surprises, Don Quixote, flowers, and fun, flirty times

I am sure that you are all waiting with baited breath to hear about my reunion with Solider Boy and the fantastic weekend that followed.

Well, if you are that person then you are in luck because I am here to tell you all about my most amazing weekend.

Thursday night was GREAT. I got to see Solider Boy, exchange valentines, and dance the night away. It was SO NICE to see him again. I was reminded of how much I really do like this boy that is in my life. He is amazing and so very kind to me. He gave me a book with the sweetest of inscriptions written inside. I felt loved. :o)

Friday I had a few surprises. #1 - Soldier Boy visited me during lunch because he hadn't gone home yet. #2 - He ended up being around for the afternoon as well so after I got off of work I got to see him some more. #3 - He actually didn't go home until LATE Friday night/early Saturday morning because he was around with a friend of his and then he came and saw me. :o) It was most wonderful.

Then there was Saturday. I took my own sweet time getting ready, and was glad for it. I looked gorgeous. I felt like a pretty princess in my dress (pictures coming, promise!) and my hair turned out quite perfectly. Soldier Boy loved my hair. Also, Roommate A did my makeup and she did a stunning job. I loved the look she gave me. Soldier Boy and I met in SLC and then went to dinner at the Blue Iguana. I LOVED my dish! I got the beef tacos and that beef was absolutely amazing. Soldier Boy got the Chocolate Mole and he also enjoyed his dish. Mmmmm...my mouth is watering thinking about that beef. It was delicious. I think my favorite part about dinner was the cute couple that owned the restaurant that came around serenading everyone. They were amazing and it was so nice to have someone sing to us while we ate.

THEN there was the ballet: Don Quixote. IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING. Ballet West did the most amazing job Saturday night. They dancing was incredible, the dancers played their characters PERFECTLY and thoroughly and THEN there was the flamenco at the beginning of Act 3. Oh my goodness. It was INCREDIBLE! I loved it! They only used the sound of a stick keeping time back stage and the stomping of their feet/clapping of their hands. There wasn't a single misstep or moment where they weren't together. I was much impressed. Kitri was incredible and did stunning things with her extensions and turns. Sigh. It was wonderful.

One of my favorite things was that not only did I have a surprise for Solider Boy that night (his boutonniere) but he had a surprise for me! He got me a corsage! Ha. It was so funny that we had the same thought for that night. My corsage was beautiful and featured a main  white rose with three small roses with it. It also had a silvery sparkly ribbon. I loved it and felt so fancy with a wrist corsage to go with my dress. Soldier Boy knows me SO WELL and it was great that we matched being all fancy and dressed up and what not. :-)

After the ballet we ended up sitting in his car just talking. We had the BEST conversation. It was exactly what we both needed and several things were mentioned that we both needed to hear. It was good times. Then, because we hadn't had enough of each other at this point in the weekend, we talked on the phone while we drove home - it was great.

Then there was yesterday. (whew, this is getting long. Good thing you all want to know all the details huh? lol) Yesterday Soldier Boy came down for Sunday dinner with Sister B + Husband. We had a really fantastic roast w/potatoes, green salad and homemade rolls with Hot Fudge Sundae cake for dessert. mmmm....It was SO GOOD. We played a long round of Killer Bunnies (sometimes that game is short and sometimes not, but it was GREAT fun.) There was much laughter, tons of flirting and cards that made my night 100% worth it. After Sister B + Husband left, Solider Boy and I enjoyed reading on the couch together, watching videos of me drugged from my knee surgery, and just talking. I stayed up too late and seeing as how I don't have today off - I'm feeling a little tired, but it was such a great weekend that I'm totally fine with it. The great news is that Soldier Boy is going to be in SLC basically all weekend so I get to spend some extra time with him and that is going to make me one happy camper. :-D

I hope your weekend was FANTASTIC!

Just a few....Thursday Things!

Hi dearest friends! It's been a crazy few days and my brain is fried and I still have to work tomorrow. :P However! Exciting things ARE happening this weekend and I'm rather excited about everything, so let's get to it shall we?!

