Fluffy White Stuff

Why on earth did God create snow to be cold? Sure, it's beautiful and all, but it would sure be a whole heck of a lot more enjoyable if the fluffy white stuff maintained a temperature of 80 degrees instead of below freezing. Also, the simple fact that snow remains cold causes a whole lot of problems. There's hypothermia, black ice, getting your car stuck, and just the plain old miserable fact that you are outside and cold.

Just think of it. Wouldn't you be less reluctant to make a snow angel, or go skiing if you were falling into a giant, fluffy pile of warmth? Gee that sounds grand :) Also, you wouldn't have to scrape the ice off your windshield in the morning with the chance of this happening to you:



Poor guy, my heart goes out to him every time I watch that.

Happy winter everyone! Stay warm.

Black Friday

So I wrote this story a couple years ago for a creative writing class, and I thought I would post it in honor of the snow, and upcoming holidays. It's a long story, but for all you bargain hunters out there, I hope you enjoy.

The Other Holiday

It was like any other day with the frigid air and frozen grass hinting the signs of changing seasons. Christmas was edging its way in with every snowflake that gracefully entered the atmosphere, and today was Thanksgiving. But not only was it the holiday of all feasts, but it was also the eve of the most frenzied shopping day of the year. The women in the Larson family carefully prepared for this night of mayhem 364 days of the year. My family was trickling into the city, and considerable amounts of bountiful food were overflowing into my grandparent’s posh apartment.

Apart from the immaculate white marble rooms where my grandparents lived, we set up for feast in the outdated 80’s party room. I knew immediately walking in that the four hour drive from Rexburg was well worth it. Thoughts lingered back to the students stuck in the tiny town without their families, without potatoes, and without my grandpa’s turkey. Decorations have been carefully placed on the table sets, custom designed by Aunt Suzanne. I think all she does at home is make decorations for our elaborate family parties. The younger boys in the family are clanking around the metal fold out chairs around the room. Every woman in the family was either frantically adding the last spice to their dish, or circling out the door buster they were determined to fight for in the holiday Christmas ads.

Catching up with family results in endless amounts of hugs, and conversations with grandparents and great uncles that you can’t get yourself out of, such as: “Did you know in 1902 so and so built that building across the street for such and such?” I think my grandpa should be on jeopardy. He could definitely beat out Ken Jennings. Beware, if this conversation starts, you just end up nodding and agreeing with everything they tell you until someone calls your name for help, and you run gratefully to their aid.

I am utterly convinced that my grandma has Mary Poppins’ oven. As you set your eyes on the hot plates making their way to the table, logically it doesn’t make sense for them all to fit in her kitchen. Turkey, ham, casseroles, potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, endless pies, gravy, rolls, and other concoctions that don’t yet comprise a name.

After more helpings of food than your stomach could handle, you patiently waited for the fathers to be ready to head home. Of course they always chatted for a few hours more. We then slugged our tired bodies to the car, clamored ourselves in, and took another drive to our aunt’s house. To our mothers, the next day was as much of a holiday as the first. Tomorrow was Black Friday.

* * *

The night didn’t end with full stomachs and pumpkin pie breath. The hour drive to Provo provided us with the sleep we would need to keep us up for the next few hours. Mom and Aunt Mel chatted with Diet Coke’s in hand, the miracle serum that keeps their blood flowing without the need to stop shopping.

The unwritten rule that Christmas music wasn’t legal to play until Thanksgiving was strictly followed as Harry Connick Jr. serenaded us with “White Christmas,” and we would pull up to the driveway, taking our time to slump our way to the front door. This was usually our cue to wake up our brain. A ten pound stack of Christmas ads sat on the table with notepads and pencils. The kid’s only job tonight was to write out our Christmas list. Not unlike Ralphie from A Christmas Story, the kids traced the words “What I want for Christmas” on the top of their paper. As a child, it’s seemed to be the most important piece of literature you would turn in all year.

