Go That Way Really Fast...

Taste of the Glory

2012-01-11T20:05:00.002-07:00

Today is brought to you by the letters L and S and the number 3.

L is for the proverbial light at the end of the educational tunnel I am currently crawling through. See that ticker I put at the top of the blog? It is living proof that every day I am closer to finishing my graduate career! Also, notice that I will be graduating in 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. Most excellent.

L is for getting a little taste of the glory. (Think Nacho Libre). I started my externship last week at an elementary school and am loving it. I love my supervisor. I love the kids I work with. I have only been there 2 weeks and I am 100% positive that I was meant to be an SLP. It is for me. It is awesome. Therefore, I am awesome. Right?

S is for heaving a big sigh of relief. Along with tasting the glory of a big-girl job, I'm happy that I'm enjoying myself at my externship. It's nice to know that these past 2 years have not been a waste of time or money. Today, in between helping a boy correctly articulate his "r" and working on irregular past tense with a bubbly little girl I thought how I could do this for the rest of my life and be completely happy.

What a wonderful thought to have about a job! I am excited to graduate and get going in my awesome profession. It hasn't been the smoothest ride, but the real ride is about to begin.

S is for super, for that is what my life is right now. S is also for Slurpees, sitcoms, and sugar. They help get me through my week. Thanks guys.

Updates

2011-12-20T15:29:00.002-07:00

Hi friends,
Here is a short post of updates on life, bullet-style!

- I finished my last "real" semester of school. Boo-ya. Bring on the externships!

- I finally completed the second part to my Rehabilitation story on Bits O' Fiction. You can read it here. I'm pretty proud of it, and hope it makes you chuckle.

- My 25th birthday was last Sunday (the 11th). It is crazy to think that I am a quarter of a century old. I'm beginning to feel a quarter-life crisis coming on. I'll keep you posted on what crazy antics I get myself into.

- All I want for Christmas is to BREATHE! This inversion is really attacking my lungs. I think I heard somewhere that it's as bad as smoking a cigarette. Thanks, Utah.

- I crocheted a scarf for Bob for Christmas. I'm not a crafty person so this is a big fist-pumping moment for me!

- Bob and I went skiing for the first time (together) on Friday at Park City. It was awesome. I forgot how much I LOVE skiing. I could definitely put off having kids for another year and become a ski bum next winter. Here is a cute picture of us in gear:

- Bob currently has a man cold. What? You haven't heard of a man cold yet? You need to watch this educational video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbmbMSrsZVQ

He also just text me saying, "I sound really deep and scratchy, like a mix between Barry Manilow and a cat." Sounds sexy. Maybe I'll have to get that one on tape.

Well, that's about all I have for now. Cheers!

For Your Entertainment

2011-10-26T22:22:00.000-06:00

Hey folks,
I bet you're wondering why I've been slacking off on blogging lately. Well, I have been blogging, just not on here. I decided to suck more time out of my life by starting a new blog. So, for you entertainment, I present you with:

Bits O' Fiction!!!

It's a new site where I can send all my crazy pop culture references to. I'll still update this blog with my everyday happenings, don't you worry. I just decided it was time to have a blog just for exaggerated stories of my life. So check it out. Become a Follower. Leave a comment. All those things are like Christmas for me. Without the hectic shopping sprees.

Are You There Cola? It's Me, Priscilla

2011-08-15T12:40:00.010-06:00

And...I'm back! Betcha thought I was dead, eh? Think again! I'm am currently on a 3-week hiatus from school and, boy does it feel good! I'm honestly dreading going back to school. I'm about to start my 7th year of college. Whoa. Nerd, much? No. Not nerd. Just a glutten for punishment. My brain has decided it doesn't like school anymore. In fact, this is a conversation I had with my brain at the end of this last semester:

Me: "Hey, brain! How about we start writing this autism paper?"
Brain: "Hmm...No. I want chips."
Me: "Please? The sooner we get it done the closer we are to finishing the semester."
Brain: "Psh. Screw school. It's summer and we deserve to have a good time. How about grabbin' those Cheetos?"

There was nothing I could do. My brain walked me into the kitchen and forced me to eat a Cheeto Puff. Those puffs are evil. You have to eat half a bag to feel even remotely satisfied. Not to mention the MSG. Damn you, MSG! You actually make me want more and more and more until half my face is covered in orange powder. Then I looked like a crazed addict and have to call on the dog to help me clean up.

Which leads me to another point: grad school is hazardous to your health. I have gained 15 lbs. since grad school started last year. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa! How did this happen? Since when does grad school turn you into a heffer? (Not as in Hugh, but as in Hippo). Clearly the Freshman 15 decided to wait until grad school to attack me. Lame. Oh so lame.

I've decided the following 3 items have contributed to this weight gain and I place all blame on them (because I would never be at fault, right?):

1) Sugared [caffeinated] drinks
2) MSG
3) Computers

I have a love/hate relationship with these items. I hate how much I love them. At least I've been trying to drink diet sodas lately. That's gotta count for something, right? As far as the MSG goes. It's in everything that I love. Cheetos, Ramen, Cup Noodles, Mac n' Cheese. It's hard to avoid it when you're like me and don't have many skillz in the kitchen. Finally, we come to computers. I spend the majority of my day on them. I sit in front of one to do data entry for work, have my laptop open during classes to take notes (and not surf the web, cough, cough), and keep it open all evening to hang out on Facebook and type up paperwork. I never get a break! And, truth be told, I'm remotely okay with that. As I said, I hate how much I love the computer.

Well, I can't think of much more to say here. So you'll have to be satisfied with this, for now. Oh, one last thing: I finally got my grades and got the highest GPA so far in grad school. Not a 4.0 like I would've wanted, but remotely close. Yay!

Okay. I'm done. Peace out, internet homies.

I Love You, 2!

2011-06-01T23:57:00.001-06:00

The Bobers and I have been married for 2 years now. It's been a pretty awesome couple of years. I love knowing that we'll be together forever and I can't imagine life without him. To quote the movie Juno:

"Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your a**. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."

"As far as husbands go, Robert Neve is totally boss. He is the cheese to my macaroni."

...and I really like Mac n' Cheese.

A toast to finding someone who loves me even after seeing Morning Cilla (she's an angry elf) and PMS Cilla, and Hungry Cilla, and Sad Cilla. While I think he loves me most when I'm happy, I know he still loves me when I'm cranky or blue.

Bring on year 3!

Still Here...I Think

2011-05-19T17:17:00.003-06:00

Sorry I've been MIA lately. My motivation for blogging has been nil, kaput, non-existent. Nothing really exciting has been going on in my life. But, to keep all you blog stalkers out there satisfied, I've managed to scrounge up some bullet points of minor interest:

- Bob had a birthday in February {28 years...wowsas!}, and Maggie turned 1 on March 31. We went to Joe's Crab Shack with Bob's brother and his wife for Bobby's birthday and they embarrassed him riiil gooood. Observe:

And here is the Maggie dog on her birthday. Spoiled fluffy. She doesn't look happy in this picture, but promise me, she got lots of loves and a huge bone to chomp on.

- Bob and I went to Vegas for Spring Break this year. All-in-all we had a good time, but the weather was kinda crappy while we were there. It rained one day. Rain in Vegas? Really? I wanted some sun. My skin was dying for Vitamin D! But alas, we stayed in jeans most of the time. I was also reminded how I'm slowly but surely gaining weight that I don't want. Vegas definitely knows how to make a girl feel overweight. Here are some happy pictures of us in the Bellagio.

- Bob and I went to Law School Prom and met up with our friends Rick and Elyse while we were there. It 'twas a nice date night. We ate good food, danced to some good music, and kifed some sodas on the way out for good measure. We also looked pretty good:

- I successfully completed semester #2 of my graduate program. I keep thinking back to the day when I opened my acceptance letter and how excited I was. WHY??!? Why was I so excited to sell my soul to the U? I am soooo glad I only have 1 year left. I'm done with school. My brain keeps checking out and I have to keep jump-starting it with chocolate and cola to keep it turned on (see my previous comment about gaining weight). I'm ready to be done with school and get on to the next phase of my life.

- Speaking of the next phase. Guess what?!

I'M PREGNANT!!!!

...Just kidding! Did I get ya? Though Bob and I are looking forward to babies AFTER we graduate, there is no bun cooking in the oven. Unless we're talking about a literal bun...and I'm not cooking one of those either. No buns. No ovens. I do plan on cooking some Spongebob shaped Mac 'n Cheese here soon. Yum!

(Am I the only one who thinks that shaped Mac 'n Cheese is like a bajillion times more delicious than regular Mac? Because IT IS! Don't believe me? Go to your nearest grocery or convenience store and buy some Spongebob Mac RIGHT NOW!)

Okay. I think I'm done now. Hopefully I'll get out of my blogging funk soon to provide you with more interesting happenings. Until then, wish me luck that I don't punch Mother Nature in the throat for making it rain so much these past few weeks.

