O+

Last week I was showing my dating book that I started to a couple of friends and let them read through a lot of the stories. It got me thinking that there are more stories that I have not added yet. This got me thinking of donating blood. You are probably thinking that is totally random, but I have had some interesting things happen to me when I go donate blood at the Red Cross.

First time I donated blood was back home in Santa Barbara when the Red Cross would come to the church. I always saw my family members go donate blood. They were such a good example to me. Watching them donate made me want to donate. I believe everyone in my family has donated blood at least once except for my brother Chad.... who is scared. Go figure, the only brother. Anyway... donating blood is great. No, you don't get paid like you do with plasma, BUT you do get yummy snacks and juice. You also get to pick the color of your bandage they put around your arm when they are done. Sometimes, you get stickers.... like this one


I think my second year living in Utah, I went and donated blood with my roommate Britt. We went to the Red Cross to do it, so they now had my phone number. Since I had O+ blood (which rocks, but doesn't rock as much as O- blood) they would call me every time I was eligible to donate which is about every six weeks. I went most of the time, so I ended up donating over a gallon (over time) of blood at that Red Cross. When that happens... you get this pin.


Cool huh? Don't you want to donate now? I do. It has been a while because I had to wait a year after going to Guatemala. But I can now... so I should. Anyway... Here are some of the things I have experienced while donating blood at the Red Cross in Orem, Utah....

#1- This one was actually awesome. I was the last one to donate for the night and someone came in to get treats at Arctic Circle for the employee's. Since I was the last one there and still pumping blood, he offered to get me an ice cream too. I said no thanks. He was such a nice guy and didn't take no for an answer. By the time I was done pumping out my pint of blood, he was back with an ice cream cone for me and the other employee's. I thought it was so nice. It made my day and ice cream is way better than the treats they have there. Did it make me want to go back and donate again? Yes it did.

#2- There are pretty much the same people that work there that I would see every time I went. There was an older man that worked there. I got him one of the times that I went. This is the first time that someone had stuck the needle in my arm and I didn't feel a thing. I was impressed. So I told him how good he was. He took that as an invitation to grab a seat and sit and talk to me the whole time I was pumping out blood. No escape. Awkward conversation. He was telling me about how a guy my age came in once and was telling him he was from California and that he didn't know who his dad was (not sure how that got brought up). Then this man told the guy "I could probably be your dad... you are the right age". I didn't know what to say to this, so I was silent. Then he continued talking and telling me that he slept around with so many women when he was living in California that sometimes he wouldn't know their name until after they had slept together. So that boy could be his son. I still have nothing to say to this... so I smile and nod. I think I pumped out the blood faster than normal this time around (except for the time I raced with my mom).

#3- I had a nice lady who was asking me the normal questions... you know what I am talking about... the questions like "Have you slept with a man who has slept with another man" type questions. After the questions and taking my blood pressure and such, she smiles at me and we have this conversation.
Red Cross Lady: "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Me: "Umm No.... why?"
Red Cross Lady: "Well, you are a super cute girl and just seem like fun, I wanted to set you up with someone"
Me: "All I have done is answer No to all of your questions except for Yes to "Am I feeling Well Today" who is it that you want to set me up with?"
Red Cross Lady: "Oh... my husbands best friend. After I am done taking your blood I will get your phone number and give it to him if that is ok."
Me: "Umm, sure. Why the heck not. "
Red Cross Lady: "Awesome. His name is Travis, super nice guy. One thing though... he is from Eureka Utah, do you even know where that is?"
Me: "Nope, never heard of it"
Red Cross Lady: "I will make sure he calls you"

Don't worry, Travis called me. I could tell on the phone that he was a hick... but I didn't want to judge before I went out with him. So he drove an hour from Eureka to Provo to take me out to dinner. He assured me that his friends wife NEVER sets him up randomly like this, so he was excited. I always try my best on dates... even if I am not interested at all, I still try to have a good time. I tried really hard to find things to talk about with Travis. He was a little overwhelmed with the "Big City" of Provo. I never thought Provo was a big city... and he told me how he went to SLC once and almost had a heart attack. I am thinking... wow, Eureka must be a REALLY small town. All he could talk about was his high school days. His graduating class was 22 students. 20 guys and 2 girls. He had never left Utah before and just had his friends that he grew up with. As nice as Travis was... that date ended after dinner.


