Frustration

I am frustrated right now. funny how people will be your friend as long as you are convenient to THEM, as long as you BENEFIT them...but the moment you need a friend they are no where to be found...

I have put in enough effort. I am not doing it anymore. I refuse.

Mona Lisa Smile....

My eight year old niece Summer sent me a letter today. It was a picture of the Mona Lisa. Underneath it she wrote that she wanted to send me the picture because it reminded her of me.

"Her smiling face and gentle grace" are the similarities she found. I have no idea where she heard it but I am quite flattered she mailed it to me....

 on second thought... I need to call Aunt Marie-C to see if she received that same letter from Summer... Hmmm....

Sorry

so I have chastised a few people for not blogging and realized its been a while since I've updated. Sorry!! I spent this past weekend in Vegas. More details and pictures to come soon I promise. For now I just want to post Jade's letters... and I will see you all later.

Paolo Nutini

He is a new discovery to me. I am sure many of you have heard of him before, one friend chastized me because she has had him on her ipod since '06 but I just found out about him. Thank you, You Tube. I just downloaded a bunch of his songs. Check him out! This is my most favorite of his. Entitled

New Shoes

My Vanilla Pudding

So I don't think this is the best picture of either of us but I just wanted to write about this cute girl for a quick moment. 

TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!!

I half celebrated it by sending her 23 text messages. 22 for her age and one to grow on. Hopefully, I can finish celebrating it with the deliverance of her humble gift.

Oh. Pardon me. 

Where ARE my manners?

Let me introduce you.

This is my Vanilla Pudding, and I, I am her Chocolate Delight. 

She also goes by: Sam, Sammy, Samantha, Sammy J, Sammy Girl, S. Jane, Samantha Jane, and any other variation of her name. I like to mix it up. Keep her guessin. 

Well, today is her birthday and I want to give a little shout out. I will try my best to keep 'em comin for a while but man, I have a lot of friends. 

I love Sammy because she is AMAZING. 

Her laugh is so infectious. 

She always has a story about at least 3 guys she has dated in the past week.

She is drop dead gorgeous (which sometimes makes me sad because boys never notice me when I am with her....that's what you get for having amazingly beautiful friends)

additionally, whenever I introduce her to a friend of mine she hasn't met (guys) they ALWAYS ask either me or her for her number afterwards. Most of the time I have to tell them they are out of her league. Ha Ha. 

She runs more than anyone I know.

She calls me Mand. most of the time.

She is always willing to listen to my latest boy drama and offer advice.

She REMEMBERS everything I tell her which means she actually LISTENS...not just hears. 

Did I mention her laugh?

Her text messages. Nuf Said.

She always has a smile on her face, even if she is in a crummy mood.

Her personality is so much more beautiful than her exterior. 

She calls me Chocolate Delight.

She is so much fun to watch a football game with.

The list could go on and on but I love you Samantha Jane! You are amazing!

Show Me The Money

I REALLY enjoy MONEY.

Let me rephrase that. I really enjoy budgeting MY money.

It is so much fun. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent this week looking at where all my money goes and how I can save the most. As I see the balance in my savings account go up and up I get excited. As I told a friend before, the more money I make the more I want to keep. But really, I have decided the more I make the more I want to save for big ticket items. I think I have been so used to living very paycheck to paycheck as a student and now I don't have to. There are so many major purchases I would like to make this year and I just am trying to figure out the best way to do it.  Among other things the biggest price tag items would be these

A black Subaru Forester with of course a red U of U vanity plate. I don't know that this big of a car is really necessary for me or that I want to spend money on that much gas so my second option is this 

I absolutely HATED Subaru's when I moved here. And, apparently the white Subaru Outback or the old white Subaru Legacys are the unofficial, official car of Utah. If I had a dollar for every one of those I have seen, well I would have enough to buy my own Subaru. But...after living here a while and experiencing firsthand the dire need to have a four wheel drive car I have decided a Suby driver I must be. However, I really want a black one. (even though I always swore I would only buy white cars from here on out.) 

And why would I waste money on gas when I could save to buy one of these beauties?