There's really no exciting way to end this post, so here is a funny picture of a cat:

Obsessed?

2011-04-06T14:22:00.002-06:00

I've recently decided that I spend my life on the computer. You'd think after being online all day with school and work I'd run screaming from my laptop in the evening.

Nope.

I'm addicted to the computer.

I think this little girl exemplifies my feelings:

Yup. Obsessed.

Proof That I'm {Kinda} Witty

2011-03-31T11:49:00.011-06:00

So, I kept struggling to finish that "10 Days of Cilla" baloney. I have other things that I want to talk about. So I've decided not to finish it. Instead, I will be providing you with proof that I am a wee bit witty. Not lots of wit, but a little bitty witty.

Here's my most recent story to tell y'all: Justin's Nut Butter (website found here) is an organic maker of all kinds of nut butter. Chocolate hazelnut, maple almont, honey peanut butter...holy cow they have so many varieties! I've gotta be honest here, I've never actually tried them, but my awesome sister loves all the flavors she's tried out. I trust her judgment.

So Justin's Facebook page has had a daily contest the past few days. The person who best answers a PB question gets a free tub of PB and a peanut butter cup. My sister won on Monday and tipped me off about this cool contest just in time for me to enter on Tuesday.

Here was the question: "Tell me about the world's largest PB&J. "

And my answer: "The world’s largest PB&J was created by the world’s smallest creatures: Moompa Foompas. The Moompa Foompas are close relatives to Oompa Loompas and hail from FoompaLand (a VERY small suburb in Grand Saline, TX). Moompa Foompas worship the p...eanut and hold an annual Peanut Butter Carnival (minus the creepy bearded lady and lobster-man) to celebrate the blessed union between these two spreadables. Last year, Master Foompa and his fellow Foompites decided to break the PB&J record for biggest sandwich previously set by Oklahoma City. It took approx. 5,389 Foompas to construct the 1,342 lb monstrosity. Sadly, due to the Moompa Foompa’s obsession with the peanut, they all perished from over-indulgence. Upon seeing the heaven-sent sandwich, folks in Grand Saline swooped in to take the credit from Guiness World Records to prove, once and for all, that everything really is bigger in Texas."

(As a side note, the largest PB&J really was created in Grand Saline, TX and did weigh 1,342 lbs).

That night I was overjoyed to see that they chose my entry to win! My award is a jar of Justin's peanut butter and a peanut butter cup! I've never really won any contests like this before, so you can understand why I'm so darn excited to get my free PB!

Moving on, I entered the contest again yesterday. I didn't think a person could win twice, but I still answered the question for kicks and giggles.

Question: "When is the next Peanut related holiday and how are you celebrating?"

(FYI: The next PB holiday is National PB&J day on Saturday)

My answer: "I, too, will be celebrating PB&J Day this Saturday. I expect my day to go a little like this: 10am: Make 10 PB&Js with Justin's fantabulous PB. Eat in 10 minutes. 11am: Make 11 PB&Js with Justin's chocolate hazelnut. Eat in 11 minutes. I ex...pect this to continue with all of Justin's amazing (and diverse!) flavors until a nut-butter coma ensues. I look forward to a 30-day hibernation period in which I will dream of frolicking through a secluded meadow scooping up handfuls of nut butter filled flowers. The only thing that will pull me out of this fantastic coma will be the aroma of a fresh deep-fried PB&J made with nothing other than Justin's classic Peanut Butter. I can't wait!"

I checked back this morning to see who had won, and was shocked to see that they chose me! Two days in a row, baby! Lady Luck was smiling upon me this week. I really needed this ray of happiness this week. I've been feeling down on myself lately - like I've been slowly losing little aspects of my personality that make me me. Grad school has put a big stick up my butt, and I've lost a lot of my muchness, my cilla-ness, if you will.

So here's a toast to proof that I still have the ability to put a smile on someone's face and take random facts and turn them into fun little bits o' fiction. That sounds like a cereal... Bits o' Fiction! Enriched with 13 chuckles and chortles. Now with 3 proven facts! Well, I think I'll end on that random note. Until next time, you stay awesome, internet.

10 Days of Cilla: Day 3

2011-03-11T11:22:00.013-07:00

~~Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.~~
~~Day Two: Nine things about yourself.~~
Day Three: Eight pet peeves.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn-offs.
Day Eight: Three turn-ons.
Day Nine: Two images that describe your life right now, and why.
Day Ten: One confession.

So on Day Three I was originally supposed to list eight ways to win my heart. Since Bob has already done this, I've decided to let you in on eight things that drive me bonkers. Here we go...

Bad Grammar. Why is this so hard for people to get right? We learned this in Elementary, folks. It's not that hard. Let me break this down for you:

1. Your/You're
"You're" is a contraction of "you are." See that little apostrophe? It's like a happy little reminder that "you're" is the fantastic offspring of two separate words.
--Example: "You're really stupid if you use 'your' as a contraction of 'you are.'"

"Your" is a possessive. You are the owner of the word following "your."
--Example: "Your bad grammar makes me want to club a baby seal."

See? You own the bad grammar! Let's move on.

2. There/Their/They're
Once again, "they're" is a contraction of "they are."
--Example: "See those grammatically incorrect comments on YouTube? They're clearly written by incompetent monkey-people."

"Their" is, much like your, a possessive! Yay possessives! Here's a fantastic example:
--Example: "Their bad grammar makes me want to club a baby seal."
See how I didn't use "they're?" That would have made the sentence read, "They are bad grammar makes me want to club a baby seal." Yikes.

"There" is referring to a place or idea. Easy enough.
--Example: "Heya, Cletus!? Do you see that thur girlie clubbin' them baby seals over there?"
See? Even BobbyRayJoeFrank can use the correct form of there!

3. A lot.
Two words, people. TWO WORDS! Do you write alittle? No. So please, for the love of all good things, put a space between those words. If I see another person write "alot" I will come to your house and shove a lot of junk mail into your mailbox. I might even make fun of you a lot in public and cover your Facebook page with a lot of ridicule about your crappy grammar. Thank goodness for Hyperbole and a Half, my new favorite blog, for writing this fantastic post. It has saved me from hurting a lot of people.

4. Speaking of grammar, teachers usually use correct grammar. Huzzah for teachers! You know what they DON'T do that makes me crazy? Fully erase the white/black board! I immediately stop paying attention if the teacher leaves those few smidgens of writing on the board and then write over it. Oh hell. This just kills me.

5. Hey guys and gals who are soon to be parents. Please don't say "we're pregnant!" Really, baby daddy? You are carrying a child in your belly? I think not. How about trying, "she's pregnant!" or, "we're expecting a baby!" Ahhh... much better.

6. It is a big pet peeve of mine when a cashier gives me back my change all wrapped up in my receipt. Do you know how hard it is to separate those two to put them in their respective places? It like these cashiers put magnets in both of them and expect me to use my magnanimous muscles to tear them apart. I get so self conscious when this happens, like the whole world is watching how I will attack this life-altering challenge.

7. I've worked as a glorified receptionist for about 5 years now. I've taken a lot of people's information over the phone and in person. There are a butt-load of things that bug me with these folks, but the worst is when people use 'o' instead of 'zero' when talking about numbers. O is a letter and Zero is a number. I know they look the same on the keyboard but they are sooooo different.

Example? Betty Lamesauce calls and I ask her for her phone number. Her response? "Eight-oh-one, ---, five, six, oh, three." The next time this happens I want to act all confused and pretend like I don't understand that she thinks o and zero are synonymous. That would be awesome!

8. Like most people, I am bugged by other people's bad driving. Not using turn signals, cutting me off, driving real slow. All really grind my gears. But the winner of the blue ribbon goes to people who turn on their turn signals and keep them on for the next 52 blocks. Each blink of that forgotten turn signal brings me closer to a seizure.

10 Days of Cilla: Day 2

2011-03-08T19:13:00.007-07:00

Wow. I picked the worst day to begin this little assignment. I had crazy busy weekend and a crappy test yesterday. Sheesh! Well, here's Day 2 a few days late:

~~Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.~~
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn-offs.
Day Eight: Three turn-ons.
Day Nine: Two images that describe your life right now, and why.
Day Ten: One confession.

***
1. I really like Vanilla Coke. Like really, really. I know I shouldn't be chugging down on sugared, carbonated beverages, but with VC I just can't help myself. It's even better when you can add the vanilla flavoring yourself (Thank you 7-Eleven!). I want one right now. I also want some Chicken Tikka Masala from Ganesh. Yum!

2. My parents call me "Willie." This always surprises friends when they come over to my house and hear, "Willie, will you grab me a fork?" Yes it's weird but so is my name. The evolution of this nickname goes something like this: "Priscilla Magilla" --> "Willa Magilla" --> "Willie Magillie" --> "Willie." Makes sense, yes?