Boxes of holiday movies emerge from the depths of the basement to bring Christmas cheer for the next month. I change into my pajamas, turn into the living room where the movies are already playing, and find my niche for the night where I plan to wake up the next morning. Before the movie is over, Mom and Aunt Mel have already left.

Just for fun I click on the news. The main story on late night news is not about any tragedy, or even about celebrations honoring the holiday. Instead, the camera pans over restless mothers standing outside in the snow flurries, eager for the next twenty four hours they’re about to spend. They each dawn a poofy jacket, hat, gloves, and even blankets. The Christmas season had empowered their spirits.

Packets of used hand warmers lay on the ground. Complimentary hot chocolate men walk up and down the sidewalks, trying their best not to be mauled by the thirsty, cold mothers. Christmas ads lay marked along the sidewalks with the number one gifts, and stores to hit, marked one, two, and three. At this moment people of all kinds were patting their pockets, feeling the burn where the hole would take place in the later afternoon. At this point in time, these mothers only had to remember one thing: line buddies were not your friends.

One desperate woman in the front of the line expecting to be interviewed gets her wish. “I skipped out on Thanksgiving dinner to be here! I’m first in line every year!” she says.

The parking lot flashed lights where cars lined bumper to bumper, determined to get a spot in the parking lot. Disregarding the freezing temperature, the lucky ones would take their place in the back of the line, wishing on stars that not everyone in front of them was in line for what was one their child‘s Christmas list.

I don’t see my mother or aunt standing in line. Somewhere in the Provo area, they were laughing in the cold, anticipating the store doors to open. Only a few hours longer. Of course, they never told us where their first stop was. They succeeded every year in making Christmas a surprise.

Finally the clock strives 5am and the race for holiday bargains is on. Shoppers flock stores seeking discounts while people fight against the newest season must haves. Shelves were cleared out, and store clerks cover themselves for near death experiences. A clerk helping a mother without her black Friday doorbuster was just as dangerous as sitting in a hungry lion’s den.

The retail world was alive. Screaming, crying, laughing people filled the department with their holiday woes and triumphs. Check out lines backed up around the stores. Retailers promised to give shoppers some of the best deals on their products, and they delivered. The term “shop till you drop” gave a whole new meaning on the busiest day of the year. The holiday jingles were hardly heard over store intercoms. The day was nothing short of complete chaos.

* * *

Around eleven in the morning I toss around the couch and decide to wake up. Christmas cartoons are playing on the television where I had neglected to turn it off before falling asleep. My sisters were already awake.

After a morning of hot chocolate and pancakes, my sisters, my cousin and I decided to call Mom and Mel to see how the troops were holding up. After a couple rings my mom answers while yelling over the receiver. “Hey sweetie! How are you?”

Before I had a chance to respond, I hear something that sounds like an African stampede coming from the other end. “Sorry honey, I’m going to have to call you later.” Click. From the sound of it, my mother was winning the battle. She was a true bargain hunter.

Around ten in the evening and six Christmas specials later, Mom and Mel opened the door to the house, concentrating hard on moving their feet one step more. Wide-eyed and smiling, they look at each other with a job well done, and the glance of complete satisfaction. They had conquered. I knew that if I were to glance into the driveway, I would see stacked parcels of Christmas goodies piled in the car, waiting to be placed under our future Christmas tree.

No questions asked, Mom and Mel were off to bed. Any adventures they had to tell would have to wait until morning.

After twenty-two years of my life, I have yet to have a Black Friday adventure. I live off the tales of the brave souls who dare to face it each year. For those of you who dare to try, I say good luck, and well done.

new new new! lotsa new stuff!

Ok, so there was Halloween, there's the new car, and the new dog. Also, I carved some wicked awesome pumpkins.

I found this car on ksl about a month ago for a really good price. It's got a new motor in it, and in really good condition, so let's hope that this one lasts me more than a year :) here is a picture! I need help naming it...