• It's been a VERY long TWELVE days, but tonight I finally get to see Soldier Boy again. I'm so giddy with excitement, it's ridiculous. Here's hoping I can hold it together through my ballet class tonight....

• We're exchanging valentines tonight....:o) Here's a peak at what Soldier Boy's looks like:

• cute, right? (His valentine is glued to a box of cereal, in case you didn't figure that out by the cheesy saying. ;) )

• Tomorrow night is going to include me and Roommate A going to a stake activity. I'm going to be her wing woman while we go "speed dating: bingo style." ha ha ha. should be entertaining to say the least.

• I think I am MOST excited for Saturday.

• See Saturday....Saturday I'm going to see Ballet West's Don Quixote. It's supposedly FANTASTIC. (at least, that's what EVERYONE keeps telling me)

• Also, I'm going to the Blue Iguana with Soldier Boy prior to the ballet. I've heard mixed reviews of the place, and I'm intrigued to try it.

• I'm going to look AMAZING in my dress. I promise to post a picture later. :o)

• I have left all my shows in my hulu que to watch while I get ready for the ballet. It's going to be fun times.

• Next week is looking fantastic. :o) 

• Basically, life is really, REALLY good.

Oh thank goodness...

I am so extraordinarily happy that it is Friday. Life has been crazy, but I've been able to live and let live and not complain too much. :o) I'm just excited that I get a 3-day weekend, a 3-day work week and then another 3-day weekend. Go me! ha ha ha.

It's day 19 of the 21 Day challenge dear friends. Today's challenge is to wear somethign on your head. Now, Kayla told us it could be absolutely anything - even a flower clip! However, I wear ribbons, flowers and headbands on a very regular basis, but I have two hats that I just don't wear that often. I decided to bust out one of the hats and push my comfort zone a little bit. I have a hat I love that my mom gave me for Christmas that I don't wear very often, at all, BUT my hair wasn't going to cooperate with that hat. So instead, I went with this:

{hat: Target}

cute, huh?! I paired it with this new top and jeans:

{sweater shirt: JC Penney, tank: DownEast jeans w/belt: JC Penney}

I couldn't get the colors to come out right on my iPod touch w/instagram...but the sweater shirt is a really pretty cider orange kind of color. And my new jeans? Love them. They are so comfy! and I love a good dark wash jean. :o)

It's Labor Day weekend y'all. Officially the end of summer, or something like that. It's starting to feel like fall a little bit around here. The weather has definitely been cooler in the mornings and evenings, and I love it.  Here are just a few things that I'm doing this weekend:

• Going to the gym and running tonight - meeting with my trainer tomorrow morning. I'll probably be dead by the end of it.

• Watching a movie with friends and then going to a dance party tonight. I think.

• Teaching choreography tomorrow morning.

• Cleaning the church building tomorrow morning.

• Watching my BYU Cougars. Oh how I am excited to see them on the field again. They make my heart happy.

• Helping my roommate sort out kitchen stuff. It will be fun times, I'm certain of it. :P

• Hopefully making some good headway on Sister B's wedding gift. I want to get it finished.

• Teach my Relief Society lesson. Here's hoping it goes well....

• Watching the CES Fireside. love.

• an adventure of some sort on Monday - maybe the zoo?

Should be a busy weekend. I'm rather excited. Have a great weekend y'all!!

Thursday Things!

• Friends - the workplace is CRAZY today. Seriously. The first of the month is always insane, but today....today is majorly insane. Just sayin' - not complaining. ;)

• It's Thursday. I love me some Thursday. I'm rather excited about Blue Tango tonight. It should be good times y'all. :o)

• I need to do laundry. I should work on that.

• Roommate A is moving out - anyone need somewhere to live in UT county and want to live with me?

• I'm an awesome roommate, I promise.

• Going to a movie night tomorrow night. Will cute boys be there? Possibly. Am I excited? hecks to the yes yo.

• I have awesome friends. The end.