3. I have a GINORMOUSLY HUGE fear of snakes. It's bad. I see snakes on the television and get the creeps. It doesn't matter if it's a harmless Garter snake or a freakish Anaconda. I will scream. I will run. I may pee my pants. I even get scared of branches and other debris that look like snakes. Now just watch. I'll probably die from a snake bite. [Shiver]

4. I love the 80s. Specifically 80s music and movies. I wish I had spent more time in this decade. Four years was not enough. At this very moment I'm basking in the glory that is "Dancing in Heaven" by Q-Feel. I think I need to change my ponytail to a side ponytail now.

5. I have an amazing ability to belch. I'm a big burper. A big, bodacious burper. My Aunt Lizzie and older sister taught me how to burp and I have been challenging the best ever since. I usually win. Usually.

6. When I find a song that I like I can listen to it over and over and over and over and over. This is usually when I grab some headphones so I don't drive my coworkers or the other students bonkers. I am currently on the 8th replay of "Dancing in Heaven." (See #4 above).

7. I feel tired all the time. I'm pretty sure nothing is medically wrong with me. I just like to sleep. I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere. Aside from the classic places like my bed and the couch, I am always falling asleep in class, in the car (not while driving, though!), while sitting in front of the computer and while studying.

8. I would love to live by the beach. I'm not a huge fan of the cold and snow and want to live in 70 degree weather year-round. Hopefully Bob and I can live in Cali or Hawaii sometime in our lives. That would be splendid!

9. It took me 4 days to finish this post. I have sold my soul to grad school and it's showing.

10 Days of Cilla: Day 1

2011-03-03T14:18:00.005-07:00

My friend, Tiffany, had posted this on her blog. I couldn't resist a little 10-day blogging spree so here we go:

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn-offs.
Day Eight: Three turn-ons.
Day Nine: Two images that describe your life right now, and why.
Day Ten: One confession.

***

1. I love you. You are my everything. I feel like the luckiest girl to have you in my life. Even though we have our arguments I know your heart is always in the right place. Thank you for working so hard to make our lives better. Also, lay off the video games some. I know you love them, but Maggie and I are selfish and want more of your attention. Also, please take me to the beach.

2. You are just what I need to come home to at the end of each day. I love that you are always excited to see me. I love when we cuddle on the couch. And while I love that you clean up after my left-overs, I DO NOT like that you have developed an appetite for Pepper's poopy. Stop eating it. It is gross. I still love you, but seriously, gross.

3. You are smart, beautiful and awesome. You are a wonderful person, but you need to let others help you every once in a while! I admire that you want to be an independent, super-woman, but I know you would be happier if you let others into your life more.

4. Stop bragging about your awesome family, all the money your family has and the fact that you've been all over the world. It doesn't come across as impressive. It makes you sound cocky. And I know you have the potential to be a sweet person. Live up to that potential.

5. Why did our friendship just stop? I feel like you have this new life and don't want me a part of it. I miss you lots and lots. Remember all those times when we were inseparable? I miss that, too. I wish we could go back to those days.

6. Material possessions cannot go with you after you die. You have an amazing family and should be thankful to be so blessed! I promise relationships can make you more happy than any 'thing' ever could. I love you and only want you to find true happiness in your life.

7. Your boyfriend creeps me out. I think you are amazing and can do much better. (Sorry boyfriend). I also miss you. You should ditch boyfriend and come hang with me! Tell your sister to call me as well.

8. You are one of my best friends! I think you are completely and undeniably wonderful. Every day I pray that you find happiness and that a man will come and sweep you off your feet. You deserve to be happy and I hope that you are finding that each and every day. And, most importantly, you gotta let him hear it sizzle!

9. You are hilarious! Some people say we look like each other. So whatta ya say? Wanna switch places for a day? Or a year? I can be funny, too...sometimes.

10. I miss you a lot. I'm sad that you never got to see me graduate or get married. I know that you are watching after my loved ones who have passed on, and it's comforting knowing you are watching me from Heaven. I hope I'm making you proud and look forward to the day when I can see you again.

***

Wow! That actually felt really good. Very liberating. I hope this doesn't create an honesty monster in me; making me blurt out everything that's on my mind. (Should I have used a semicolon there? (This website is only a minor help when teaching me about semicolons). Why does honesty hurt when it is a good thing? Deep questions to ponder. (Except the semicolon thing. I'm not one to stay up late thinking about punctuation...or am I?)

Well, until tomorrow, happy Thursday, Internet! (Should I have used a semicolon there, too? Arrrghhh! I hate this!)

Kitty Meow Meow Gets Lice

2011-02-14T16:06:00.002-07:00

Okay gang,
Here is that amazing, wonderful, scintillating 100th post that I promised. Enjoy this story about a cat, a dog and a bad case of lice.

One sunny afternoon while the bees were pollinating many-a-rose bud, Kitty Meow Meow was enjoying a wonderful cat nap in the spring sun. Suddenly this cat nip-induced dream was interrupted by a large pinch on her leg. She woke up with a start exclaiming, “Meow! Meow meooow. Moooowewe wowie meowchie,” Which, when translated from Kitty-anese, means, “Holy cow! I feel like I want to scratch my skin off! Ouchie Meowchie!” After approximately 14 minutes of an epic claws vs. skin battle to the death, Kitty Meow Meow decided to enlist the help of Master Doggy Woof Woof to rid her of her debilitating condition.

Meanwhile, in the trenches of Kitty Meow Meow’s fat rolls (Kitty is a very obese cat but she will deny these accusations. She claims her fur makes her look poofy.) Louse Chomp Chomp was enjoying his third afternoon snack of Type O- Kitty Bloody Mary. “Mmm,” he thought, “I could drink this feline all day! Oh wait! I already have been!” Louse Chomp Chomp then let out the loudest, most evil laugh that his little louse lungs could manage. “Muahahahaha,” he shrieked and took another big gulp of Kitty Meow Meow’s sweet-tasting blood.

While waddling over to Doggy Woof Woof’s doghouse, Kitty Meow Meow stopped short. She could’ve sworn she had heard a soft squeak coming from her left knee roll. She shrugged it off and determined it was a delusion brought about by her intense need to scratch. When Kitty Meow Meow finally reached Doggy Woof Woof’s doghouse she was seriously out of breath and found him meditating in the downward dog position. Kitty Meow Meow, usually a considerate cat, couldn’t bear to wait for Doggy Woof Woof to finish his meditation session. The crazy need to scratch sent her into a kitty tizzy fit as she pounced on his arched back and started rambling in very unintelligible spits and squawks. Once again, when translated it can be best estimated that she said something like, “Master…itchy…woof woof… itchy leg!…help stop itchy…fat roll…need twinkie… MEOWCHIE!”

Doggy Woof Woof, of course, understood each poor hiss coming from Kitty. He remained calm as he used his Chinese chow chow powers to see what was causing Kitty Meow Meow so much grief. He knew right away that Kitty Meow Meow had a little louse lounging on her large, lardy leg. (Alliteration is fun!)

Little did Doggy Woof Woof know that at that exact moment Louse Chomp Chomp was drooling at the excitement of feeding off a fit dog in hopes of lowering his cholesterol (I told you, Kitty is a chunky one). Louse waited until the right moment when the cat and dog were close enough to each other to leap with all his might onto the back of Doggy Woof Woof.

Ready. Set. Super louse jumping power!

Weeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

The jump was a success!

And that’s how Doggy Woof Woof got a bad case of fur lice and needed to be shaved of all his Chinese Chow Chow fluffiness. Shame.

You Know What's Sad?

2011-01-28T09:47:00.018-07:00

...Not being able to count...or read numbers.

In my last post I made a big hullabaloo about it being my 100th post. I even made LEGITIMATE Funfetti cupcakes complete with LEGITIMATE pink Funfetti frosting in celebration of the big day. Can you get any more legit than that? At this point I was legit. I was too legit. I was too legit to quit.

I was as happy as a tornado in a trailer park that I had reached such a momentous moment in my blogging life.

But then I looked again to see that wonderful {#100} next to my list of posts and found something that kicked me off my Funfetti pedestal faster than Chuck Norris can roundhouse kick your face.

The #100 was gone!

[Gasp!]

Someone stole my perfect #100!

[Gasp!]

And in its place, sticking out like a bulging white-head on the forehead of life was...

A freakin' #98!!! Ninety [bleepin] EIGHT posts? How can I have only written 98 flippin' posts?

At this point I am not legit. I am un-legit. And for that reason I must quit. (If you're lost at this point, you really need to makes friends with MC Hammer and the movie Hot Rod).

And am pretty much feeling like a dumbo idiot for not being able to distinguish a 98 from a 100.
I feel like so much time has been wasted. Time that I could have spent doing something less celebratory...like making Funfetti cupcakes WITHOUT Funfetti frosting. I could've saved $3.00 by making my own icing. And I can guarantee it would have been fun, too. Butter + shortening + vanilla + powdered sugar + more butter = cholesterolly fun goodness!