Also, when I was working yesterday, I get a call from my little brother saying my parents went and picked up a new dog...Apparently they have been planning on adopting this little bugger for about a month now, and didn't bother to tell any of us. She is a maltese, and she's 6 years old today. Halloween doggy :) Her name is Punky. Her and Rufio are best friends now. He's so happy to have a little playmate! Ginger wasn't one for playing.

Next up is Halloween! My costume wasn't really extravagent, but definitely original. I was Holly Golightly (aka Audrey Hepburn) from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Dumb stores were all out of long, black gloves though. Oh well...

And here are my awesome pumpkins. I made a pirate and his parot. So there you go people. I participated in Halloween! Gold star for me!

Who knew I had such great pumpkin carving skills? Go me!

Attempt #2 at Halloween...

If you have followed my blog since the very beginning, I have mentioned a few times on how Halloween is not my forte. I guess I just don't have the haunting spirit. Year one at college, my Halloween consisted of numerous exams, followed by comforting my best friend through her first breakup. Needless to say, no costumes, parties, or candy was involved.

Year two was my absolute favorite. Bria and I got out of class and both agreed we didn't want to go to the Halloween dance. We decided to spend our evening at Arby's and talk about random TV shows we had recently watched. If I recall correctly, we talked about some woman getting a parasite stuck in her head from some lettuce in her salad. Anyways, we ended up going to redbox afterwards to rent a "scary movie." Something to know about me is I am the biggest baby on the planet. I don't do haunted houses, and I don't do scary movies. To tell you the truth, the cover of this movie would look quite frightening to any child under the age of 6, and the movie itself was considerably laughable. It's called "The Curse of King Tut's Tomb." If you're having a cheesy movie night, please go and rent it.

Year three was such a bore that I don't think it deserves an entire paragraph. Garret and I stayed in while watching some movie at my apartment. The movie was forgettable because I don't even remember what we watched...

Year four was my first attempt at any Halloween festivities. My sister and I dressed up as Indians. We looked through our closets and makeup, and threw together whatever we had. We then attended our wards Halloween bash for about an hour before returning home. I'm quite the party animal.

So it's the time of year again where Halloween lovers of all ages dress in their ghoulish best, and set out to have fun. I actually have come up with quite the fabulous getup this year. Pictures will post after all hallows eve. This year, I'm going all out!

My visit to Rexytown :)

So on a spur of the moment whim, I decided to take my two days off and visit Rexburg :) I called up my little newly married sissy and said "I'm crashing at your place and staying in the room that has my name painted over it!" One bus ride later, I was picked up at the side of the Hart building with my hair pulled back and messy, sweat pants, and wrinkles on my face from my pillow.

And do you know what? Rexburg has gotten significantly cooler than when I left. What the heck? The REX FINALLY went out of business and Fat Cats took over. It's about time! They actually had money to do something cool with the place. There is a full mini golf course, nerf gun room, and updated everything! They're even going to put in IMAX theaters :)

Then I went to Sammys; a new Rexburg burger joint. For once, I actually think that a small College Ave. restaurant wont go out of business. Cocoa Bean has been doing well too! So, saw a concert at Sammys, got Cocoa Bean, went to lunch with Rachelle and Chelsey at Craigos, had dinner at Original Thai (I splurged on eating this weekend!) Even made Creme Brulee with Jess and visited a bunch of friends.

Other sidenote. Rexburg is an awesome place to visit for 2 days...not to live in for more than 5 years :P But I insist you go to Sammys and eat their sweet potato fries. Yum. For all you other Rexbugians, enjoy the fall while you can because I predict hibernation is coming soon.

Jenica and...

So I laughed today because as I was stalking through my list of friends on blogger, I click on everyone elses blog to see what they're up to...Then I look down their list of people to stalk their friends as well... Creepy I know, but when you've worked a 16 hour work day, there's no guests at your hotel and there's nothing left to look at on facebook, you gotta go somewhere else. Anywho, everyone's blog has a partner...