• I'm teaching Relief Society on Sunday. I'm a tad nervous about this.

• Went to the gym last night - ran and walked 2+ miles. It was awesome here's the results (including my warm up/cool down)

• I'm loving my pink running shoes. They make me feel awesome.

• Played volleyball last night. In my pink running shoes. See above statement. yup, it was the best game ever.

• Today is Day 18 of the 21 Day Challenge. It is so quickly coming to a close! I can't believe it! Today's challenge? Statement Jewelry! I was uber excited about this challenge. I had bought some earrings w/Sister B last week - hoping that I could pull them off, and then I found out that today's challenge was statement jewelery...yeah they totally fit that category so, without  further ado, my outfit:

{yes, i'm wearing giant feathers. LOVE them - JC Penney's}

{I also wore this necklace again. JC Penney's}

{the whole kit and kaboodle! pants: Target, shirt: JC Penney's/DownEast}

•  It is September First y'all! I LOVE the month of September. My littlest sister is turning 16 - and that's just insane!! Also, my half birthday is this month. woo hoo!

• I am ready for the change in season - I just hope that fall lasts a LONG time and that winter doesn't just go forever and forever like it seemed to do last year.

I think that's everything. Life is good. I am very very busy these days, but that's okay. I like busy. :o) Have a great Thursday y'all!!

Thursdsay Things - EXCITING edition!

YOU GUYS!!! HARRY POTTER is THIS WEEKEND!!! I am so excited about this I can't contain it!!! But first...there are other things that are happening. Let's do this in order shall we?

• first off, rehearsal for me got changed and I don't have to go tonight!! WAHOO!

• Because of this, I'm headed to Blue Tango for the ENTIRE evening of AWESOMENESS!! I LOVE dancing! YAY!

• AFTER that I'm going to go home and sleep for 2 hours and then...

• My roommate, her boyfriend, Grizzly Bear and I are all going to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 at 3:15 am!!! I might be crazy, but I don't care!!!

• Tomorrow morning I'm going to sleeeeep in. Because I can. Tomorrow is my day off. :o)

• I'm very excited for the next 24 hours. It's going to be a whirlwind of FUN TIMES!!!

• Saturday night I'm going to Roommate LZ's wedding reception with Percy and we'll go do something else after. Not sure what yet, but something all the same. 

• I am dating two boys right now - Percy and Grizzly Bear. I've never been in this situation before and it's kind of fun, kind of crazy, and very....interesting. I have TWO men courting me and vying for my attention. It definitely makes life a little bit easier to play hard to get. ;) ha ha ha.

• PS I didn't mention this earlier but Percy randomly stopped by on Monday evening. We got Sonic drinks and hung out. It was a BLAST and I loved his spontaneity. 

• Grizzly Bear has been a little more attentive this week...but I still feel that he's very hot and cold and many times I feel like a booty call with him. The Mormon version of course. ;)

• We open AIDA in 3 weeks from today folks. THREE WEEKS. It's insanity I say, insanity.

• what else should I tell you...

• oh yeah, I am in LOVE with life. 

That's all Folks!

Dating Battle Stories: a boy named Leviticus

PREFACE

Last Sunday, the 24th of April was our 2nd Sunday as a "new"-ish ward. (this is the Sunday after Fryman kissed me) I was standing in the hall after church talking to my friend Rocky (who was new to the ward, but we grew up together) and there were a few guys standing there too. Some from the ward from before and some new peeps. One of the guys, Leviticus, was there (he's new) and he was a friend of Rocky's. Anyways, we got to know each other a little bit and as I left the group (because i was SO hungry and i needed lunch) Leviticus shakes my hand and says, "Alishka, you have the cutest personality, it was great to meet you have a great Sunday." I thanked him and went home. Then the whole Fryman thing went down.

FAST FORWARD….