Even more upsetting than knowing that I obviously need to change my glasses prescription is knowing that I let you all down. I'm sure you each had your own Priscilla-inspired fiesta the night of my erroneous blog post. Did you make Funfetti cupcakes, too? Sorry about that. But at least you got to enjoy a tasty treat, right? Right.

So here's a toast to my 99th post of blogging awesomeness:

May you all have a prosperous week full of happiness and EXTREME anticipation for the real, honest-to-goodness legitimate 100th post of the century.

Trust me. This is gonna be big.

Happy 100th Post!

2011-01-24T14:52:00.019-07:00

This is my 100th post on this blog! Ohmigosh! In celebration of this momentous event, I plan to make Funfetti cupcakes this evening. Nothing says celebration like rainbow-colored sprinkles in my cupcakes! Huzzah! But seriously, let's talk about Funfetti for a minute...

Just look at that deliciousness! I know Funfetti screams "7-year-old birthday party" but I don't care. I don't need fancy creme brulee to keep me happy, all I need is a tasty cupcake that looks like sprinkles are baked into the batter...like magic!

Moving on from my Ode to Funfetti, I'd like to make this 100th post a happy helping of things that have been on my mind lately. (I originally thought of listing 100 things I love, or 100 favorite foods, but let's be realistic. I don't have that kind of time. I've got Funfetti cupcakes to make tonight!

To begin, I have a serious crush on David Tennant (The 10th doctor on the BBC series Doctor Who). Bob introduced me to Doctor Who shortly after we got married. I gotta be honest here, I was hesitant to accept this crazy television show. The first doctor, Christopher Eccleston, just didn't catch my fancy. But as soon as Mr. Tennant became The Doctor, I became VERY interested in this show. I mean, just look at this:

[Wolf Howl] Soooooo good looking! Talk about delicious! Mmm!

Is it crazy that I actually get giddy when I watch him? I haven't had a TV crush since J.T.T (ya know, Jonathan Taylor Thomas? I definitely crushed on him when I was a tween)! This is big stuff, folks. He and his Doctor Who costar, Catherine Tate will be performing together in Much Ado About Nothing May-August of this year and I would LOVE to go. I'm pretty sure I'd be like a pre-teen at a Justin Bieber concert if I went to this play. Do you think I could convince Bob to take me? I'm not so sure about that one. Not only are we on the lower-income side of things with both of us being in school, but this show is at the Wyndham's Theater in London. Did you catch that? London. Yeah...I definitely don't think we can afford a trip overseas.

...but a girl can dream, can't she?

Puh-puh-puh-puhlease take me to see him, Bob!

Okay, okay, enough of me gushing about my celebrity crush (though there's no guaranteeing that I won't mention it in the future). Let's move on to another topic:

BABIES!!!

They are everywhere! My life has been overcome by a baby explosion! And no, I am not pregnant and won't be for a while, but it sure seems like everyone around me is. Don't get me wrong, I'm very exciting for all my family and friends that are welcoming new little ones into their lives, but it's bugging me a little. Why? 'Cause I want one. I know it's not an ideal time for Bob and I to bring an [adorable] child into this world, but that doesn't change the fact that I've got babies on my mind. I'm getting tired of school really fast (hey, I've been going to classes almost every semester since Fall 2005!). I'm ready to have a house (or at least a slightly bigger place). I'm ready for a career. I'm ready to move to the next phase in my life (AKA no more school). I'm pretty sure Bob and I will have pretty babies. If they look anything like my cute niece, then we're golden:

Can you believe that this picture hasn't been retouched? I swear it looks like she should be advertising for Baby Gap or something! But alas, no babies for us until we are done with school. I can't even imagine how I would take care of the little one while being in school. I'll just have to be patient.

Next topic! I've been thinking a lot lately how I wish I were different that I am.
I wish I were more crafty. Then I could whip up some fantastic home decor and have a wonderfully fun and fresh living room! I could take some of my old clothes that I never wear and re purpose them into something new and fun. I frequent the Make It and Love It website and covet all the fun projects she puts up...[sigh] if only I had the time and talent to be a super cool crafter.

I wish I had a better singing voice so I could audition for some local plays. I really miss acting. I haven't been in a play since the Spring of 2005. Sadness. I always had so much fun performing in shows with my friends, but now it seems like you need to sing in your audition. I'm just not that secure with my singing voice to go out and introduce the world to my not-so-awesome voice. Sadness.

Speaking of things that I miss, I really miss dancing, too. Dancing was my life growing up. I remember dancing almost every day when I was on Cottonwood High's Dance Company. Sure, it was tough, but it was so much fun! I wish I could find some company to join, just for fun. (Plus, I could definitely benefit from the exercise)!
Well, I think this post is long enough for you all to stumble through. I cannot believe this is my 100th post. Have I really had that much to say? I suppose so. Until next time, you stay classy, Internet.

-P-Dizzle

Oh, Hello 2011!

2011-01-05T12:28:00.004-07:00

Hi friends. Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I feel like I have a lot less to blog about while in grad school. Things are pretty much the same from week-to-week. Study, sleep, eat, class, work... Sure, the occasional interesting thing happens, but the time just isn't there to share how my 7-year-old client told me I was going to 'Juvie' during one of our sessions.

So here's a summary of this last semester:
- Started school- Took a lot of tests
- Got Maggie spayed
- Continued to gain weight (lack of physical activity will do that to you!)
- Welcomed a new nephew into the family
- Finished crocheting a hat (big achievement, lemme tell ya!)
- Got hives a week before finals from stress
- Finished the semester with decent grades- Managed to stay healthy through the whole semester (knock on wood)

I'm quite relieved to be done with my first round of classes. I had a teacher that was...ahem...horrible. I felt as if I never knew what she wanted from me. I was constantly frustrated with her teaching style and always wanting to punch her in the face. Luckily, I kept my anger in check and passed both her classes. Success!

The break has been nice. Most nights I don't know what to do with myself. I'm so used to coming home and falling into the books/passing out on the couch that all this free time is hard to fill. I'm still a fan of falling asleep on the couch, so that's managed to stay on my after work 'to do' list. Hey, if you had our amazingly comfy couches and a dog to lay on your feet you'd fall asleep early every night, too!

A major highlight of the break was the annual friend Christmas party. Around 20 of us get together once a year and have a yummy dinner, a present exchange and play some awesome games. I love these people. They were the same gang that I went to La Jolla, California with when Bob and I met. I love how each year the group gets bigger with marriages and babies. This year we had 1 little guy there, and next year we will have at least 5 kids at the party. Wowza! I love these folks!

A small grouping of friends at the party.

Christmas was a little crazy, but awesome nonetheless. Bob got me some awesome gifts, and my parents hooked us up with some much needed things. We spent New Years Eve at Bob's sister's house with family and friends. We played games and snacked on yummies. Good times. We headed up to Bob's Momma's house on New Years Day and had an epic sledding adventure in Mantua. More good times with the Bob.

Speaking of the new year, I can't believe it is 2011. It sounds too...hmm...futuristic? Maybe it's those extra syllables twen-ty-e-le-ven. Yup. Those 5 syllables are most definitely more futuristic that the 3 in twen-ty-ten.

Syllables aside, it feels good to enter a new year. I love 'staring fresh'. Now that I have graduate school figured out, I am ready to take on a new semester. I am excited to work with my clients, and see the progress that they will make these next few months.

I'm not one to make New Years resolutions. I never keep them. They seem so overwhelming! Instead of making mammoth resolutions, I prefer to make 'tentative goals' for this year. Here's my list:

1. Get Healthier.
This can include just about anything. Eating better things for me, exercising more, taking the stairs, eating less at meals.

2. Be Nicer.
Less gossip, more patience, more service, less road rage.

3. Work Harder.
At everything! School, work, clinic, exercising, being an all-around better person.

4. Stop Chewing My Cheek
My nervous/bored habit? I bite the inside of my cheek. Especially during tests. I should probably work on stopping this. More gum, perhaps?

Yeah, that's all I have for now. I like keeping goals few and broad. Except for #4. That's pretty specific. And for good reason.

So there you have it. A nice summary of the past few months of my life wrapped into one handy-dandy blog post. Ta-da!!!

Wingardium Leviosa!

2010-11-18T22:27:00.006-07:00

I saw this at 1:00pm today:

Oh my gosh, I was so giddy to see the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I remember reading this last book in my apartment in the avenues back in...what was it? 2006? I read all day and night after it came out until I finished at 5am. I gotta tell you, I cried way too much during the book. When I finally flipped the last page I may or may not have even cried myself to sleep. Here's where you don't judge me too harshly. It was the end of a long journey with me and my many friends in the wizarding world.

