moved on to bigger and better things: homework, going to the bank, going to the grocery store, making dinner, getting asked out on a date, and so on and so forth: all things that are much more stimulating than a test in the testing center. I'm sorry Heber J. Grant, but your building is not the most exciting place in the world for me.

Slice of Life Day 8: Battle of the Bulge

I declined frozen yogurt AND chocolate-covered strawberries today. YES!

I've been trying to slim down. To do so, I, with the help of my personal trainer, Ridiculous Josh, began a regiment of eating little/no sugar, going to the gym four times/week, and eating lots of protein and not a lot of carbs. I've been struggling with actually implementing this system into my lifestyle, but today, I took a huge step forward: I avoided two of the things that I love the most (frozen yogurt and chocolate). I won the battle today! But, I've yet to win the war. I yearn for the day when my swimsuit waves the white flag and says, "Alright fine, I give up: I'll allow you to look slender while wearing me. You've slimmed down and toned up. I surrender!"

Talking swimsuits? Yikes, it seems like the diet is getting to me.

Slice of Life Day 7: The Beginning Does Not Determine The Ending

I slept in today. On accident. I wish I would've woken up earlier. Because then I would've been able to a.) not be late to class and b.) avoid a really long, weird dream, involving me being pregnant but not really and my estranged husband showing up and shirts that suddenly fit when they look like they shouldn't. Like I said: a really long, weird dream. I burst awake at 10:03 (class started at 10), got ready as fast as I could, and made it for the last twenty minutes of class. I felt like such a loser, walking in so late. It wasn't the best way to start my day, but I am determined to finish on the right note. I have about eight hours left before bed time: eight hours of awesomeness: bring it on :)

Slice of Life Day 5: Help Me, I'm Drowning In Mess!

My room is a mess right now. Thankfully, I can still get to my bed, but getting to my closet? Forget about it. Dirty clothes, clean clothes, Costco toilet paper, books, shoes, coats, and who knows what all are lying heaped up between the foot of my bed and my closet. I feel terrible for my roommate, who just finished cleaning out her side of the room, which is now spotless (she even dusted!). Who wants to live with a slob? I would prefer to not live with a slob, but since i can't really get away from me, I guess I either need to get on it or get over it. I'm choosing to get on it.

Slice of Life Day 4: Sweet Celebration

Instead of giving birthday gifts, I often make birthday cakes. Today I made a birthday cake for my roommate Amanda, who is turning 21 on Sunday. We threw her a huge party tonight at our apartment (75 people who came in and out of an area that's less than 75 square feet), and the main attraction, besides the birthday girl herself, was the cake: Amanda's name spelled out in huge letters made of chocolate, funfetti, and strawberry cake. It was awesome, especially when Amanda tried to blow out all of the candles in one breath. So tody's Slice of Life composition is about a slice of cake, and goldfish crackers, and good friends, and laughing, and stress. The party is over now, the guests are gone (thank goodness), but the memories of fun, friends, and a delectable demonstration of my love for my roommate still linger in my head.