The Unexpected and Unwelcome.

"Watch your step, you might find a jerk in the way. Side step and never look back, face forward with your head held high."

First Days, Then Months

Well we haven't been in school even a month, let alone a full week, but I am feeling it. My classes are what they are and I am finding out with my electives I have a lot of free time on my hands. On my B-days I spend two classes periods in the computer lab because I take my peer tutor students to the lab. Then I am an office aide which is really comprised of nothing more than delivering a notification every once in a while, while the rest of the time is spent doing free time busy work (AKA reading or doing my puzzle book). And then there is a like 40 minute lunch and all this week I have had such a migraine that I have resorted back to my old reclusive ways of hiding out in my favorite teacher, Mrs. Miller's room. A-days are just about as eventful. Senior year seems to be made up of lots of in class spare time. Can't wait till next semester, but ultimately I can not wait till graduation.

Back to School Jitters

I am filled with mixed emotions right now as I am within 42 hours of going back to school. I am excited for my Senior Year. Disgusted by the fact that I have to be ready to learn at 7:45 in the morning. Curious to see what people's reactions are going to be with the surgery and all. Nervous for my last core class, Algebra 2. Clueless on where and how to even begin approaching MATC. Envious of the majority of my friends who are all cozy in their new dorm rooms, making new friends with roommates, and living on campus outside of Orem, Utah. And last, but not least, relieved to spend 6 1/2 hours taking a break from the family.

I am looking forward to seeing my buddies, favorite teachers, having a rediculously easy schedule, and like I said before, a break from the fam-damily.

I am not looking forward to seeing bothersome people, hateful teachers, homework, Algebra 2 and spending 6 1/2 hours in a desk.

I will miss having spare time, sleeping, the hours spent outside in the sun, reading, doing my puzzles, staying up late, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.

Hope this years a good one! Wish me luck! Here goes nothing!

-Bren

Sunsets and Slushies

I was in the car so sorry some of them are blurry and they aren't the best quality but I couldn't resist taking the good old camera out and depleting the rest of my batteries on this remarkable sunset. So amazing! I believe God must be a painter.

-bren

Senior Year: Life in the Making

Well senior year is less than 2 weeks away and I am trying with all my might to get pumped. One does try, sometimes that one fails... What was that definition of insanity...? Trying repeatedly but getting the same result? Anyways.. This year should be good. I will still be attending Timpanogos High School. Here's my schedule for the time being, keep in mind because of MATC it will probably change.

FIRST SEMESTER

A1- Guided Study

A2- Advanced Health Sciences

A3- Health Sr.

A4- Algebra 2

B1- Computer Tech

B2- Peer Tutor

B3- Office Aide

B4- Accounting

SECOND SEMESTER

A1- Guided Study

A2- Advanced Health Sciences

A3- Film Lit

A4- Algebra 2

B1- Foods 1

B2- Peer Tutor

B3- Office Aide

B4- Accounting

If things go as planned, my second semester schedule will only consist of B1- Algebra 2 and B2- Accounting. MATC will take up the rest of my time and the rest of my elective credits. With me taking Financial Lit and P.E. online I am on track to graduate and at graduation I should have my CNA or my Medical Assisting degree.

Also just to serve as a reminder, my Mary Kay Party is Saturday, August 21st at 3:00 at my house. (If you need my address, contact me!) RSVP's are to be reported to me by Thursday night, Friday before 5:00 at the very latest. If you do not RSVP I will not plan for you to be there. My Mary Kay consultant is going to be doing facials and microdermabrasion along with the make-up. She will have catalogs and she will be taking orders if you so wish to buy. BUYING IS NOT REQUIRED. All you need to come is you and your skin! I am also asking that if you are coming that you bring a treat to share with you. Consider your treat a ticket through my front door. Come and get pampered, it'll be lots of fun and I hope to see you all there!

Astronomy and Photography

I am "ready" for school. Maybe not mentally but everything is ready so I can hit the ground running!
Tonight is the Meteor Shower and I am going to enjoy it with one of my best friends Kim. Life is good!

-bren

Back to School Times.

I can't even begin to tell you how NOT ready for school I am. School is my arch enemy. School is the bane of my existence. School will be the death of me. We have 2 weeks and 2 days till we have to set our alarm clocks and promptly get up and out of bed the next morning. I am dreading every aspect of school. School is not my friend. School might be beneficial to me when I am trying to get a job and live my life but it does not do any favors for my sanity.

One bonus to school...? My Nana and Pops are helping me get to an even better place in my life by getting me into MATC part time in January. I am going to be taking a semester CNA course so I can at least have a certificate in my hand. Later I can work on getting my LPN and RN but getting my CNA during high school is the best way to go about it.

I have decided that as much as I love to do hair, the medical field and nursing is more realistic for me. Now that I have gotten in touch with reality it all seems to make sense for me to go into nursing.

Thank you Nana and Grandpa for your never-ending support! I would never be able to do this without you. I love you both so much and I will forever be indebted to you. I will never be able to express to you how much this means to me and how much I love and appreciate you! I won't let you down!!!

-Bren xoxo

Another One Bites the Dust

Camp conisisted of everything that I listed in the previous entry and more... (Well with the exception of six inches of snow, but don't despair we got our fair share of rain.) Girls Camp has come and gone and I am so glad I went. Good things happen when you follow the promptings of the Spirit. Even though I don't like to camp I think it's fair enough to say that the good outweighed the bad. I got to know all the girls and grew to love them despite my annoyance for them. Thank you girls for the great expirience and thank you leaders for your patience!!! Right now I am coloring my newly cut hair... I really need to kick this habit, it's becoming an overwhelming addiction. I don't know whether I am blogging right now to keep up with my blog or if I am just doing it to pass the 20-25 more minutes that I have to wait to rinse my hair.