Saturday, April 30th. I had no plans that evening. In fact, I had just gotten home from visiting a friend and her newborn in the hospital and was cleaning my kitchen. I decided I wanted to do fun things so I texted some of my guy friends asking if anyone wanted to go out and do something exciting. Well, no one wanted to, in fact I got ignored and rejected. It was sad times. So then, fast forward like 20 minutes and I'm sitting on my couch checking facebook when I get a message from Leviticus - and it says "Hi!"

I respond in kind and then proceeds the FUNNIEST conversation ever. There was mention of secret training, secret bowling alleys, and covert signals for seeing each other. It was awesome.

So yeah, THAT happened. We went bowling and I had the best time ever. It was a blast. :o) THEN we were just sitting in the bowling alley talking and we somehow got talking about moose and elk and which was bigger and why and we decided that we should go find out...without the internet. So off on adventures we went...we ended up at the BYU HBLL (the ONLY library still open at 9pm at night on a Saturday...ha ha UVU was closed because they just had graduation) So we decide to try not to use the computers to look anything up. We make our way to the science section and find some encyclopedias and look up stuff on moose and elk. It was hilarious. Then Leviticus decided we should do yoga in between the shelves. So...we did yoga in the HBLL. Then he gave me an assignment to find a book on a subject to learn something, and I did the same to him. We both ended up with books, sat in a collaborative area in the HBLL and learned new things together. It was awesome. After that we went and got taco bell and sat in the parking lot talking until 2 am. It was awesome.

THE NEXT DAY

Sunday, May 1st. It was so hard for me to get up that morning. We have church at 9 am...and I had a meeting before church...so I only got like 5 hours of sleep. I got ready and went to church. Now, because we're still transitioning, I've been doing my calling AND leading the music in sacrament meeting (I volunteered to help them out). SoI'm sitting up on the stand and while leading the music I don't see Leviticus. Well, after church I’m out in the hall and Leviticus is there! He slept in, but he was there to catch the tail end of our meetings and then was going to a different ward that afternoon. So we’re standing there talking and he asks how I had slept. I hadn't slept extremely well, about 30 minutes before my alarm went off that morning my smoke detector’s battery started to die and started beeping every 2 minutes. I have 12ft ceilings in my apt and could BARELY reach the smoke detector while standing on a chair and books to get the battery out. So I tell him this and how I don't have a battery and he's all, "Alishka! What if your house catches on fire and your smoke alarm doesn't work!? You need a battery! And a ladder!" So then he proceeds to tell me he thinks he has a battery.

Later that afternoon I wake up from a really deep sleep of a nap and look at facebook (trying to wake up) and I see this facebook message from Leviticus: "I have a battery that may or may not have power. Do you want a battery change service?" I respond in the affirmative and he comes over after saying "we'll send a technician right over." He came over, changed the battery effortlessly and then stayed to chat. Then he left because he had something else to do that evening, but he accidentally left his phone (it escaped his pocket) so I sent him a message and 30 minutes later he comes back and STAYS until 11p or so. We had the best time chatting and such. Also, on Saturday I told him about how I'm working on family history and on Sunday he asked me to show him what I have and what I'm looking for right now. So we spent a couple of hours together, on the couch just looking up stuff on my laptop for family history. Amazing.

AND MOST RECENTLY….

Monday night for FHE we had a ward BBQ. It was awesome. Leviticus sat at our table, along with a whole slew of other guys. It was awesome. I floated around, met new people, talked, played volleyball and ended up back at the table Leviticus was then sitting at.

It was decided to go to my place to watch a movie (my roommate, a good friend and major flirt of mine and I decided this) I convinced Leviticus to come.

We hung out and colored in coloring books. It was awesome.

My flirty friend left about after the movie. I was a zombie at this point because of my fried brain from work. Leviticus stayed until 11:30 or so...and at one point played with my hair (he did that Saturday too now that I think about it). We just hung out and talked and stuff. It was very nice.

