A Walk with a Praying Mantis

Walking to class just barely I found a praying mantis on the sidewalk! He was just crawling toward the grass, having a great October walk as well. So I decided that it would be a good idea to share a walk together! I picked him up and at first he was a little alarmed. He spread out his arms like he wanted to attack me! (like in that picture below, which I just read was their defense pose.) But then he realized what we were doing and he calmed down. We walked together to my class and I put him a the foot of a bush where I am sure there are buggers he can feed on. Bad bugs. Because he's a good praying mantis. Thanks for making my day, I really needed that.

People were around. And seemed disturbed. Whatever though they don't even know.

Happy Halloween Octoberish time!

Yesterday Kath and I bought PUMPKINS and placed them on our PORCH!
What are you going to be for Halloween?

last year, bellatrix lestrange with witch sister

2007, ghost with black cat gina "rear!"

Drum Roll Please...

Beginning January 7 (because I fly out on Jan 5th and won't exist on January 6th hehehe)

I will be visiting the South Island and living on the North Island

I'll be living in this city (Auckland) and will hang off the tip of that tall building

I'll be frolicking in this field
I'll be seeing this flag there probably

Ummm...so where're you going Hal?

Oh, just NEW ZEALAND.
NZ
New-Z
yep.
refer to the countdown on the right if you please.

miss you summer.

sorry I took you for granted

Update of my life:
I will find out about New Zealand in 6 days.
I am learning a lot in my classes.
I got sick but I am not sick anymore.

burnt out

ok so that last post...not really a good description of how my semester is going to be.
My semester is going to be H-E-double hockey sticks.

I woke up this morning and was - brace yourselves - depressed

That is not good. And I thought about what was making me unhappy. It's because I am behind in my classes. My days are as follows: class, 5 hours of work, evening class, "homework." and sometimes institute. And by "homework" I mean stare at the first page of the 40 I am supposed to read for a single class and I can't absorb a single word. I'm burned out. Like a burned out lightbulb. And people are like "sooo do you like anyone in the WARD??!!" And I am like "H no!" Because I am incapable of feeling those types of emotions. No room. And those parts of my brain are defaulted as "off" until next april. And even then...wow. Yeah I need to get with a Maori when I to to New Zealand. will do.

What was I getting at? Oh yes so I decided to quit my job. I put in my two weeks notice today. And they will probably let me go sooner because they can see it...no longer smiley annoying hal. I probably smell too. Like burning. Because I am burnt out. Yes good, evacuate the building as soon as possible.

But I will be like a new release rental soon.

class class class

I really love my classes.

1st class: ice cream, meeting my 8 year old pen pals, and getting a butterfly cacoon that will hatch any day now.

2nd class: assignment to join facebook. The first day of class was the last day of class. From now on, the teacher and I will webcam.

3rd class: assignment to bring 3 things to class that describe me. A "show and tell" if you will.

4th class: my teacher is good looking

the other classes, like statistics, we will not talk about. But I think it will be ok.

Spoon Me

No thank you.

The first couple bites are good, then the texture feels prickley on your tongue. And the spoons are rough because they are eco-friendly.

And don't type just "spoon me" in the search box.

it's raining, it's pouring

The Policemen

I hate when they're nice because then I can't hate them.

desire of this moment

Flax

I take flaxseed. 2,000 mg, 3 times a day.
This morning at work I was staring at my computer for two hours: thinking, fiddling with my class schedule, g-chatting, shaking my right leg repetitively. Then I realized how much time I wasted and asked myself: "why can't I focus and just work?"

Oh. It's because I forgot to take my first dose of flax.

Seriously it does wonders. It helps me focus. I get anxious and irritable sometimes, especially with school about to start and other junk that is on my mind. Well I just take flax and I don't feel so irritable anymore.

my roommate for fall

She is bomb bomb baaaahhhhmmm!
is from San Jose
went to a community college there so she has never lived away from home [insert evil laugh]
major is Bio Chemistry
is into japanese and korean music
is teaching herself japanese
doesn't have any extenuating pet peeves
likes to have the window open
Her mom cleaned our bathroom cleaner than it was when it was new
plays the piano and violin
is a light sleeper
prefers to shower in the morning (and I shower at night!)
doesn't press the snooze
has kissed one boy
owns a pair of black suede knee-high boots
has an electric toothbrush
is happy
The last time she cried was at a testimony meeting a week ago.
is emotionally stable
is easy going and totally chill
goes with the flow
lets me be myself without a trace of judgement
I already love her.

oh and her name is jennifer. and she said I can call her whatever I want.

take it.