Harry Potter and his gang have been a big part of my life. The first book came out when I was the same age as Harry, Ron and Hermione. I even remember pronouncing Hermione's name 'Her-me-own' (hey, I didn't know how it was supposed to be pronounced so I tried my best!) My friend, Kristy Richards, introduced me to the first book before it became ridiculously popular. We would talk about it - just the two of us - not knowing that it would become the big success it is now. Each time a new book came out I couldn't wait for the next adventure.

I truly am a ginormous nerd. I've been all sad today after seeing the show because I'm not a witch. My life seems so boring compared to Harry's. Sure, he almost dies in every book, but I could go for some adventure right now! I think I just may have to read the entire series again. What will this be? The third time around? Bring it on!

And for those of you thinking that there are so many other books of academic excellence out there that can enlighten my mind much better than H.P. - shut it! I love Harry Potter and I'm not afraid to admit it! I don't think I will ever get tired of reading those books. Ever. I can't wait until I have kids and they get old enough for me to read the books to them. If she wrote a book about Harry & friends as adults I would read them in a second [wink, wink, J.K].

Well, back to my dull life of school and work.

This sucks.

The Final Countdown

2010-11-12T10:51:00.006-07:00

No, this will not be another blog in which I rewrite all the words to different songs. Sorry to have put you through that last time. No, no, this blog will be a happy ranting about the end of the semester. (Happy ranting? Indeed.)

There are 4 more weeks left in this semester.

Ohmigash.

[Enter panic mode...Now]

I cannot believe that this semester is coming to an end. Even more, I can't believe I have so much to do before Christmas break. My list contains 5 exams, 2 projects, 1 presentation, 1 paper and 1 Saturday class.

Phew!

Thank goodness Thanksgiving and my birthday fall somewhere in that mess!

Aside from the crazy 4 weeks that lie ahead of me, I am so excited to finish this semester. I can't wait to get more clients next semester. I have loved working with my little client these past couple of months. Ahh... 2011. It's sure to be a good year.

In other news, Maggie is still growing. As much of a pain as she was when she was little, I really miss the little fur ball that wobbled all over our apartment. She's pretty awesome now, but definitely not as...uh...poofy as she once was. I like poofy puppies.

And with that, I leave you with this hilarious video of little Maggie playing with Ginny (who has since gone to a better home in Idaho).

Ohhhh!! The fuzzy cuteness of it all!

Sing, Sing A Song!

2010-10-21T10:15:00.012-06:00

Well, folks, after 8 weeks of breakouts all over my chin from constant stress, I finally feel like I'm getting a hang on graduate school. I have survived 3 tests and made it through a lot of time-consuming projects. I have transitioned from being a passive observer in clinic to taking data, writing reports and even planning a few activities. I have noticed my stress level decline as I have found a great balance between school and life. I'm feeling happy and healthy. I feel good. I knew that I would. So good, so good, I ain't feeling blue!

buh, Buh, BUh, BUH YEAH!!

Here is my breakthrough formula for graduate school success:

7-8 Hours of Super Slumber-ful Sleep
It does wonders for those bags under my eyes and caffeine cravings! I welcome Mr. Sandman to bring me a dream, to make him the cutest that I've ever seen. Please build up my self esteem with your magic beam, Mr. Supreme. Seriously, Mr. Sandman, bring me a kick-butt dream that doesn't make me scream. Or make me wake up sweaty. Does this happen to anyone else? Anyone? Anyone? Nope? Just me? ...Awkward...

More Fun Times Full of Joy and Joyness With the Bobby Boy
Specifically? Having impromptu pouncing and wrestling matches, taking Maggie on walks and watching her spash all the other dogs at Tanner Park (she hasn't quite got the doggy paddle down and does more of a 'panic paddle'), and watching Doctor Who when we both know we should be studying. I just love my hubs. Is it in his chest? Oh no, no, no, it is not. In the way he's dressed? Oh no, that's just his ascot*. If you [shoop] wanna [shoop] know [shoop] why [shoop] he [shoop] loves [shoop] me [shoop] so it's in his kiss. That's where it is! Oh yeah!

Daily Jamming To Female Power Ballads
I have found great stress release by rocking out at work, inbetween classes, and while driving home to some good tunes. Any upbeat song will do, but I can't get enough of female power ballads. If you know me well, you know that I will listen to the same song over and over and over again. So you better believe that I've been listening to the same few songs continuously for the past few weeks. I can't quite seem to get these lyrics out of my head:

Til now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
But now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone?

Sheesh, Heart. All you have to say is, "would you like to be alone with me?" What a silly question.

We can't afford to be innocent
Stand up and face the enemy
It's a do or die situation
We will be invincible

Clearly this song is all about surviving grad school. Cleary.

There are a few more tunes running around in that noggin of mine, but I think this post has put plenty of songs in your head. I'm going to head to bed, get up tomorrow and take Maggie to get spayed. I feel bad for the furry little lady. She's never gonna be a puppy momma. Thank goodness songs can fix those sad times! Here's my Maggie song:

(Bob would like to mention that he helped write this song. We are talented folk, we are).

Maggie Dooooooog
She's not a vegetarian
(Maggie Dog, Maggie Dog, Maggie Dog)
Maggie Dooooooog
Sometimes she eats carrion
(Maggie, NO! Maggie, NO! Maggie NO!)
She loves us home
She hates to be alone
She likes red meat
And she sure likes the bone!

*Bob does not wear ascots....yet.

Skool Eated Me

2010-10-05T22:32:00.005-06:00

Notice how I haven't posted anything in a long time on here? Yeah, grad school ate me. Luckily, it spit me back up for a couple weeks to catch my breath. Next week is the all glorious, beautifully wonderful Fall Break. I cannot tell you how much I need a week off from school. Granted, I have 2 tests (1 on Monday, 1 on Tuesday) right after we get back, but the break will still be fantastic. I love school breaks. Remember how I met my Bob on Spring Break a couple years back? Awesome. Breaks are full of opportunities. Camping? Maybe. Lagoon? A good possibility. Sleeping in and taking lots of naps? Definitely. I suppose I'll have to throw in some studying here and there, too.

I survived my first grad school test. It was hard. Really hard. I studied my brains out, and spent close to 2 hours to finish an exam only worth 50 points. Did I mention that we can only miss 10 points to pass the test? If we get lower than 40/50 we have to retake it. Yikes! I'm praying so hard that I passed. The test was bad enough the first time around. A second time could possibly kill me.

Aside from classes keeping me busy, working in the clinic is awesome. I am a student apprentice this semester, and it is wonderful to finally be doing something hands-on. I feel like I am learning a lot from the second year clinician. It's nice to be reminded why I am spending a truck-load of money on this education.

Speaking of graduate school, I've been gaining weight this semester. I've been pretty small my entire life and am now freaking out that my waist is all squishy. A bunch of my clothes aren't fitting anymore. Last week I went to put on some really cute pants to wear to the clinic and I couldn't button them up! After sulking for about 3 minutes, I grabbed some khaki pants to wear. Guess what? These ones barely buttoned up, too! They looked painted on they were so tight. My behind has definitely grown a few inches...and maybe my hips, and definitely my waist, and my (cough, cough) chest. I'm not so sad about that last part (and I'm sure Bob's not too sad about it either), but all the rest makes me quite upset. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind gaining a few pounds. I feel like I look stronger when I'm not skin-and-bones. What upsets me is when good clothes don't fit anymore. I'm usually happy wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and tennies, but I have to dress-up for clinic. I don't really have the money to purchase a new wardrobe because my life has become sedentary. Oh the sadness.

So after weeks and weeks of whining to Bob about my squishy-ness sin pregnancy (I really do fear that my tummy looks like I'm newly pregnant. Trust me. I'm not), we've decided to both get in better shape. The remedies?

No more soda.

Wow. This may truly be the hardest thing for me to cut out of my diet. I love soda. I crave soda. In the middle of a 3-hour class I'm dying for a bit of caffeine. I am almost through my 3rd day without any high-sugared beverage and am going strong. Wish me luck!

Next on the list: become more active.

I don't have a ton of time to go to the gym. With class, work, clinic, and home life, stopping by the Fieldhouse seems out of the question most days. I usually go to Zumba on Wednesdays with my good friends Andrea and Kassidy, but have missed it the last two weeks due to, shock!, school. So from here on out I will plan studying accordingly to make it to Zumba each week. Besides getting some exercise, it is a good stress release from my crazy life. Aside from Zumba, I'm attempting to do something, anything active each day. If that means doing jumping jacks in my living room, so be it. I had some extra time today, so Maggie and I went on a long walk around the neighborhood. The weather was perfect for a good stroll, and Maggie came home and slept while Bob and I made dinner. Good stuff.

So that's pretty much it for now. I am alive, and most days that's good enough for me. Bob is rocking law school, as always. Maggie is growing, and so much fun to have around. We are really, really, really, really, REALLY busy, but happy.

