Happy Single Awareness Day!

So I figured that I should have a good attitude about this February 14th...mostly because I saw more than one couple on campus in emotional distress. The most awkward, though was the couple that was breaking up whilst on the shuttle to the stadium with me. The conversation went kind of like this:
Boy: Stop following me! We are over and you just can't get it through your head!
Girl: (Says something quiet that none of us can hear)
Boy: We are through. That's all, we are through. Get it through your head that we are done. Don't call me, text me, come over to my house. We are through!
Girl: Can't we talk about this?
Boy: What's the point of talking about it? We have talked about it 10 times and it is just the same old bullcrap. We are done! Get it through your stupid head, we are done!
Girl: Well, if you won't talk about it, I guess we are.
Then, she walks off the bus and boy sits there with his head in his hands.

That was just one of the awkward couple-fighting conversations that I heard this week that made my singleness not seem so bad.

Good thing of the week: 4-wheel drive in the middle of a blizzard and my brother Mike getting into the California Highway Patrol! I hope he gets used to me calling him "Ponch"

A January in Review:

So, did January go by super fast to anyone else? Here are a few highlights of my month:

• New roommate Michelle. She is FANTASTIC! After the whole fiasco with the last roommate (we had to kick her out because she was causing major problems) it is nice to want to be home and hanging out again.
• Logan has been buried in snow! We have been receiving record levels of snow and there is no end in sight. Makes me happy that I have already learned how to ski and even happier that my Dad and Bro are coming first week in March to enjoy the wonderful white stuff.
• School. I am in a Science class this semester about Energy and it's impact on the Environment taught by a Nuclear Physicist who believes in Extra Terrestrials...in fact we get extra credit if we have a close encounter with someone or something out of this world. Enough said.
• Work. We are setting records of how many people are being admitted to Utah State. I wonder what my life will be like when I am only working 40 hours...ah the free time. I really love my job and when I get frustrated, I just have to think that I am usually sending letters to people that get really happy when they see those words "Congratulations and welcome to Utah State University!"
• Got to go to a workshop on Violence in the Workplace. This is not super newsworthy, but did you know that you are 85% more likely to get attacked at work by a frustrated co-worker than a random customer?
• There is becoming less of me to love....6 lbs. less so far. I am working on being a lot more healthy and going to the gym more regularly, so stay tuned for the updates.
• New Pet Peeve: People asking the question, "So why are you not married?" While I do appreciate that they still have to wonder, I am not sure exactly how to answer this question...it is usually asked by people who don't know me very well, so the dozens of sarcastic answers that come into my mind are not so appropriate. And...note to all of the blissfully happy married people: being single does not equal being miserable!

Sad news and Good News!

Sad News: Our beloved Nick Swisher of the Oakland A's (basically the ONLY reason to watch the Oakland A's lately!) has been traded to the White Sox! Although initially sad at this news, I am very happy for him because it is a good move and he is happy that he is on a team that "has the desire to win" to quote Swish himself. Now one of the websites that has been added to my favorites is http://www.chicagowhitesox.com/

Good News: There is snow in Logan! I have decided to like it because we have been dumped on in the last week and it is beautiful! It also makes me especially greatful for my 4-wheel drive Jeep that means I never get stuck and never slide off the road...yet:)

The Best of 2007...

So every year at this time, I start to wax poetic about the past year that just wrapped up and I started to think about all of the things that happened that were good in 2007:
1. Started a new job. As of April 4, I started at the Admissions office at Utah State University. It is an actual big girl job that means I can start career building with full benefits and everything!
2. Back to School. So, with the new job and benefits and everything, I decided to go back to school and finally finish my degree! I will now finish in about a year with an Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor's Degree in PR and Management and Human Resources. The job possibilities are endless...
3. Spring Training 2007. March in Phoenix-can it get better than that? We got to spend some up close and personal time with our beloved A's, which always makes the A's fanatics in this family very happy!
4. Good-stayed really healthy all year with the worst thing that happened being a random Staph infection from a scrape in my leg. Bad-Broken foot in April that meant 8 weeks in a walking cast!
5. Fun family events: Laura lived in Logan as my neighbor and 2nd Counselor in the RS Presidency until June, now lives in SLC working for the Senate. Bub and Chel are pregnant with their first little Pee Wee! Lots of trips home to Cali with fun tours of the City with Jane. Jen went back to school and is now home in Cali for some R & R and looking for one of those jobs that actually pays more than Logan's going rate!
6. Got released as RSP and put in as Activities co-chair. Good: Lots less work and worrying and now get to work with Activities that I love. Bad: Now I have to work with a boy!
7. Learned to do fun things that are on my "Life's List of Things to Do": I can get up on a wakeboard, and I learned to "swoosh" whilst skiing. I am almost a good skiier!
8. All in all, it was a good year-filled with happy things like family and friends that make me feel very blessed!