I don't want this month to end and I don't want summer to leave.

You know when you can just feel something about to happen in life? Like you know when a storm is coming and you can just feel like it's going to be a big one.

Well I know that fall of 2008 is going to be hard. It's the last semester I will have classes. Real classes at least. 17 credits worth including statistics which will kill me. it's just what has to happen though so I may as well take it like a woMAN. WOman.

whoooooaaaa MAN.

the true hal unleashed

Sometimes I accidently let my personality out a little too much. And people are left very confused.

like this

And the worst part of it is having to explain myself. They demand an explanation. Why can't you just pretend like I didn't say that? When you get to know me and spend time with me, that will be explanation in and of itself.

Ok hal so what brought about this post? I was just on a lunch date with this guy in my ward. And if you are in my ward you have seen the true hal unleashed, sorry.
The first thing he asked me once we sat down:

"So you said two funny things yesterday and I want you to explain both of them: 'dirty play' and 'kissing boys' as your hobby"

Alright you silly confused little boy. and the people reading this blog.

Last night we were watching Cool Runnings (in honor of the olympics) and there was a swear word in the movie. Someone asked "where's a clearplay when you need one?"
My roommate: "I have clearplay"
Me: "I have dirtyplay"
[giggle giggle giggle, continue watching movie]

Dirty play: the opposite of clearplay. Instead of the dvd player editing out swear words, dirtyplay will add swear words. Can you imagine how cool and uncomfortable that would be? awesome. You could just put in your favorite swearwords wherever you want them. And if you like violence you could add violence. kehehehe!

Twilight New Moon Eclipse Breaking Dawn

[spoiler]

I have refused to read or hear about these books until I knew the last book had come out. So I didn't have to wait. Harry Potter killed me when I had to wait. So I started Twilight a couple weeks ago and read them straight through. Good reads.

My favorite of all the books in this series was Twilight. Because Edward wasn't even in the 2nd one and Bella was driving me NUTTY in the 3rd one with her refusal to leave jacob alone. and the last book was ok but it was too weirdy to me. Like the whole baby deal. and the fact that jacob and the baby were in love. Hard for me to really relate to and embrace.

Favorite part of all the books? By the jeep at the trailhead when Edward was trying to convince Bella to go to the meadow. I think I will read that part again in a sec. So good.

Recommend? Yes. If you don't have anything better to do. If you do have something better to do, read Twilight and I will tell you what happens in the following 3 books.

bass lake, california

This place was heaven.
I slept under the stars, kayaked, read twilight, ate food, read twilight, laughed with katherine, swam in the lake, went on the boat, kayaked under the stars, and read some more twilight.

Thanks Kath, good to see you.

'member when [your story here]

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together, or one of the first memories you have of me. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you...

Just do it already!

mosaic

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name.

Thanks Marcilyn I had a lot of fun with this one! It took like an hour.

Kneaders

Where do you want to go to Lunch?

You want to go to Kneaders. It is so much more than a bakery. As you walk in there are shelves of adorable crafts and gift baskets.

Order a Turkey Ranch on Asiago Cheese Bread, grilled. Get the sandwich with combo #3 which includes kettle chips, soda and a fruit tart. It will change your life.

Orem: 1990 North State St.
Provo: 295 West 1230 North
Ft Union: 742 E Ft. Union Blvd.
South Jordan: 962 West South Jordan Pkwy
Riverton: 5083 W 13400 South

http://www.kneadersbakery.com/index.html

Thanks for sharing Hallie.

I am staying in Sundance for a family reunion right now.

I wasn't planning to take a shower before bed at 1:00am. But then I saw the shower. It had a pebble floor and rock walls. I love nature. And it had a rain shower head on the ceiling and 5 shower heads on the wall, a steamer, and my favorite shampoo inside. I couldn't resist.

I will be breaking into this cabin for the rest of my life to shower. I refuse to shower anywhere else.

And the faucets are waterfall faucets!