I'm sure there are other blood donation experiences that I am leaving out.. but we will leave it at three. So there you go. Go Donate Blood! You will save a life AND who knows what other exciting things could happen. :o)

Goodbye Activities...

After being on the Activities Committee for 4 years (3 in this ward and I was the activities chair in my last ward for a year) I was finally released today in church. I honestly didn't think it would ever happen... I thought it was my eternal calling. Don't get me wrong, I have always liked being on activities. I'm good at it. I usually come up with fun activities (probably because I have the Peter Pan Syndrome *Never want to grow up*), but alas... my time is done.... for now. I am a little sad and I may go through with-drawls for a little while and get offended when I see someone else sending out emails for the upcoming activity instead of me, but I will survive. It is time. I have seen the activities committee completely transform in the 3 1/2 years I have been in the ward through 4 sets of co-chairs. So what does the ward have in store for me now? I am an FHE Mom which I guess isn't really that different from activities if you look at it. I am just going to be planning activities with one other person on a smaller scale and weekly instead of monthly. So there you have it.

In memory... above is a picture of the activities committee from back in 2007. We are all dressed up because our activity was "Recess, Come Relive the Glory Days"... once again, my idea, me loving to be a kid. I actually came up with this activity when I was Activities chair in my previous ward. Anyway... we dressed up because to introduce our activity to the ward, we did a skit. I was the school teacher, and we also have the principal and the lunch lady that came into my class room to explain the rules of the activity to the kids (aka, the ward). It was cute but maybe you had to be there.

Lounge Singer

Many of you probably don't know this about me, but back in the day... like 2002, I was an aspiring lounge singer. Yep... T-Dub and Racy Tracy would practice almost weekly for our record that was never recorded. However... we did take pictures for the album. Our big hit (the only song we practiced and performed) was "Scotch and Soda". Although this never went close to anywhere, it was sure fun while it lasted.

Awkwardness

I think I attract awkwardness. I know everyone experiences awkward moments, but sometimes I feel like I have an unusual amount of awkward things happen to me. Back when I lived in the Devonshire student housing (Provo), I had one of the most awkward experiences of my life. I told my friend Sara Soda what happened and she thought it was so funny that I ended up re-telling this story many times to different people in the ward and it became a popular request in story telling time and was referred to as "The Peter Porn Story". Don't let that title stop you from reading.... nothing bad happened, but you will understand why Sara named it that when I finish the story. During this time I was creating and filming many music video's with my friends, and so my story begins...

The beginning of April 2006, I began creating and filming the music video for "Vibeology" by Paula Abdul. I had just finished filming my friend Sydney in the teacher scene when I get a phone call from Peter in the ward.

Peter: "Hey, my roommate told me that you had the video camera. When your done using it, can you bring it by my apartment? I really need to film something"
Me: "You know Peter, we are going to use this whole tape for our video. Can't you just wait a couple of days when we have finished all of the filming?"
Peter: "No, no. I HAVE to film this TODAY. So just drop it off when your done and you can have it back tonight."

So after I am done filming, I walk back to the Devonshire to Peter's apartment to give him the video camera. He opens the door and comes out and starts walking down the hall.

Peter: "My roommates are gone, so you are going to have to film, follow me."

For some reason (probably just caught off guard) I don't ask questions and continue following Peter out of the Devonshire and out to the parking lot right by the Old Academy (the neighboring apartment complex in our ward). He then stops by a small patch of snow on the ground next to the apartment complex. At this point Peter had still not explained anything to me.

Peter: "Do you know how to work the camera?"
Me: "Umm, well ya, I just got done filming a scene to my music video"

I don't know why it was so hard for me to ask him what he was filming, maybe it is because I was afraid of the answer he would give me. Lets be honest, as nice as Peter was... he always weirded me out. Bless his heart. No matter what the weather, he always wore a t-shirt, shorts and no shoes. He had a shaved head and never said much... just stared at people and give weird looks. When he did talk to people, it was always awkward. Poor guy. Anyway, I FINALLY asked..

Me: "Peter, what am I going to be filming you doing?"
Peter: "Don't worry about it."
Me: "Um.. what?" *That statement DID make me worry*

Just then he took off his shirt. I was just praying nobody would walk by and think this was for my music video. (although the story was told so many times... that a tiny clip did end up in the beginning of the music video) After he took off his shirt he was starting to take off his shorts and I started to panic.