  OK obviously THIS particular house would be out of my budget but you get the idea.  Honestly what I reeeeeeally want to do is buy a fixer-upper and fix it up the way I want! I figure I am going to want to redo whatever I buy ANYWAY, so why not redo it the way I want it? Both of these purchases will be a while.... but .... I am excited! Especially for the house! I can't wait for the day when I can have a garden of my very own, walls I don't have to worry about poking holes in, and something to show for the money I waste away on rent every month.

Oh, the joys of being a grown up and working more than 20 hours a week!

P.S the website is being weird and I can't see ANY of the custom buttons on this post. Things such as colors, adding pictures, and changing the alignment of my text have all been done right the first time. I know exactly where the buttons SHOULD be and when I press that area it works! Too funny.... think I  have spent enough time on blogger?

You Can't Run Forever

I am feeling quite frustrated right now.

I really want to spill the beans but I am afraid of word vomit. 

Saying too much.

But the lack of saying anything is just annoying to you readers I suppose.

I need to write though. Need to hear the clickity clack of the keys and the soft sound the enter button makes.

clicky clack. clickity clack. (backspace backspace)

enter. (ping) 

(ping ping)

Somehow it heals my soul. I am an Everday August Rush the way the noises are music to my ears, a symphony in my room.

Somehow I feel better...for now.

Hammer Time!

MC Hammer is coming into Salt Lake this weekend! Perhaps he would like these cookies. (appease me! I made them in a hurry when I got home from work at 6pm!! I wasn't planning on making them until the NEXT day) They are hammers. Instead of brown and black all I could get was an olive green and a grey. I tried...I swear! 

Anyway, too bad for MC Hammer. These were a gift for the one and only owner of Hammer's Inc. Photography. I have no clue if you read my blog or not but if you do....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY G! 

The Ramon Sisters

I spend a lot of my weekends with these two cute sisters.

And I just adore them. They live together. Rita always wants me to spend the night and she reminds me of my 8 year old niece always asking my sister Marie for sleepovers. I only cave every once in a while. They are seriously such great girls and I am so incredibly blessed to have them in my life!

My life is awesome.

Ms. Garza

 Mr. & Mrs. Julius Carrio Circa 1933?

Ms. Garza. 

                                                                  It is not uncommon for my father to refer to me by this name.

It is not uncommon for 

my father's mother to refer to me by this name.

Confused? 

My father's mother's maiden name is Garza. 

Ms. Garza is my grandmother. (Well really she is MRS. Carrio but we all know that maiden name is who we are forever)

Ms. Garza is ALSO me.

I am very blessed because I feel both my grandmothers and my mother are amazing women and I am blessed to be anything like them.

But I love Ms. Garza. 

She is blunt. 

She doesn't take crap from ANYONE.

She is fiesty and a firecracker.

She makes herself laugh more than anyone

 else makes her laugh.

She has an attitude like no one would believe.

I think these are all reasons why they call me Ms. Garza. But, though those may seem like negative quality traits they seem positive to me. In addition, my grandmother is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met in person. 

She is so incredibly loving and caring. My dad being the youngest of eight she was significantly older than all the other grandma's. She never took me out to Chuck E. Cheese's or on trips to the mall. It is hard for me to remember a time when she didn't use a walker or wheelchair to get around. 

But, I know that I used to dial her number several times a day as a child to talk to her. I would climb up on the counter to get to the phone attached to the wall. The touch of an orange button connected me to her. She would listen and appease me. She would remember my birthday and call me and send me cards. She never forgot, even with an insane amount of grandchildren. 

As I got older I started to get to know her better though. I never really felt like she had a lot of grandchildren. Just me. Sure, pictures of cousins I had met a few times adored her mirrors and walls but they were decades older than me and lived across the country. I was her only grandchild...and maybe sometimes I would allow my siblings privileges too. And as time grew on our bond grew. I think she saw that fierce rebellion in my eye. Calling me Ms. Garza only drew me closer to her. She was so happy when I got engaged but I think she was happier when I called it off. It solidified the fact I was hers. I had come from her, I was independent and I " had iron pants" as she once told me!!!