So there you go. My very long story about a boy named Leviticus. I think we shall have many an adventure this summer. :o)

{source}

Tender Mercy Tuesday - 19th Edition

Life is great my friends. SO great. I was talking with a friend that I hadn't seen in a while and they asked how I was doing and I couldn't contain my joy for life. It's been the best feeling ever. Life is just so splendid. I'm not sure what I've done to deserve this and sure, sometimes I get down on myself but I think the fact that I am learning and growing to be closer to my Heavenly Father has helped immensely.

Anyways, I have some great tender mercies for you today!

• I have been very blessed to be able to be friends with ex-boyfriends. There are rare times that I haven't been able to stay friends with ex-boyfriends, but really, in the long run I've totally stayed friends with ex-boyfriends.

• I have been a dating machine as of late (a Dating Battle Stories post coming tomorrow!) and this has been SO FUN!

• I have been BRAVE. (more details on that later)

• I have the best roommate who helps me be brave.

• I have a roof over my head far away from any possible flooding.

• I have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was strengthened this week at my normal meetings.

• Technology is amazing.

• I have a great job - one where I celebrated being at for two years now this past weekend. :o)

• It's been rainy and I love the rain. It's so moody.

Anyways...I am very blessed and life is good. What is making you grateful today friends?

p.s. I find it hilarious that it is the 19th edition of Tender Mercy Tuesday on the 19th of April.

p.p.s. It's my grandpa's 90th birthday today! rock on!

Dating Battle Stories: Marathon of Dates Part One

please ignore Sweetums...he was in the original prophecy, but since he has a GF....

So I had a marathon of dates set up, some of the plans have changed, but I figured I needed to post part one soon so that you guys wouldn't be too far behind in my life.

Anyways! Here we go!

Date #1 - April 9th

This date was for Ballet West's Bolero with Norsnob. I wore my sister's Prom dress from two years ago. It's teal and sparkly. Perfect for both me and the ballet. :o) I picked up Norsnob and off we went to SLC. We first stopped at the best pizza place ever: Settebello.  Seriously, you need to check it out. It was sooo yummy. Perfect dinner place before the ballet. Then it was off to the ballet. We were a little bit late and missed part of Sinfoinetta. In the end I was okay with this. It wasn't my favorite part of the program, but was still beautiful. Next they performed Chaccone. This Balanchine classic was AMAZING. I truly loved it. (then again, I love everything about Balanchine). Finally they closed with Bolero. OH MY GOODNESS. I don't know what to say about this ballet other than it seemed to be about 2 mintues long even though it was more like 12ish? I think? I have no idea...all I know is that it was AMAZING. I loved EVERY MINUTE of this piece and the ending...oh my the ending. INCREDIBLE. I hope to see this piece amongst Ballet West's repretoire in teh  future. It was just THAT good. Walking into the lobby of the Capitol Theater we both looked at each other and Norsnob says, "Alishka, I can't stop thinking about Bolero!" I completely agreed. It was just so good. Overall this date was a major 10 on a scale of 1-10 of awesomeness. I saw him at a church activity the next day and he sort of touched my arm and i went to touch his back and it was awkward and he shook my hand and basically it was so full of awkwardness that all I could do was laugh. Roommate A approves wholeheartedly and wants us to go out again. We shall see.

Date #2 - April 13th

This date consisted of me going out with Fryman for dinner. We met on a dating website and wanted to meet in real life. Real life meetings are the best after all. Earlier in the day Fryman texted me and we decided on a Thai restaurant in North Orem. I love Thai food so much. We split some spring rolls and pineapple curry (my favorite!) We were at the restaurant for almost two hours and enjoyed our conversation a lot. I texted him later that evening with a post-date text. We've been texting a lot since then. :o) We already have plans to go out next week and he's already told me how cute he thinks I am. He's definitely interested, no question. We'll see how things go; I don't want to get my hopes up to high seeing as how my past experiences have taught me that when I get high hopes the boy gets a girlfriend.

Date # 3 - April 14th

I was supposed to have a second date with the Argonaut tonight. (remember? the duck pond?) He texted me last night to say he's very sick and asked if we could postpone our date. We're now going out next Thursday.
 anyways...as much as I like the guy (he's a great guy) I'm not necessarily super excited to go out with him, but I'd already agreed and I can't back out. I'd look like a flake.