Me: "Peter! What are you doing?!"
Peter: "Don't worry about it."

Now he was just standing there in those tiny boxer shorts. I was super creeped out.

Peter: "Okay, start filming..."

He was now laying down in this little patch of snow and rolling around in it and rubbing the snow on himself. I think I filmed for about 30 seconds before I told him that was enough. I couldn't believe I even filmed that much. I didn't know what to do, so I kept going along with everything, but I couldn't take anymore. Before he could even get back up off of the ground I set the video camera on the ground and I literally RAN back to my apartment. I didn't even look back at all. It was too awkward and weird.

I saw him the next day and he tried to apologize for how weird it was and why he was filming what he was, but I wouldn't let him. I just cut him off and told him that I didn't ever want to talk about it again. Later his roommate (the one who edits my video's and owns the camera) told me that he wanted to make his own music video to a song by "Moosebutter". I'm not sure if that makes the whole situation better or even more weird.

Random side note. I actually met some of the guys from "Moosebutter" and told them this story. They thought it was pretty funny and considered writing a song about it. They didn't end up doing that, but they did make up a song about me and sing it to me that night.

Hot Apple Pie Dip

Saturday night I watched "Julie & Julia" for the second time. Not only do I think it is an adorable movie, but it also inspires me to cook. I used to cook a lot more than I have been in the last few months... but I want to change that. I want to try more new recipes and invite more people over for dinner. It would be a good hobby and a nice service as well.

Yesterday I made dinner for my visiting teacher/friend Sara to say thank you for picking me up from the airport. I spent all afternoon in the kitchen in my dress & heels and an apron. Just add a pearl necklace and I would have felt like Julia Childs. I made Chicken Cordon Blue (which has become a favorite recipe of mine) and Ashlee helped me make tomato basil bread rolls. It was fun but also challenging to do while our kitchen was flooding. Thankfully my home teacher/friend Rob (the one dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow to help us move) came to our rescue and saved our kitchen. Looks like I need to make him dinner next.

As an appetizer to the meal... I tried a new recipe that I saw in a magazine I bought that caught my attention. It turned out being a big hit. If you like Apple Pie... and sweet & salty things, I think you would enjoy this simple appetizer.

Hot Apple Pie Dip

1 tub (8 oz) Light Cream Cheese Spread

2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 apple, chopped, divided

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Tbsp. finely chopped pecan pieces

Wheat Thins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cream cheese spread, sugar and spice in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in half of the chopped apple.

Spread into 8-inch pie plate or small casserole dish. Top with remaining apples, the cheddar cheese and pecans.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until heated through. Serve with Wheat Thins. (put Cinnamon and sugar on the Wheat Thins)

New Dress

So you probably have noticed that I did a little switcher-roo on my blog layout. I thought I should change it up for the new year. I took my friend Lolly's suggestion and decided to make my nail polish that I got from my sister Jamie for Christmas, the new title of my blog! It amuses me. I am liking the new look, what do you think?

Speaking of my sister Jamie... for a late birthday present, she is making me a dress! Isn't that awesome. She is very talented, so I know it will turn out so cute and I was so hoping she would make me a dress, but I would have never asked... so when she told me I jumped for joy. While I was in Arizona I picked out the pattern and she took my measurements.

Here are some pictures of Step 1 of making my dress! Any guesses of what my dress will look like? :o)

P.S. Please notice my sisters face... she found much joy in putting duck tape all over me.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it is a new decade! I can't believe it is already 2010! I am excited to see what this new year has in store for me. I am ready to meet new people, travel to new places, learn new things, lose more weight, go through the temple.... yes, this next year is going to be a good one.

This year was my first New Years Eve in Provo. I went with Sara and Ashlee out to dinner at the Art City Trolley, we then came back to my place and watched some tv before going to a ward party... after all... we didn't want to get there on time, who does that? We were only going to show up an half hour late, but got sucked into a special about polygamy. It was interesting/weird. THEN we went to the party. It was happening! There were movies, games, snacks, drinks (no alcohol of course) and great company. It started to get a little crowded so we went back to my place and watched the ball drop in Time Square on tv and that about sums up the night. It was pretty low key, but fun and spent in good company.

The Hostesses of the party.

My good friend Whitney.

Cheers! Here's to the year 2010!