I have heard her complain about different things throughout my lifetime but she tries to keep a positive attitude. (sounds vaguely familiar...hmmm) Even though she is physically unable to care for herself she is still so smart and with it. She makes me laugh.  When I think about her it is always with a smile on my face. The last few times I have been home I have taken at least one day to go and sit with her by myself for a few hours. I love talking to her. She has the best stories and the best secrets. I love to ask her about the early years with my grandfather and I can NEVER get enough of her telling me how he came into Woolworths one day which is how they met and grin from ear to ear as she begins to tell me, "What a scoundral Mr. Carrio was" as she laughs and chuckles to herself. Ms. Garza also keeps the best secrets. She may not have been the traditional grandmother but I know how much she loves me and I could cry thinking about how much I love her. 

She turned 94 yesterday. I wish I could have been there to wish her a Happy Birthday in Person.

I love you Granny!

5 Things

10 Years Ago...

1. I was  head over heels for Russell Anthony Herrera but would never tell him if my life depended on it.

2. My best friend was Amy Rios

3. I was on the Yearbook Staff at school and was obsessed with taking pictures

4. I ran the 400m for track at school

5. I barely weighed 100 pounds

5 Things On My To-Do List

1. LAUNDRY

2. Gas Up

3. Write Jade a letter

4. Start/Finish G's birthday present

5. Sleep

5 Snacks I Enjoy

1. Sour Patch Kids

2. Hot Tamales

3. Chips and Salsa

4. Spinich & Artichoke dip

5. Oatmeal

5 Favorite Things

1.TULIPS

2. Nieces and Nephews and just family in general

3. Sunshine

4. Pretty Pictures

5. Nature. Trees that look like they touch the sky, majestic mountains, fresh air, turning in circles and dancing in the snow/rain, playing in the ocean......

5 Places I have lived

1. Houston, TX

2. League City, TX

3. Texas City, TX

4. The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT

5.  Millcreek Township of Salt Lake City, UT

5 Things Most People Don't Know About Me

1. Please refer to my 25 things about me post

5 People I Tag

1. No one. Feel free to fill this out on your own.

Mandi Does Oregon

Well, this post could go two ways.

1) It is really long where I tell you every single detail of the past four days or

2) I show you a few pictures and tell you how great my weekend was.

Option 2 it is.

Quick recap: I had the opportunity to fly to Oregon for a few days so I took it.

Welcome to Oregon '09!

When I first got into Oregon I got to roam around Portland my first day. I got to walk along the river front, see downtown

go to the rose garden, Japanese garden
and just enjoy the day! It was VERY cold and even though it was "warmer" than Salt Lake the humidity made my bones hurt after just a few short minutes! Friday night after I was done exploring I went back to my friend's house and made Valentines Day cookies. I do it every year and I didn't want being out of town to keep me from it.
They definitely weren't the prettiest cookies I have ever made but they tasted great! Saturday afternoon I met a coworker in Portland who is origionally from Kansas. She was having a Kansas vs. Kansas state viewing party and I took my cookies. They were a hit. Later on that day Zac and I went to see Multnomah Falls and we hiked up to the top. The view was gorgeous. The road we had to take to get there was breathtaking. Tall trees everywhere and the most scenic winding roads. I was falling in love with the west coast with

 each mile that passed.
Sunday I slept in. When I woke up w

e

 ate breakfast, got in the car, and headed for the coast. First, Zac had a surprise. I have a goal to make it to all 50 states and since we were so close to Washington we crossed a bridge and took a short detour to North Head Lighthouse in Washington! I was in love. As we were heading there I caught my very first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean! And of course we took a picture at the bottom of the bridge that welcomed us to Washington. Yes, that is us eating Washington Apples in Washington!

We then crossed the beach and proceeded to head to Tillamook. Because we were quickly losing daylight we sidetracked to Cannon Beach and spent the rest of our time enjoying the Pacific Ocean and watching the sun set. It was such an awesome thing to do. I mean, normally you think you would do that thing sitting next to someone you really love, but it was fun none the less. I enjoyed it and it was a great time to just sit in front of the ocean and meditate.