Anywho, Date #4 is Saturday night (as long as it goes through) and I already have 2 dates lined up for next week possibly a third....so yeah. I'm sort of a dating queen right now. Ha. I love it though. I'm really enjoying not being in a relationship and enjoying the slew of men chasing me :o) Until part two my friends....

Sunday afternoon nap dreams

I took a nap yesterday afternoon. It was glorious - for the most part. I say for the most part because as my phone went off with a text from my roommate, I got pulled out of the MOST bizarre dream I have ever had. So, I wrote down some thoughts on this dream, I've recounted it three times (to Roommate A, to her ex-boyfriend and Blindman, and finally to The Australian.) but here it is for all of my posterity and friends and random people to see. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what this dream might mean.... :o) Also, stay tuned for some awesome posts this week...if I can find the motivation to blog. :o)

So in my dream I'm at my parent's old house in Payson, but it's not quite in the same location. We're more in the countryside. ANYWAYS, I step outside and there's this woman standing outside staring at me. I offer her a brownie (or she offered me one? that part is hazy) and then she says, "do you want to see a prophecy come true?" Of course I respond in the affirmative. She tells me to look to the East and as I do I see a cloud turning into a horse w/a rider on it. He rides as far as I can see to the West and then within a moment or two I see it coming back and disappearing into the cloud storm in the East. A few minutes later it happens again and again and again. I start freaking out and I run inside to grab my mom, Brother C and Sister D. I yelled at them to get on Facebook (everyone talks about things on Facebook!) and the news so we can figure out what is happening.

Then I took them outside. (This is where it gets WEIRD!) So we go outside and the cloud-horse/rider had a lightning bolt thing going on and the next thing I know this horse and rider cloud is turning into a real horse/rider and as he rides across the sky he falls off the horse. The man looks Mexican and as he gets up he starts speaking in a  language that I don't recognize. He tries to talk to me and all I can say over and over is "Can I help you sir?" He rides back up this mountainside that is like right next to our house and disappears. In just a few minutes a whole bunch of people on white horses start riding out towards the West out of the mountain or something. They are all different ages, genders and nationalities with these weird green glowy eyes. As they get closer we can here them changing things like "don't forget.....remember the.....you need to do this....." (i obviously don't really remember what they were saying. but it was odd)

I was then jolted awake by a text message from my roommate and as I tried to pull myself from this weird dream all I could see were the green glowy eyes.

So yeah, that happened. I keep thinking about it. It was the oddest dream I have ever had in all my years of dreaming.

once there was a snowman....

Even though it hasn't started snowing...yet...I am still singing this little song from my childhood. Sigh. I am very much ready for spring. Although I know I shouldn't be surprised by the snow. I find it funny how many of my friends on Facebook claim that all the snow we've had in late March/early April is soooo unusual and that it must be the Apocolypse or something because OH MY GOSH it's SNOWING. Hate to break it to ya guys, but snow in late March/early April is VERY normal. It snowed 8 inches a week before my college graduation in April of 2009. It HAPPENS. ALL THE TIME.

ANYWHO. Let's get on with the more exciting things okay?

• so first off, work has been insanely busy this week. Seriously. I am haivng a hard time believeing that it is already Thursday! Oh how time has flied!

• My copy of Tangled finally arrived the other day. I'm pretty sure Roommate A and I are going to watch it tonight.

• I am going to a concert/dance party tonight. I'm rather excited to attend!

• I've won 2 free books this week! TWO! one from Emily and the other from Goodreads. I can hardly believe my good luck

• My mom gave me a grow your own grass kit for my birthday. I planted the grass on Saturday afternoon and it has already started to sprout! yay! I love grass!

• I know really awesome people. This makes me happy.

• I had THE best dream last night. I dreamed that I was with a boy (not sure who) and the next thing I know he has tenderly taken his hands and put them on my face (sort of like this [also, doesn't that picture just make you swoon? I just love me some Richard Armitage) and kisses me. It was the best kiss ever. I only wish I knew who it was kissing me. I want to find them and try it in real life.