Merry Christmas to all...

So I have to say that this was an EXCELLENT Christmas! The weather is now a cool 60 Degrees and it is sunny here in Cali so I can say that we are totally blessed. It was just the sisters and Mom and Dad this year, so we had a Christmas Eve open house with a ton of our neighbors and a few Jewish people. We like variety in the Barlow house. So, we decided that we would just wake up whenever on Christmas morning, which is just mean because I got up at 7 and had to watch TV for a couple of hours before I could wake the rest of the house. I just get so excited for Christmas I can hardly stand it, so I watched the greatest songs of the '80s on VH1 and then woke everyone up. I got one of the things on my list...slippers (I was a little disappointed there was no #3, but there is still time!). So, now for the rest of the week in California, we will be playing, shopping, and getting some well deserved R and R, so things are good. Merry Christmas to every one!

All I want for Christmas...

Okay, so I should be old enough to know that Santa is really not coming to my house on Decemer 24th (sorry if I ruined this for some of you), but I still get really excited for CHRISTMAS! I think that I get more excited for everyone to see what I got them than I am for getting presents. I have actually been in the mood to shop for the most perfect gift for everyone, so that has definitely helped. The last few Christmases I have been kind of bah-humbug, but this year I am just really excited. That said, any of you that are looking for what you should get me for Christmas, here is a short list:

1. Any Tom Hanks movie on DVD (except for The Burbs, Money Pit and Dragnet)
2. Comfy Slippers
3. A boyfriend
4. Victoria's Secret Lip Stuff-you know my colors
5. I don't really need anything, but just send me good vibes

Catch up with my crazy month...

Okay, Okay, so I know that it has been a while, but I wasn't feeling that interesting until I started to think about all of the things that I have done this month-so here's what I have been up to:

1. Went to a conference with work in SLC. Got to learn about diversity, communicating with co-workers, and many things about University policy. I have to say, though that my most favorite class was Yoga! Although I am not that flexible, one of my favorite things is stretching so that I feel tall!
2. Flu Shot. People, please, get one of these! It only takes a second and will save you from the flu! Seriously, I am not sure if it is all mental, but I know that these things work.
3. Went to Cali for the Kelly Clarkson concert! Laura, Jen, Chel and I went to dinner at the Cheesecake factory (there is a new white chocolate macadamia nut concoction that is quite possibly what heaven tastes like) and then to the concert. Besides the fact that it took us an hour and a half to go .2 miles to park and go to the arena, we had a great time. It just made me heart Kelly even more!
4. Learned how to change a serpentine belt and spark plugs in the Jeep. Next up? Finding the source of a coolant leak. Thanks Mikol! Also, 0 degree weather is really good on vehicles!
5. Decided that I love Donny Osmond on Entertainment Tonight. Although he is cheesy and all teeth, he makes me laugh and I am a little sad that Marie didn't win Dancing with the Stars last night...
6. Had Thanksgiving in Logan and cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner. Laura, Jen and I had Pork Roast, Mac and Cheese (in honor of Chandler Bing!), Corn Bread Casserole, Green Beans, and Sparkling Cider. Then we went to see "Enchanted" and again I say Patrick Dempsey. Hair. To end the day we had Brownie Sundays and then got up on Friday to go to the gym...
7. Had our first snow of the season yesterday! We got two inches and it is going to keep coming...I am excited to ski! I learned how to "swoosh" last year, so now I just have to pick up speed!
8. Finished my group project for my Intercultural Communications class. We had to get up and present how to do business in South America and got A's for our effort! One less stress done for the semester.