There was a lot more to the trip but those were the highlights. I think the most important thing I learned on this trip was that I love nature, this country is beautiful, and I have been bitten by the travel bug. I am pretty sure I could learn to live almost anywhere.

25 Random Things

Apparently this has been all over the news. I don't see the big deal.... Anyway. I posted this on my blog about three years ago and on this blogspot blog over a year ago. About half are the same, I rewrote the other half. Anyway, this 25 random things has been circulating on facebook and I was tagged about a jillion times to do it so I gave in. I am reposting it here. 25 random things about me.

1. My first crush was Trey, a boy in my montessori class when I was three, who could DRESS HIMSELF. (my exact words to my mom) 

2. I love when a guy I am crushing on wraps their arms around me and I can smell their deodorent. I know I am wierd but I love it, sometimes more than Cologne.

3. I love when guys call me by a nickname/pet name they have given me. I must have a million. It makes me so ridiculously happy and feel special.

4. I can't stand the smell of movie popcorn.

5. I fell head over heels for Matthias Beier when I was 15. He moved shortly after and we kept in touch. He became the best friend I had. I am still looking for a guy that I fall head over heels with that then becomes my best friend.

I love him! Me and Matthias in November of 05

6. My mom and I didn't talk until I was 19 and now  is one of my best friends. Shes one of the coolest people I know.

Me and my Mommy

7. I can't stand when people use more than one paper towel at a time.

8.I don't think I will ever get married- trust issue

9. I have every report card I was ever given. Starting from my Montessori school when I was four

10. My sixteenth birthday present was a two and a half week trip to Italy

11. I love going to the beach, but I hate getting in the water.

12. I was the Maid of Honor at a wedding when I was only 15! 

13.I am such a social butterfly but I would rather sit at home by myself watching a movie or catching up on google reader

14. I love the feeling of being at a baseball game, eating pizza, drinking Dr.Pepper and screaming and chanting SOO ridiculously loud for the Astros!!!

15. even though i worked hard for my education, the only thing i want to do when i grow up is raise my kids and be there for my husband.

16. i haven't felt loved in a really long time

17. i actually DO love my job

18. I HATE to be woken up while sleeping. I am ALWAYS grouchy if I was not planning on waking up.

19. Going out for sushi is one of my most favorite things

My playboy and her ROCK STAR

20. Photography has been a passion of mine since as long as I can remember.

21.One of the top things I want to do before I die is fly a plane.

22. I have spent more time AWAY from the people I call my best friends than I have ever spent WITH them. Proof they are my best friends when our relationship can survive and thrive at long distances.

23.I often feel like life is passing me by at a million miles an hour while I stand still.

24. I can most often be found wearing a skirt and heels. It is my favorite.

25. I LOVE asparagus.

adding

26. I could look at the stars forever. It makes me feel loved, like there is a creator, I was made with a purpose, and I am not alone.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

I am such a blessed little lady. In two and a half years I have met some of the most amazing people of my life. I have such great friends and there have been more families than I can count that have warmly opened me into their homes. 

Coming from out of state, those living in Utah will quickly learn, as I have, that Utah is a different state.  Overall I have gotten the sense that families are important here and even those who aren't religious feel the same way. It is something that helps me love my own family even more, but also something that can be hard. In a state where families are important and you don't have yours nearby I am increasingly grateful for all the families that have allowed me to crash Sunday dinner, family outings, activities, or.... you know... FAMILY anything. Growing up I hated when my brother would bring a girlfriend or a friend to a FAMILY activity. I mean, GOSH, didn't he know the meaning of family? As in, blood. Related. Legally bound.... and as I have crashed these family activities here in Utah and been receipted with open arms I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these people who understand that sometimes the definition of family can be stretched. Everyone needs to feel loved.

I don't know what I did to deserve such love from such amazing people but I am incredibly grateful.

New Toys

Fresh out of the shower doesn't look too bad when you have fun tools on the camera.

Bah

I have a new favorite word. It is BAH! It is an exclamation of annoyance, frustration, or anything else I want it to mean. I think it kind of replaces ugh for me.