Goodnight, Internet. I'm going to watch Simpsons and cuddle with my furry child and tubular hubby.

In My Next Life I Wanna Be a Dog

2010-09-09T10:29:00.003-06:00

How are fish able to swim upstream to spawn? I mean, granted, the continuation of their species depends on it, but why upstream? What's so bad with finding a nice little pond downstream to make new fishies?

I kinda feel like a fish right now. Swimming my little heart out to get up the next waterfall. I'm not sure how much progress I'm making. Dang waterfalls. Just when I manage to wiggle my way up one (and trust me, it's a daunting task), there is another one waiting just around the river bend...

"Waiting just around the river bend! I look once more, just around the river bend, beyond the shore, somewhere past the sea. Don't know what for...why do all my dreams extend just around the river bend?"

It's okay, Pocahontas. I'm right there with you. You and life, me and grad school. Let's be friends.

(But I should let you know now that when my hair blows in the wind I don't have blue streaks in it like you. Hopefully this doesn't make you think less of me.)

I'm pretty sure that in my next life I'd like to be a dog (granted, I don't believe in reincarnation, but hey, let's pretend, eh?). Maggie doesn't spend every available moment reading, highlighting, and scribbling in 4 ginormous, expensive textbooks. I go to bed each night around 1am about to pass out from exhaustion. Maggie takes approximately 5 naps a day and is out cold by 10pm. I worry about anything and everything ahead of me in grad school. Maggie only worries about whether she can get away with eating one more fallen apple from the front yard tree.

Better yet, can I be a dog now? Graduate school in Speech-Language Pathology is keeping me so busy. Too busy. Every day after class, work, and clinic I plop down on the couch and work, work, work. But even after spending 5+ hours each night studying I feel like I barely make any progress. Stupid waterfalls.

So when does this get easier? When do I finally go to sleep feeling like I have 'caught up' with school work? Will I ever reach the elusive pond that brings job security, a steady salary and benefits? Let's hope so. I guess I signed up for this educational marathon the day I received my acceptance letter. By accepting the offer to attend grad school I accepted the stress, sleep-deprivation and frustration that comes with the territory. I suppose I should press forward and tackle grad school with my highlighter held high!

Still doesn't change the fact that I'd rather be napping in my crate than sitting through a three-hour class right now...

Presenting...

2010-08-29T22:07:00.009-06:00

Priscilla Neve

University of Utah Graduate Student

Speech-Language Pathology

Class of 2012

Even though I felt silly taking this picture, it was necessary to document my first day as a grad student. Do I look more grown up?

It begins. The next two years will be filled with reading, researching, writing, staying up late, studying, and spending time in the clinic. I think I'm ready. I hope I'm ready. I better be ready.

I am feeling: excited, nervous, anxious, worrisome, tired, happy and broke.

The first week of school was: a new adventure at the University I know and love.

I am wondering about: whether or not I want to write a Thesis. Talk about a lot of work.

I look forward to: seeing clients in the clinic and finally getting the hands-on instruction I've been anticipating.

I am most worried about: not being able to give Bob, Maggie, my family and friends the attention they deserve as school starts taking over my life. Oh, and getting pregnant before school is over.

I hope that: when I graduate I can say that I worked hard, learned a lot and am ready to begin my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Here I come!

Blisters Are Inevitable

2010-08-22T13:00:00.016-06:00

I love hiking. I also like camping. I love exploring and seeing new things with my hubby and good friends. It took all summer, but we eventually had an awesome trip to Zions two weekends ago.

August 12, 2010: The Left Fork of North Creek (AKA The Subway)

I have some pretty awesome friends who were able to get permits to hike The Subway in Zions. We packed up, drove to Cedar City Wednesday night, and met up with a group of 17 people to get our adventure on. Bob and I only knew a few of the fine hikers, but we all got along really quickly.

The Subway was amazing. It includes a smorgasbord of terrain. You begin in the forest, move on to rock, make your way down a steep hill to drop into the canyon, and start wading in the river. Bob and his friend, Chris, were trying to find the way down into the canyon for the group. Bob lost his footing when the trail got ridiculously steep and rocky, and took quite the spill. His left shin has a huge gash down the front of it. Eek. Luckily, he was a sport and managed to press on through the rest of the weekend. After crawling down the side of a cliff, you find yourself lowering down via rope into more water, swimming through said water, squeezing through some tight slots, repelling down a rock face, and sliding down waterfalls. The hike ends by switching back and forth from the river to sand, and heading straight up the mountain to get back to parking.

I gotta say, I cursed that last ascend out of the canyon. After spending a day moving and grooving, the last thing I wanted was to hear my calves cry at the end. Other than that, it was a blast! We met some awesome people, and had a heck of a time. I can't wait until I can do it again! Please enjoy these awesome pics.

The Entrance to The Subway

A Tight Spot...

Beautiful Red Rock. Yay For Southern Utah!

Looks a Little Like A Subway, Eh?

One of Many Waterfalls

Adventure is Out There! (In the Subway, To Be Specific)

After our fun-filled hike we grabbed some [overpriced, but yummy] grub, and camped under the stars. Believe me when I say I saw around 10 shooting stars when I woke up at 4am to tinkle.

TANGENT TIME!

It sucks being a girl in the wilderness. Do you know how hard it is to take care of business without a toilet? If guys have to go, all they have to do is walk off the trail and go. Girls? We have to alert the whole hiking crew, find the perfect cover (usually in the form of a rock or tree), make sure there isn't anything poisonous or spiky nearby, set two people on guard and squat while making sure your feet are as far apart as possible so you don't get piddle on your shoes. We have to dig a whole, wipe and bury everything so the next hiker doesn't come across your little relief station.

Brother!

Now, back to your originally scheduled programming:

August 13, 2010: Angels Landing

Less that 24 hours after finishing up in the Subway, the crew (minus 4 who left after the hike) ventured into Zions to hike the one and only Angels Landing.

Buh ba ba BAAA!!!

We were all tired and sore from the day before, but nothing would stop us from conquering this mountain. I'm happy to say we all survived. Every year, people die on Angels Landing when they fall off the edge. I kept saying a prayer in my head that no one would get hurt. My prayers were answered, and we all did just fine. I love Angels Landing. Despite the fact that the trail feels as if you are going up an 80 degree ramp to your death, it is really fun...

Except Walter's Wiggles. They are the devil and NOT fun.

See What I Mean?!

Other than that, good times were had by all. Here are pictures to back up this statement:

Fall From Angels = Sudden Death

And Here's a Sign Just in Case You Weren't Already Scared

That's a LONG Drop!

Group "Goofy" Shot

We Did It!

I always feel so accomplished when I reach the end of a hike...especially one like Angels Landing. After you make up up Walter's Wiggles, the real fun begins. Chains have been bolted to the rock to assist you as you scale your way to the top. There are some places where one or two wrong steps could send you in a free fall off the cliff edge. It is such an exhilarating hike! I'm am always shocked when I see these young kids that parents bring up the hike. They must be fearless (I'm talking about the parents here). I have the feeling I'm going to be a neurotic mom. I don't think I'd let my kids hike Angels until they were at least 12...or 20.

Speaking of little kids, this couple made it to the peak with a 10 month old baby!! Are you freakin' kidding me? I was shocked, folks. The dad carrying the babe must be extremely sure of his balance. I would never, ever ever ever take a tiny squishy up that hike. Sometimes the things people do boggle my mind.

Anywho, the trip was a blast. I was sad to have to go home. I always tend to have separation anxiety from all the people I'm around on trips. Thank goodness I still have Bob here! Oh, and, it was good to come home and play with my Maggie girl.

Who Cut the Cheese?

2010-08-03T11:58:00.002-06:00

Maggie did.

Four times.

In the last hour.

I've taken her outside twice.

No poopy.

Why is my dog so smelly right now?

It's So FLUFFY!!!

2010-07-26T21:51:00.013-06:00

That's right folks. Your kind words full of love and joy and joyness helped me to decide to keep on bloggin'. So here we go:

Bob and I got a furry little thing at the beginning of June. She's black, slobbery, and loves the water. Who is this mysterious, new addition to our family?

Meet Miss Maggie

'Squishy', as we call her, was born on March 31, 2010. We got her at a wee 9 weeks old. I can't believe I haven't talked about her yet! Anywhosie. She is a pure black lab/golden retriever mix. Both parents were fancy-smancy hunting dogs who...cough, cough... got a little friendly in the woods.

We have sure had our fair share of little trials with her:

1. Swallowing a large, sharp, hard piece of plastic at 11 weeks old. (This led to being up all night, puking at 5am, and continuing to throw up the entire day until we ended up at the vet. Yay).

2. Dealing with weeks of 'soft serve' poopy (I know you're just dying to hear all this!). We were feeding her Iams Smart Puppy. Bad choice. It turns out Iams has corn and a lot of animal byproducts in it. Corn can be hard for puppies to digest. So after two more weeks of 'fun' we got her all switched over to Kirkland Puppy. Not only is it better for her, but it is significantly cheaper. Hurrah!