• I am such a girl.

• I am okay with the above statement.

• Tomorrow is my day off. I love days off. I have a few fun things planned tomorrow including sleeping in, going to this temple and taking a ballet class.

• I have 3 dates planned in the next 10 days. A fourth one is in the works. 

• Can I just tell you how happy it makes me that I have so many dates planned? I am not going to lie, I am loving dating right now.

• I definitely feel blessed. In so many ways am I grateful to be living in such a time as this.

There you. A bunch of randomness for your Thursday afternoon. Have a great one guys!

BUSY Thursday things!

Well, as all hell starts to break loose all around me (things are INSANE at work right now!) I have just a few things on my mind:

• Spring Cleaning. I am so excited to do this. I am hoping I don't get burned out, because I REALLY REALLY want a clean house after Saturday. 

• Work is crazy busy. The phones won't stop ringing. I have to work tomorrow. I don't want to work tomorrow.

• Why don't I want to work tomorrow? Well, the weather is supposed to be the NICEST so far this year tomorrow. I want to play outside all day. :(

• I am going to the temple tomorrow night. Want to join me?

• I am really excited about General Conference. It is going to be awesome!

• Also awesome? The birthday present my roommate got me. We are going to break it in Sunday night during Chopped! All-Stars. :o) woo hoo!

• I am getting excited for summer. I can't wait for nice evenings.

• I had a date last night with a guy I met online. He will remain nameless until I decide on a name for him...or something. It was fun, but the jury is still out on how I feel.

• My poor roommate has to work ALL weekend - including Sunday afternoon. I am going to be all alone. Anyone want to come watch conference with me??

I think that's it for now...there's lots going on around here, and I'm okay with that. :o)

Tender Mercy Tuesday - 11th Edition

Good Morning my dear internet friends! I hope you had a splendid Valentine's Day and that life is treating you well. I have a random, itchy chin (well...underneath my chin) and I'm not sure what is causing it...but life is still happy!

I was reading in my journal last night looking at my daily tender mercies from the past week trying to find the perfect one to share with you all today. I am so blessed and I am not sure why, but I am so grateful for all of my many blessings. I think the best tender mercy this last week was realizing how lucky I got with my roommates. Roommate A and I weren't really good friends until about 8-9 months AFTER I moved in. Now, now we're best of buds. I love hanging out with her. She makes me laugh, teaches me how to play video games and helps me flirt with boys. Basically, she's amazing and I am so glad she's my roommate. She's the best roommate for me right now. It is amazing to me how much I have been blessed in my years of living away from home with roommates who seem to be perfect for me at that moment.

Have a wonderful Tuesday y'all.

Dating Battle Stories: Blindman

{artwork by Roommate A}

First off, I have to apologize. I started writing this and then stopped. Don't ask why it took me so long but I figured all y'all deserved to find out how my first "first date" in a long time went down. Roommate A set me up with her boyfriend's roommate - Blindman. I had never met this boy before Friday the 14th. (I did Facebook stalk him, but that's about it) He seemed cool (based off of the stalking) and Roommate A and her boyfriend vouched for his coolness... so I agreed to a blind date.  Our date consisted of the boys picking us up, driving to Nickel City and playing games for several hours and then going back to my/Roommate A's apartment for pizza and The A Team. Then I went to bed and everybody else hung out.