Later tonight I get the opportunity to go shoot with Sherry and I am so excited. It's been too long!!! I love shooting because it forces you to see the beauty in everything and in everyone. Thank heavens I get to shoot tonight because I am afraid that grey and darkness has taken over my personal lense.

Unfortunately the days keep flying by and as soon as I am ready to have my summer it is gone. Three weeks from today I will be dreading the next day. School starts the 25th this year and I am not looking forward to my Senior year like I probably should be. I almost feel that I should have been graduated last year with the rest of my friends. Life goes on.

Lately I haven't been able to make up my mind what I want to do with my life after high school and everyday it becomes just that much more overwhelming and confusing. I have been handed the opportunity of a life-time and it just adds one more decision to make. Next May it is very posibble that I will have a job in Skagway, Alaska in one of the tourist shops. It would be until September and I think it will be an awesome opportunity and I think that it might be my chance to put my head on straight and do what I need to do to put my life on course. We shall see all in due time.

-Bren

Chemical Burns & Camp

This week I got a massive chemical burn on my face. It looks like a giant purple birthmark on my cheek and jawline. To answer your questions.. Yes, it does hurt. Thanks for asking and now would be a great time to stop asking.

Well it's off to camp for me. :/ Wish me luck. Not much of a camping kinda girl but it's time to get dirty... Ok, well, not too dirty... not for me... I don't care how cold the water is. Never have before, this year won't be different. I've spent the last 24 hours packing and I am finally ready to go.

This year will be my last. Elle and I are the only Laurels left. YCLS UNITE! Just kidding, I really have no idea.

The last time I was at camp we we're there in the first week of June. I seem to remember making the joke that on the sixth day, of the sixth month, we should've expected six inches of snow.

Here's to burns, bugs, insect bites, dirt, smoke, sleepless nights, overwhelming amounts of Estrogen, and PMS. May this week go by quickly and may it be as painless as possible.

bren <3

Family Genes

Yesterday I came to the rude realization that I am turning into my grandmother. Of course there are much more worse things in life but it was just the fact that I seem to be growing up much faster than I would like. I love my Nana and I'd rather be just like her rather than not. She is a respectable woman and I couldn't ask for better.

Anyways... So yesterday I was at my Nana & Grandpa's helping them move a mattress around and running some errands. My Nana was trying to get things sorted out with UPS trying to get her new mattress sent back. Nana, being the Nana I know and love, got a little frustrated and very flustered with the UPS people over the phone and as consequence she was very cranky. After everything was sorted out and she had some time to breathe we all had a good laugh.

My laughter was much more short lived than everyone else's. As it turns out my video cable on my tv decided to go out the day before and I was in the process of arranging to buy and pick up a new one from a seller off of craigslist. We had gone to pick it up earlier that day but showed up to an empty house. I called him promptly when I got home giving him my number and asking him to call me back so we could arrange a different time to pick it up that day. In the meantime I missed his call while helping my grandparents. When I got the missed call I immediately called back to find myself leaving yet another message. He called within that 10 minutes saying that if I could come now that would be great, so we packed the children into the car and we headed to South-East Orem to pick up this tv. We get there and bang on the door for a good 5 minutes before giving up and walking back to the car to head home. My patience was depleted and I was cranky as all get out. As soon as we walk through the door my mother prompted me to call him and ask him where he had been and to make sure we had the right address. I called and told the seller that I stood on his doorstep for 5 minutes banging on the door and no one came to the door. I told him good luck selling the tv and that I was no longer interested. He explained that he was waiting at his house waiting for me to pick it up and he simply did not hear us knock. I later called him back after recruiting my Grandpa to come help me pick up the tv. I told the craigslist seller that it was convenient for me to come pick it up right then and that I expected him to answer the door at the first knock. He apologized unceasingly and gave his word that I wouldn't even have to knock on the door and that he would be obliged to sit and wait for me on the porch till I came, "ma'am". After getting off the phone it was then that I realized that I had turned into my Nana. I had just got done poking fun at her earlier over the UPS phone call incident less than 2 hours before, and here I was chewing out some guy on the phone as she had done hours before.

On the way over I told my Grandpa that I had chewed him out and that I was turning into Nana. He thought it was pretty funny. When we pulled up to the house and I hopped out of the car and was a little confused by the look I got from this man. He was middle-aged and a look of pure shock was written across his face. My grandpa gave a little chuckle and kept walking without an explanation. I was quite confused. The seller assured me that the tv was in good condition, he even went as far as to plug it in and surf the channels on his front porch, outside. He also said that if I had any trouble that I could call him and he would give me my money back and come and pick it up from my house. I thought that was pretty dang good service for a craigslist seller... Again my grandpa kinda chuckled under his breath as the seller carried the tv to the car. Dang good service I thought. After the exchange was over and I got back in the car, my grandpa laughed saying "When you said you chewed him out, you meant you CHEWED HIM OUT! He was shocked that you were a teenager! He was probably thinking 'I just got told off by a teenager!' . Boy, you really have turned into your Grandmother." Everyone thought it was a real hoot, and then there was me saying to myself, "Aw, crap! I already sound just like my Mum, and my Nana." Oh well... I blame it on the family genes. :]