3. As always, there were a few accidents in the house. Crate training has helped sooooo much. She got house broken in a snap, and hasn't had any accidents for a good long time.

4. Puppy razor teeth. Enough said.

Aside from the puppy craziness, she is so much fun to have around. Nothing is better that coming home to a furry little animal who is wiggling with joy to see you. She has helped us stay in shape. To tire her out in the evening or morning, we take her on walks around the neighborhood. It's good for us, and good for her, too.

I love being a dog owner. This weekend Bob and I went up to Manuta (by Brigham City). She joined us walking around the reservoir, fishing and swimming.

Most of all, she gives me a taste of mommy hood without the total baby responsibility (you can't leave a baby at home in a crate 5 hours each day, that's for sure). I don't feel quite as baby hungry anymore. I've got a new baby of my own to take care of...

...she's just covered in fur...and walks on four legs...and has a tail...

Anywho, I promise I won't become a puppy mommy blogger. For those who have the same reaction I do to puppies (i.e. oohhohohoho!!! puppy puppy! gimme! gimme!!) Here are a handful of pictures to hold you off for a while.

Just a wee little pup

Getting bigger...

Wishing our dads a happy Father's Day!

Visiting friends

And getting really, really dirty!

Time for a puppy washing!

Phew! We're exhausted! Goodnight, cyberworld.

Goodbye Blog?

2010-07-16T16:33:00.003-06:00

I've been considering deleting this blog. I just don't feel like I have much to say anymore. Life is pretty simple right now: wake up, eat, work, play, sleep. I also don't have anyone that I'm keeping updated through my blog (unlike my other friends who live in other states and use blogging to keep their families informed on their little chitlins). I ain't got none babies, and I ain't gonna become a puppy mommy blogger. I don't even think anyone in my family reads this. Ha! Funny, funny. Anywho, I'm just not seeing the benefits of blogging right now. Grad School will most likely take all extra blogging time, too.

Well, this may or may not be goodbye. I haven't decided just yet. We'll see.

Friend-less

2010-07-14T10:07:00.028-06:00

I am usually pretty good at accepting change. I like to keep my mind open. New things bring new experiences and new adventures. After watching Up! (my new favorite animated movie), I've decided to adopt Charles Muntz's famous slogan:

Adventure is out there!

...Because it is. Adventure is not found sitting on your behind in front of the television (unless you are watching Survivor, but that show is sooooo 10 years ago). Adventure is found by meeting new people, going new places, and taking new chances.

I am not going to learn and grow without change. So I welcome it. With open arms. Most of the time. But, as of late, there has been one pill that has been hard for me to swallow: not seeing old friends anymore.

I miss my friends. All my friends.I miss my first best friend, Melinda. I miss playing Indiana Jones on her swing set. I miss playing Power Rangers on my trampoline and making up the "Purple Ranger" because neither of us wanted to be the yellow ranger. (I'm pretty sure we weren't racist, she just wasn't as cool as Kimberly). I miss tying barbies to chair legs with colorful pipe cleaners because they had been captured by the evil villian, Nicholas. I miss our Jasmine Jammies.

I miss my elementary friends. I miss spending every recess, every day on the swings. I miss the innocence of youth. I miss spending all summer at the Coburn's house making dozens of music videos, talk shows, cooking shows, and quality movies. I miss being able to play all day because work had not entered our lives yet. (I wish I had some pictures of us, but I can't find any. Trust me when I say we were all pretty cute. The awkward Jr. High years hadn't attacked us yet).

I miss my junior and high school friends. I miss getting dressed up for football games. I miss hanging out during lunch eating our disgustingly greasy pizzas or tasty bread sticks. I miss playing night games. I miss asking, answering, planning, and attending school dances. I miss being a teenager with the best group of guys and gals that anyone could ask for.I miss my drama friends. I miss spending all day in the drama room. I miss laughing at anything and everything. I miss spontaneously quoting lines from plays and watching other students look at us like we're crazy (because we are). I miss swearing with Adam because it's "Just Acting." I miss being around other goofballs just like myself knowing that no one is judging you. I miss being able to express myself on stage with amazing friends.

I miss my gang of college friends. AKA "The District". You know who you are: Elyse, Andrea, Eric, Rick, Krista, Brammer, Emily, Will, Emilee, Kariann, Kim, Dave, Melissa, Clayton, Amanda, Laura, Michaeljohmdavid, Chad and Liz. I miss playing Ultimate Frisbee on the beach in La Jolla. I miss spontaneous get-togethers. I miss watching movies at Liz's house (especially when spending all day and night together watching the entire Star Wars collection). I miss seeing each other on campus and being WAY TO EXCITED about it. I miss all of us being together.

I miss all the friends I made when in the LDS sorority at the U. They were all so much fun, and I truly miss not seeing them all once a week. Whether we were friends waaay back when, or hung out at one point or another in college. I miss you, too.

I miss all my friends who have moved to new places to pursue career opportunities or for education purposes. I miss friends who have gotten married and have new things going on. I miss never seeing anyone I used to. I hate that as we've all grown up, new things have come upon us that pull us apart.

I wish I could have one week to spend with all my past friends. And I mean, truly spend time with them. None of this see-each-other-for-an-hour-or-two-at-a-wedding-shower-deal.

Please call me. Please send me an email. I don't know if you caught it, but I miss you.

Aside from all this missing of friends, I do love my life right now. Bob is a great husband and Maggie is a fun, furry companion. We spend a lot of time with family members and each other. He is a great best friend, and I'm happy that I don't have to be missing him like I miss everyone else.

Holy Doppelgangers, Batman!

2010-07-08T12:10:00.039-06:00

I have often received comments from friends and others that many members of my family look like celebrities. It makes me laugh. We all have doppelgangers.

[As a side note, did you know that in folklore, a doppelgagner is a gostly double of a living person, often perceived as a sinister form of bilocation? They are also regarded as omen of bad luck.]

Yikes! So apparently my family is a smorgasbord of celebrity doubles (minus the fame) living our innocent lives in Utah. I don't even want to imagine what would happen if we ran into each other. Surely some crazy split in the space-time continuum would forever alter the lives of the residents on Earth from that time forward.
Putting panic aside, let's analyze these doppelgangers, shall we?
Starting with the top of the family:

Dad. People have said he looks like Sean Connery. A good ten years back or so we were walking around in Tijuana and some guy stopped my dad and said, 'Sean Connery! Sean Connery!' My dad had to try and convince this guy that he was not the super sexy Sir Sean. It gave us a good laugh that this guy was completely convinced that Sean Connery had decided to take a spontaneous trip to the classy Mexican city of Tijuana.

On to my Momma. At first when I wrote this blog I couldn't figure out who my mom looked like. Thanks to my awesome sister, she reminded me that she used to get told she looks a lot like Barbra Streisand pre-nose job. (My mom got sinus surgery a couple years back and straightened her nose so now the resemblance isn't quite as close). Still, when looking at pictures of Babs with shorter hair, there is definitely a match there.

Next in line in our look-alike contest is my sister, Holly. A friend of mine in high school swore that she was Molly Shannon's twin. He even resorted to calling her Molly instead of Holly. Coincidence that their names rhyme? I think not. Another bit of fun trivia for you all: Molly is a comedian, and my sister is hilarious. Seriously folks, if you read the old blog that we had together It Has Raisins In It, you will see that she has some serious wit. So here are the picture comparisons...see the resemblance?

Jordan. Or should I say Freddie Prinze, Jr? In my opinion this is the biggest doppelganger of the family. When I was in Jr. High and Jordan was in High School a lot of my girlfriends had crushes on him. One even wrote in my yearbook, "Your brother, Freddie, is so hot!" Umm...thanks. I'm his sister, it kinda makes me uncomfortable that you mention that my brother is hot in my yearbook. Weird. Anywho, one year Jordan went to EFY and a girl came up to him completely in shock that "Freddie" was in Idaho. Jordan played along, and, as always, was the hottie of the week. But how could he not be when there was this big of a resemblance (disregard the fact that I'm in this picture...focus on Jordan, not young Cilla)

And for the grand finale, Yours Truly. Even though she is 16 years my senior, I get people telling me all the time that I look like Tina Fey. In fact, my friends just went to see "Date Night" with Tina Fey and Steve Carell and said, "You were great in the movie, Cilla!" It makes me happy that my doppelganger is a funny, talented lady. I really like Tina Fey and am happy to have her be my presage of bad luck. What do you guys think?

So there you have it. My crazy doppelganger family. I guess that if Sean Connery and Barbara Streisand got together and had babies they would look like Molly Shannon, Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Tina Fey. Nice. Now who wants to call Ellen and get us all on a show together?

NEWS FLASH!