You know what? Blind dates are awkward. I sort of forgot that fact in all my years of dating the same person. You don't know how that person acts in social situations, you don't know what they like, or ANYTHING. It makes it so hard to figure out what to say and what to do at any given moment during the date. So, my overall feeling? Awkward. I've heard through the grapevine that he thinks I'm a cool person but whether or not he'll ever ask me out again is yet to be seen. I think I would go out with him again if only because I don't think anyone should be judged on relationship compatibility from a blind date alone. Unless the person is a creeper or you feel super uncomfortable all night or something. (which I didn't. It was just awkward. Normal awkward - if there is such a thing)

So there you go. Nothing else has really happened in my dating world since then. I've been busy hanging out with groups of friends and getting ready for the show in FIVE DAYS. (get your tickets now!) I keep hoping for something to go down with Sweetums...but we keep missing each other. Our schedules have been polar opposites all month long and that has made me oh so sad. I do have something up my sleeve in a couple of weeks...we'll see how that pans out. :o)

In other news I woke up this morning thinking it was FRIDAY when in fact it is only WEDNESDAY. I'm not a fan of this. :P

Dating Battle Stories: The Australian

{artwork by Roommate A}

So. I haven't posted ANYTHING about any of my Dating Battle Stories. I am quickly getting very behind in all the stories. So. I've decided to do a few posts in the next week or so to bring us up to speed on each of the cast of characters that I posted about on Christmas. Some of these characters have lots of stories, some have zero stories. One of these characters is most likely never going to be featured on the Dating Battle segment after his recap, a few of them will probably be around for awhile.

I hope you understood all of that.

So. Today. I present: Dating Battle Stories: The Australian.

I met The Australian on the second Monday of December. I came home from running 2.75 miles and there he was sitting in my living room with Roommate A and her boyfriend. He was definitely cute. We exchanged a handshake, names and a smile. Some flirting commenced. Now, due to my sudden change in social status I was a little worried about how well I really could flirt with someone new. I needn't have worried. I left the living room after chatting for an hour to go take a shower. Just before getting in the shower I sent my roommate a text saying "Don't say anything but The Australian is SUPER cute!" and she replied with "He thinks the same about you, but you didn't hear it from me."

I took a super fast shower, and went back into the living room to join the gang for a movie. The Australian was sitting in our ever famous blue cuddle chair, the roommate and her boyfriend on the couch. I had two options - sit on the floor, or sit with The Australian. I offered to help complete the awesomeness of the cuddle chair and the Australian accepted. What followed was a 2 movie marathon cuddle session. It was awesome and fun and as the Australian left I knew that he would be a fun person to hang out with more.

Fast forward a few days. Sister B and her boyfriend invited me to go to Temple Square and see the lights with them. I agreed and after agreeing decided that I didn't want to be the third wheel. I tried two of my friends - both were unavailable. Then...Roommate A decided that The Australian should go with me. She texted him and after waiting TWO days to get a response (during which time Dr. Teeth and Sweetums both offered their services) he agreed! Off to Temple Square we went! We had a blast!! We flirted, held hands, and teased Sister B and her boyfriend. It was a very pleasant evening. We then came home to drink apple cider and hot chocolate and watch the Claymation Christmas Celebration.

Fast forward another week. I come home from hanging out with Mad Dog (more about that later) to find The Australian in my living room. I sit down next to him and finish watching whatever he and my roommate and boyfriend were watching. It was fun. He needed a ride to the airport two days from then and I said I could take him. So I did.

Then it was Christmas break. I didn't talk to him at all. He was in Australia after all.

New Years Day. After getting a pitiful 5 hours of sleep (more on THAT later too) Roommate A, her boyfriend and I were out grocery shopping. The Australian declares he is back in Cougartown. We drive to his house and kidnap him. We watched Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and then played video games. I took him home. It was fun. We cuddled more...etc etc.

Two days ago he declared on Facebook that he is in a relationship...with some girl. Roommate A hates her. Her Boyfriend doesn't like her either. But apparently...The Australian likes her. So...needless to say The Australian was fun while he lasted, but I probably won't see him again for awhile and when I do? Nothing will probably happen. Especially if he still has a girlfriend. Oh well. He was a fun little fling that I am counting as my "rebound."

So there you go. The Australian. Short lived mini-romance that really didn't go anywhere - but that's okay! I'm not sad or depressed or anything. I never thought anything would happen there anyways. He is 3 years younger than me and just getting going on his undergrad. :P

p.s. if you made it through that entire recap I am much impressed. kudos to you!