Bria and Jason
Chelsey and Miles
Lindsay and Cameron
Mishelle and Jake
Rachelle and Rick

You get the idea...

Then you see my name on their list:
Jenica

Just an FYI, my name isn't lonely. It's on an adventure :P

Have a good one :)

Bucket List

I have quite a large bucket list. It grows consistently every day and I figured that I should probably write it down so I have something to measure it by...I finally made it to Puerto Vallarta this year, but what is next? My friend Jessica and I have made some plans for the next year, but the plethora of places that I want to visit in my lifetime is going to take years.

Europe:
Ireland
Scotland (Loch Ness!)
London, England
Switzerland
Nice, France
Greece
Spain
Germany
Sweden
Prague
Venice, Italy
Rome, Italy

USA:
New York City
Havasupai
Mt. Rushmore
Virginia Beach
New Orleans
Superior, Colorado

Middle East and East:
Jerusalem, Israel
Egyptian Pyramids
India (ride an elephant!)
Beijing, China
Tokyo, Japan

Everywhere Else:
Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney, Australia
All over Africa!
Argentina
Chile
Madagascar
Nova Scotia
Fiji
Jamaica
Belize

I better start earning sky miles :)

Once again, I fail at blogging...

So I looked at my last post...February? How sad. Even more sad is that I have had such an eventful year and nothing to show for it on the wonderful world of webness...At least I don't suck so much at my personal journal...

For those who don't know, I am back in the GREAT STATE OF UTAH!!! (I added emphasis because I'm actually really bored here, and don't really understand why people vacation here...) I am once again working at the Marriott in the activities department, but frantically searching for a new job that has something to do with my area of interest. So, if any of you have any connections to any PR firms, give me a shout out and let me know! Also, if any of you want my job at the Marriott Mountainside, they are currently taking applications...

Here is a list of things I did this summer:

Moved to Utah
Showed my dad that he really does love chihuahuas
Bought an awesome beach cruiser!!!
Got a longboard and went longboarding down Provo Canyon
Went to Moab on a backpacking trip
Survived through 2 break-ups
Watched my little sister get married
Went on a cruise to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas)
Went Ziplining through the rainforest!!!
Survived my car blowing up on the freeway
Learned how to make sushi
Kissed an Israeli Fighter Pilot :P haha
Met awesome new people on the cruise
Went to the State Fair and rode the GIANT YELLOW SLIDE
Went to Dew Tour, and watched Neon Trees

There is my update in a nutshell...My summer was awesome. How was yours?

Meet Rufio

He's got this big personality, and this name fits him perfectly! If you've ever seen the movie Hook, then you know what I'm talking about. He already knows how to sit, stay, speak, and dance! What a smart puppy :)

It's gonna be a good day!

Ok, I still have yet to take pictures to post, BUT it will happen. So let me give you a quick update on the past week. Last weekend, I went home for Sundance...I also planned on picking up my precious pup Monday morning in Ogden, on my way back from my "supposed to be awesome" weekend. On the way down, Garret and I reached Ogden when we started hearing this rattling in my car. If you know me well, you know that I have the WORST luck with cars ever! There is hardly a long distance trip where I don't encounter some kind of problem.

After driving a few miles on this rattling noise, we noticed it getting louder and louder...to the point of 5th gear sounding like a lawn mower engine. So, I call my brilliant car savvy father who tells me to pull over and open the hood. Do you know what I saw? Nada. I can understand the underside of a car about as much as I can read a book in Egyptian characters. It didn't look like anything was out of place though to report to my dad, so we decided I could carry on, but driving the rest of the way in 4th gear.