Anyway, I am completely falling in love with my job again. Yesterday I worked for over 13 straight hours only taking ten minutes to eat some soup and crackers I keep at my desk. Even though I have extremely busy lately I really enjoy it. It is really nice to feel needed. There is also a feeling of still being at your desk, typing numbers into the calculator, and telling the cleaning crew you will turn off all the lights when you leave, and then turning all the lights off at 9:30. Not having to wait for the elevator that normally takes 5 minutes, walking the deserted hallways that were filled with professionals coming and going just hours earlier, having to scan your card to get into the parking garage and many more things all made me feel special (for a lack of a better word.) I know it is retarded. There really is something to putting in a long day at work though.

Just Some Random Thoughts

I am completely exhausted (and it is only 10:30!!!! That is WONDERFUL NEWS to a girl who suffers from insomnia!) but I wanted to blog really fast. I don't know which should go first.

Bah. Obama. I just don't know what to think about today. I was one of three people excited to listen to the inauguration today at work. Everyone else was business as usual while I was trying to find a radio station online because the video streaming was not working. One of the girls took the day off to watch the inaguration because she is a die hard Obama lover so that just left two of us. It is not so much that I love Obama.... I just love politics and I think he is a great orator and I wanted to hear what he had to say. I can't even begin to express the feelings that overcame me as I heard him repeat those words and become the next president. I loved his speech. It really DID bring me hope. I believed he would change our country and that it would take hard work and time but I believed him as he spoke. I needed to believe him. I want to put my faith in him so much it hurts! I worry though. I worry that now that the parades and parties are dying down, now that it is time to get to work, that he will prove to be a much better orator than a doer. I really do worry. While his words offered courage and hope and deep feelings of patriotism because of our American ancestors who fought for the rights and freedoms we have now and for our friends, family and neighbors who still fight. After all of these emotions from his speech I feel actions speak louder than words. And in a time of great economic crisis I feel Obama could have learned something from Utah Govorner Jon Hunstman Jr. who almost eliminated the festivities of inanuragtion seeing as we are umm... wait what? Oh yeah... in the worst economic crisis of the past 70 years . It is good to know someone recognized it is not a time to party but a time to get to work and a time to put money to a better use. Glad to know the Obama family is driving around in an energy efficient, sensible, cadillac limosine. I mean I don't really know what the other president's had but I find it irrelevant since he is all about CHANGE. I mean c'mon... they are just the average American's right? Bah. I can find a million reasons to disprove myself but that is what I have to say.

On a lighter note....or umm... err... a heavier? note... my roommates and I watch The Biggest Loser religiously. They got me into it last semester and a new season has started! It really makes me very emotional. However, after work and errands I normally get home right about 7 on Tuesdays only to plop down on the couch and EAT while watching it. I have become very emotionally invested and I get choked up when certain people don't do so well. Well, I decided I need to let the show motivate me. For those of you that don't know the Biggest Loser is about extremely overweight individuals who try to lose the most body fat. These aren't just people who need to lose ten pounds like you, me, and the guy down the street. These are people who take 10 pills a day for one thing or another, who need medical supervision while they excersise, who will probably die is 10 years or less if they don't change their lifestyle. I have been inspired as old men who can't walk for a minute without nearly faiting shed close to two hundred pounds all by getting their butt on a treadmill and not giving up. I have seen the lifestyle these people lead, some of it firsthand, and I don't ever want to be dependant on pills. I don't think I am fat by any means but I have def picked up some unwanted pounds. I don't want to get in the habit of overeating and laziness so I joined a gym last week and have been everyday but Sunday! ( i know i know... let's just hope in 6 months I am still going strong!) I am proud to announce I have already lost weight! It took my coworker Nate to nag me nearly everyday for the past 10 weeks but I finally got my butt in the gym and I am excited to be on my way to a healthy lifestyle of excersise! Bring on that half marathon!!

Come Back To Texas....

"It's not the same since you went away
before you lose your accent
and forget all about the lone star state
there's a seat for you at the Rodeo
and I've got every slow song save
besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway...."
-Bowling for Soup

"Come back to Texas"

That was the urge of my dear mother yesterday as I conversed with her via telephone.

I disregarded the comments as I have a million times

from friends

and family

and as a subcategory of family nieces.

