Happy Birthday, Pop!

Happy Birthday to the best grandfather ever. Pop, you are one of my consistent blog readers so i know you will see this soon. I look up to you in so many ways and I'm positive there is no question you can't answer. I'm still amazed at all the knowledge you hold in the head of yours--including every gas station and store passed during a drive to the beach. If I marry someone half as good as you I will be very lucky. I love you :)

Love, Your Magster

O'Donnell's

I love my job. Want to know why? I work with some of the funniest people and I definitely can't complain about the money. I went through about a week and a half of training and I have had 3 nights now working my own tables. So here's my O'Donnells story:

During my interview I couldn't stop thinking about how this was the completely wrong job. The manager scared me a little and I just kept second guessing myself. But it was a job so I stuck with it. I went to training which included a lot of shadowing and 3 exams. Yup. I had 3 written exams. One of the restaurant standards, food, and alcohol. Let's just say I did really well on the first two, and really REALLY struggled with the last one. However, I did pass, and I'm officially a server! :)

Now the people I work with are hysterical! Just to name a few of my buddies. Marcelo aka Tuna was my main trainer. Luis is my go to guy with all my questions. Rene and Carlos are brothers, but opposites. Carlos likes to joke around, but is very serious when it comes to work. Rene is mostly in the kitchen and he helped me the most when learning about food. Gus. Gus winked at me my first day-kinda weirded me out, but deep down he's a big softy haha. We are best buds. Brittney is a cute blonde from California. She's my go to girl for my "stupid questions" because she won't laugh at me like some of the boys might. Vicky is the crazy asian. She's our comic relief. Enough said. Matt aka Charlie is one of the bartenders. Everyone tells the new people his name is charlie, so that's now his name...It's just always crazy fun over there and I cannot complain about the other servers that I work with. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "Are you ok?" or "Do you need help?" I would be rich! They're all so great!

Rick, the manager who interviewed me, actually turned out to be pretty cool. I later learned the day he interviewed me was not the best of timing for him. Joshua, another manager, is the diva of the restaurant. We talk about clothes, Lady Gaga, and he partially trained me in the alcohol department. That was an experience.

My job is great. Come in and ask for me and experience some of it for yourself! It's definitely hard work, but it's all worth it when I come home with $100 dollars in my pocket :) Happy Monday-I'm off to work!

I Love My Job

That is all...more on it tomorrow :)

Looking Forward

I've been slacking with the blog updates since I've been home I know. But it's been quite an emotional roller coaster to be completely honest with you, blog readers. This year has been quite the world wind, but things are looking up and I'm looking forward. 


Almost a year ago exactly I thought life couldn't get much better. I had a boy who was my best friend, a job, my family and close friends, just graduated high school...like I said...everything seemed great. Then my life took a turn. I was destroyed by two people who I thought I knew very well. My life became the kids I taught at River Falls, my mom, and a few other friends. Still, I was devastated and did not know where to go. I thought college would be the best solution and I tried being as optimistic as possible even though I was terrified to go out to Utah.

August 24, 2010 arrived and it was time to leave home. I got out to Utah and put myself out there the best way I knew how. Still, nothing seemed to be going in my favor. I never gave up fully, but school work became a big part of my life...it should be...but more so than I thought it would. I still felt very alone with a few acquaintances here and there. Things started to pick up when I moved dorm rooms, but I still felt something was missing. Friendships weren't forming like the ones I had back home--I missed those. Long story short...dorm life wasn't all I had it cracked up to be.

Then April 24, 2011 (exactly 8 months after arriving) rolled around and it was time to come home. As you can imagine, I did really well in school and that's something I'm proud of, but I still came home frustrated feeling as though my first year of college was so different than what I had expected. Sure! I had some great moments, but I also had so pretty low moments too.

I was hoping to find a job right when I got home. One of my money sources has been cut off (to say the least) and I needed a job in the food industry for my Dietetics application. SO food and lots of cash flow. I applied to lots of restaurants in Kentlands and even drove to the Beach and applied there. After stressing for the past week about this I finally got a job as a waitress at O'Donnell's Sea Grill. This is exactly what I need, but I'm also nervous as to whether I can handle it or not. Again, I'm optimistic.

End of the story...it has been a year since this all began (or what I consider to be the beginning). I went for a run today and I stopped at the Kentlands Lake just to think...

Good Life by One Republic came on my iPod--ironic? I sat there smiling at some of these things: what a beautiful morning it was, a bird that flew in front of me, a turtle sitting on a rock, sitting on the wood--my legs didn't touch the ground and I could swing them like a little kid again.
It all came together today that everything will be ok. Life isn't easy and sometimes we need to ask for help, but we can all get through it and enjoy life and all it has to offer. I hope that this year long heart ache won't happen to me again, but looking back it has made me stronger.

Now you all know my life, no secrets. May be surprising to some, but I find addressing feelings helps you overcome challenges. So here's to not just moving forward, but looking forward. Happy Monday!

Freshmen Year? Check!

I can't believe it! My first year of college is complete. Shall we reminisce?

I didn't think I had changed much this year, but I look back on these pictures and I can't believe how much I've grown! Even through pictures I'm reminded of what I knew then and what I know now. I'm so excited to continue my college experience (well...after a little summer break) and see how much more I can learn. I'm so excited about my roommates and where we are living. It finally feels good, even great!! Happy Summer!! :)

There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today

Last summer this song was sung in church one Sunday. It happened to be the toughest Sunday ever so I then had a difficult time appreciating this hymn. However, today I have forgotten about that Sunday and there is SOO much sunshine in my soul today. It has been such a great day filled with great weather and big accomplishments. I woke up this morning around 7:30 and started studying for my Microbiology Final. Now, this class has been quite the bore this semester but this past week I realized I had actually learned something...most likely on my own and not from my professor, but hey! I still learned something!! I went to Testing Center around 10:30...found out my test was actually in the JSB. This might have been the only downer. That building shout's "American Heritage". It's the same classroom and the same room I took my final for that class...uh-oh! BUT it wasn't!! I got an A on my final and I might be able to pull out a A- for microbiology!! Now, if you had told me that 3 months ago I would have thought you were crazy.

Next best part, I leave the JSB and it is BEAUTIFUL outside. The sun is shining and it's 57 degrees!! To some this may seem cold, but for BYU students this is shorts-and-flip-flops which is exactly what I wore today! :) I love warm weather--finally feels like Spring!

Next, I went to the gym. Endorphins and sweat. Two of my favorite things!! Going to the gym just makes me feel so strong and happy and energetic!! Hence all the exclamation marks--sorry!!

Now,  I'm showered and clean and I think I might just paint my toes :) Any color suggestions?

What a great way to start finals!! I'm so happy that I'm done with Microbiology. It's only encouraging me to study more! Happy HAPPY Saturday!!

Make room for some sunshine in your soul today and everyday :)

Let Finals Begin

Here I am. Sitting. Been studying all day. Should keep studying. But brain=goo. Taking my first final tomorrow morning. Microbiology. Lysogenic convergence... chemoautotroph... macrophages... phagocytosis...endosymbiotic theory...koch's postulates...it's never ending! I officially feel like I'm never clean and just covered with germs. However, that will hopefully go away tomorrow after my final. Here's to a good start! Good luck to everyone--we can do it!!

Also, my Toots is the cutest. Remember this post? Remember those shoes I thought were cute? Well, my Toots sent them to me as a welcoming spring gift. :) Now, Utah, please cooperate and get warmer!!

Countdowns:
4 Finals
4 days until Toots and Pop arrive
5 days until my Mama arrives
9 days until I'm home!!
I see good things in my future :)