When we finally reached my house, my dad took the 4runner for a spin concluding that the transmission was going out. Fantastic. The silver 4runner was my 3rd car up in Idaho. Cost of repairs: $1250. Well, seeing as how I had about 600 dollars in my bank account, repairing the poor truck was not an option. So, I hopped on KSL classifieds and found myself a little '95 Honda Civic. It's in pretty fair condition, lots of miles, but the guy who was selling it was a mechanic. Pretty nifty huh. He was moving to Florida in a week and was willing to give me the car for $700 if I took it out of his driveway that day. Deal. Dad paid the other hundred (thanks Dad!).

Sundance wasn't really an option for the weekend, seeing as how I didn't have a car and we were snowed in pretty badly. We went one evening for an hour or so, and after our feet were frozen, decided to call it quits. The remainder of the weekend was spent watching movies, playing games, and chillin with the fam.

So Monday rolls around and I can hardly contain my excitement to pick up my puppy. I had told the lady on Thursday that I would be in Ogden around 10am to pick up the puppy, and would call her that morning. Well, Monday morning, Garret and I called her 33 freakin times with no answer! Her sister finally called us back to tell us that she had sold the puppy to someone else. Lame. My heart sank and we continued back to Idaho (33 miles to the gallon I might add).

So that brings me to today. I have found a new little puppy to adopt, and he will be arriving in Rexburg around 5pm today! Also, my iphone gets fixed today. AND I just ate a scrumptious breakfast at the Marriott. AND my best friend Jon is coming to visit! It’s gonna be a good day :)

Falling Behind...

Okay, so I realize that I am not the strongest blogger, which is why I am right now making a promise to myself to be better at it...I'm trying not to be too strict on my resolution because you never know. I have periodically held a journal my whole life, sometimes leaving months and even years in between entries. I feel incredibly guilty as I read my last entry that says "I need to get better at this! Until tomorrow night..." Yeah right.

Anyways, my last post was somewhat minimal, but straight to the point. I did graduate from college. Hallelujah! 4 1/2 years and 130 credits later, I can now patiently wait 6-8 weeks for the diploma to arrive in the mail. Don't let the fancy blue leather case fool you, it's empty.

After graduation, I remained in Rexburg for a week or so while I continued to work at my oh so glorious job at the Marriott. I actually feel quite special to have a job there at the moment because we currently have around 1,500 resumes and applications stacked up in the back office. The week after graduation was somewhat interesting. I slept on a couch for about 3 days while I waited for the guy to move out of my new apartment. That's right, I have MY own apartment.

It consists of 2 floors. The upstairs contains the bedroom, which I have to admit has quite the awesome setup. I have my own pillowtop queen bed (which is amazingly comfortable considering the fact I've been sleeping in crappy approved housing twin mattresses the last 5 years), plenty of storage space, and a little niche in front of the bed where my new HDTV fits perfectly.

The downstairs has a small living room with 2 couches (which I recently discovered are futons), a small kitchen, then the full bathroom beside it. I will get pictures up as soon as I can. Surprisingly, I pay $400 a month for my trendy pad, all utilities included. That's right, be jealous. And yes, that is cheaper than BYU's approved housing.

When work subsided for a full 11 days, I spent Christmas with my family and the 26th flew out to rainy Washington to spend the remainder of my holidays with Garret and his family. I've been to his house before, but only met half his family. Let me tell you something. If you think your family are hardcore game players, it is nothing compared to the Still family. I'm not talking about video games either. This basically has FHE every night until 3am. I learned how to play RISK Godstorm, Settlers of Catan, Rook, and several others. Parent's and all would be around the kitchen table trying to claim victory until the wee hours of the morning.

Vacation finally ended, and Garret and I made the long trek back to Idaho. After sliding off the road near Boise, we decided to take advantage of my Marriott employee card, and hunkered down for the night to safely finish our drive the next morning.

It's currently a few weeks into the semester, and all I've been doing since is work work work! I'm back to Utah this weekend for the glorious Sundance Film Festival, then on my way home, I'm picking up a new addition. Yes I'm getting a doggy :) Pictures will soon follow.

Sorry for the long, boring post, but now I'm up to date!