I mean who wouldn't want me back in Texas?

Who WOULD want me to leave Utah?

I am the coolest thing since Blue Bell ice cream

and trap doors on one piece adult pajamas

and snowball fights with dear friends.

But I got to thinking.....

people are moving on with their lives

and I am watching them move at a million miles an hour as I stand still

and doesn't my mother deserve the kitchen fairy to visit her once a week?

And shouldn't I enjoy the laughs and smiles from my angel of a nephew Carson?

And would anyone REALLY miss me? (of course but they would get over it soon enough)

Isn't family a million times better than any friend I will ever know?

For now I am staying put....

but it was definitely something to think about as my eyelashes fluttered back and forth and sleep swept me away to dreamland.

When In Rome...

You know the saying... When in Rome, do as the Romans?

Well, I don't live in Rome, nor am I visiting it.

I AM however in the BEEHIVE state....

And TODAY I worked like a bee.

These are the things I got accomplished today and most of it is in order.

• I slept in until about 11
  
• Ran to the bank to deposit a check/withdraw money ( I was hoping for a garage sale with something really cool. I didn't see ANY. Does the cold weather keep people from putting those on? I guess so.)
• I paid ALL of my bills
  
• I cleaned out all the shoes, papers, water bottles, and overall crap from my car
• I detailed the inside of my car
• I went through a stack of mail 12 inches high
• I cleaned out my wallet
• Found my jiffy lube coupons and got ready to have my oil changed.
  
• I organized my new health care information now that I am a big girl and cover myself (sad are the days now that it comes out of MY paycheck instead of my parents'!!! :( )
• Took a shower
  
• I went to the corner store and bought two packs of candy. One for me and one for Dave.
  
• Went to the movies with Dave to see Marley & Me. He almost ate his whole box of candy before the movies even started. I still have half of mine. I am learning quickly if I don't protect myself he eats all the candy!
  
• I washed my car (well, I ran it through a car wash but ol' blue is SPARKLING right now)
  
• I did 6 loads of laundry including linens and towels and even my bath rug.
  
• Blew my nose about 700 times throughout all of this
  
• I PUT AWAY 6 loads of laundry
  
• Organized all the paper/letters/wedding invitations into their designated box
  
• Threw out TONS of old school papers and assignments
• Took two garbage bags full of stuff from my room and car to the dumpster
• Vacuumed my room
• Did the dishes
• Swept the bathroom and kitchen
  
• Went to the grocery store to buy more laundry detergent, four boxes of kleenex (actually they are PUFFS with lotion because a nose in need deserves puffs indeed!!!) and groceries for the next week where I saved about thirty dollars with my Albertsons card and coupons! (that is a first!)
  
• Made tea and took Nyquil
• Blogged.

Aren't you proud? I think the only thing I did NOT do was get my oil changed. Going to the movies with Dave took up my time and they were closed by that time but I will go on Monday!! I know this has to be the most incredibly boring blog I have ever written and I know you don't really care but I have worked SO hard for the past 12 hours (well 10 if you don't count the movie) and I NEVER get anything I want done on a Saturday! Anyway, I am sure the nyquil is going to kick in here pretty quickly so this is coming to an end.

I hope all of you have been having as great a start to the new year as I have had and that you are getting things done as well.

How Sweet It IS

I posted 25 times in November and a measley 5 times in December. I just thought I would post quickly. I have much catching up to do but my Texas trip was simply amazing. I didn't see too many friends and I just spent my trip adoring my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. I feel so left out of their lives sometimes because I am so far away but it was so nice to go home and be in the middle of things. I had barely been back in Utah a few hours before it was back to another party and I felt as if I had never been to Texas at all. I knew it would be a good trip when Brian Johnson was on my flight and I got to talk to him!

I heart Brian Johnson.

And now....Utah beat Alabama!! We are 13-0 and the only division I UNDEFEATED team in the nation! Hardly anyone thought we would win...but I knew Brian would pull us through! 31-17 baby!! Sugar Bowl Champions!! BCS busters....

oh how sweet it is!!!

2009 have been off to an amazing start!! Bring it on 2009.... bring.it. on!