2010-06-30T10:11:00.003-06:00

I am sick AGAIN. Same symptoms as the last two times: sore throat, aches, runny/stuffy nose, hacking cough. Something is seriously wrong with my body. I was sick merely 5 weeks ago, and 6 weeks before that. I have never been this sick before in my life. I usually only get sick once or twice a year. Did I mention I also currently have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)? You won't be surprised to hear that I just got over one about 3 weeks ago. Everything is attacking all at once. And the really sucky thing about this whole situation?

No Heath Insurance!

For the exception of the UTIs, I just keep riding these illnesses out. I'm getting a little nervous that my sinuses are all funky and that I might need sinus surgery. My mom and I have the same nose structure (crooked, bumpy, and kinda weird looking), and she had sinus surgery about 10 years back because she kept getting sick. I hope I'm not heading in that direction. And even if I am, I'll have no way of knowing because I can't go see my doctor.

Another possible reason for these reoccurring illnesses has been presented: Chronic Mononucleosis. I was diagnosed with Mono in 10th grade after needing to sleep 12 hours each night just to get through my school day. The past year I have been chronically tired, and then these illnesses have started. I could sleep the day away if given the opportunity. All my symptoms match up to Mono. While it is very rare for Mono to reoccur, it is still a possibility.

So far, I have been sick in April, May and June. Hopefully the trend stops here. I have too much to do this summer to spend it on the couch sleeping the day away.

Who's willing to change immune systems with me? Anyone? Anyone?

Grajuashon!

2010-06-29T17:12:00.009-06:00

So I am an official college graduation from the University of Utah. Yahoo! It's about time. I started school in the Fall of 2005, and spent almost every semester on campus. One of my diplomas came in the mail today. It looks so official next to Bob's 2 diplomas.

Back to graduation: I really didn't feel like sitting through 2 convocation ceremonies, so I just attended the convocation for my Communication Sciences and Disorders major. It was a fun experience. There were only 15 graduates from my major in the College of Health. Pretty tiny. We also were the first to get our names called. 'Twas nice. I actually took the time before the ceremony to curl my hair. Now that's impressive. I also wore my sweet and sassy yellow shoes from my wedding. 'Twas good. I was so happy to have my family there. They cheered super loud when my name was called, and it gave me BIG smiles.

Anywho, enough of my chit chat. Here are some pictures from the blessed event. My dad took a ton, but I have yet to get them from him.

Curling the hair. Trust me when I say this doesn't happen often.

Half of my graduating class. Future Speech-Language Pathologists or Audiologists in the making! Don't believe the look on Michelle's face (the one wearing the lei), we were all happy to be DONE!

Anne, Trevor, and me. Soo...uhh...who is the worst photographer in the world? The girl with half a face.

Notice how my hat is slouching to one side. Yeah, that's from wearing two tassels. Boo-yeah! Oh, and my hubby is adorable!

Bob, Cilla, Bob's mama (Kare), and her husband, Thom. You can also see my amazing shoes in this pic :)

I don't think we were ready for this picture. Except Bob's stepbrother, Nicholas (in the bottom) he's totally ready for his close-up.

My good friend and classmate, Anne. What a babe!

Next time I'll be in cap and gown, I will be a graduate from the Masters Program in Speech-Language Pathology. Bob will also graduate from Law School at the same time. We can't wait. Two years until we are officially done with school. We can do it!...I think...

Ah, Life!

2010-06-16T10:12:00.005-06:00

The past month has been beyond CRAZY! I am so behind on blogging, I get overwhelmed just thinking about it. We recently moved and were without internet for a couple week. On top of that, moving in itself is quite the feat and blogging has not been on the top of the To-Do list. Finally, we got a golden retriever/black lab puppy. She takes up a lot of time in the evenings and leaves little time for the internet. But I have high hopes of updating the blog ASAP.

Here is a list of posts to come. (I know you are all anxiously awaiting the updates!):

- Graduation from the University of Utah
- Oceanside, CA & Disneyland
- 1st Wedding Anniversary in Park City
- Moving!
- The Maggie Puppy

In the meantime, try not to die from anticipation from the awesomeness that is my life.

VIT PSA

2010-05-21T10:43:00.004-06:00

I am sick AGAIN! (Just FYI, I was deathly ill about 6 weeks ago). Okay, maybe not deathly, but there were many days I thought I would cough up both my lungs. It was lame. It sucked. But I recovered. Now here I am, 6 weeks later with goopedy goop clogging up my sinuses and dripping out my nose.

Where were you on that one, immune system?

I'm afraid someone has hacked into my immune system. I may be the victim of viral identity theft*. I have only recently come to realize the seriousness of V.I.T. and know I need to spread the word to others so they may not become victims! I have scripted the following Public Service Announcement to achieve this goal:

Good Afternoon,
I am Priscilla Neve, recent victim of viral identity theft. Every year, thousands of innocent individuals become prey to immune system hackers. V.I.T. is a serious problem that costs millions of dollars each year in medical bills and decreased work productivity. Only you can prevent this terrible ordeal from affecting you and those you love. Take the necessary precautions to ensure your immune system is as strong as possible. Make sure to upgrade your skin wear yearly, and check your health score daily. Take caution around others who sneeze, cough, and appear lethargic, for they are most likely the individuals to hack into your immune system. For those who have become victims of V.I.T. in the past, the only way to ensure full recovery of your identity is to invest in a sterile plastic bubble. Only once the body is away from contaminated air can the immune system be restored to its original owner. For information on how one can overcome V.I.T. using protective bubbles please refer to this website. Please spread the word about this horrendous new form of theft. After all, knowing is half the battle.

*V.I.T. was first identified by Mr. Chad Tagge, Biomedical Engineer

Celebration Song

2010-05-05T11:03:00.004-06:00

I have a kick-ass tradition (Yes, I used the A-word. This tradition is THAT cool).

After I take my last final at the end of a semester, no matter where I am I listen and dance to Styx's Mr. Roboto.

The tradition started at the end of my second semester at the U in April 2006. (My grandma passed away at the end of my first semester, and I was just trying to get through it, let alone take time to celebrate once I was finished). As I was walking away from the classroom I felt overjoyed, nay, TRIUMPHANT! I was strolling along, listening to my lil' blue iPod Nano (totally old-school now) and Mr. Roboto came on.

It was beyond perfect.

The music poured through my body. First it started in my legs. It then moved to my torso, and finally to my arms. I started pumping my fist, randomly pointing in the air, movin' and groovin' to the beat. I didn't care who saw me, I was victorious! I had conquered my first year of college and was now celebrating by doing the robot in the middle of the University of Utah campus.

A tradition was born.

Since then, Mr. Roboto is my official song for all things that need celebrating. Though mostly saved for the prime end-o-semester victory dance, it also provides a boost of happiness at the finish line of any successful venture.

And today's dance was better than all the rest. I wasn't just celebrating the end of a semester. I was celebrating the end of an era. An era full of papers, textbooks, falling asleep in class, and pulling a few all-nighters to get that procrastinated assignment finished.

I am finally done with my undergraduate career.

With that wonderful, nay EPIC, statement, I leave you with the video that started it all.

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. Domo, Arigato.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

2010-04-21T21:19:00.005-06:00

I know I said that I wouldn't be posting anything on here in the next little while, but I just got uber duber excited for graduation and decided that I need to write about it. (That and I don't want to be working on homework. Blogging is a great distraction).

I have been in college for 5 years, studied for tests in 44 classes, and have attended 13 semesters to earn 2 majors.

And I am almost done!

Two weeks from tomorrow I will be in the Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus in cap and gown receiving my degrees (or at least the folders that will hold them after my grades come through). Wow. I can almost feel the relief that will rush through me as I know that I am done. Completely done. 100% DONE!

...for a while...

I start my graduate program in the Fall. August 23 to be exact. Hmm...was it the best idea to go straight from 5 years in my undergraduate to 2 more gruelling years in a graduate program? I suppose. After all, my program has 100% employment for their students after graduation. Plus, I truly love speech pathology and cannot wait to become a licenced SLP-CCC.

As much as I enjoy the time Bob and I spend in our little apartment, I look forward to the day we can move into our own house, paint it in fun, bright colors, buy matching furniture, and get an adorable puppy. I'd also like to go to the store and be able to buy raisins regardless if they are on sale and we have a coupon to go along with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Bob and I will always be bargain shoppers, but a splurge every once in a while sure sounds nice!

I look forward to not panicking each month waiting for 'ladies time' and wondering if I am pregnant. With both of us in school for another 2 years, a baby would be very hard to take care of right now. We don't have insurance, we live in a 1-bedroom apartment, and we do not make enough money to support a little one. I am excited to be a mom when the time is right, and unfortunately, that time won't be right until the fall of 2012 (at least). It just sucks that all my friends and siblings are having babies right now. It is making me REALLY baby hungry. Especially for a girl. But the time is just not right. All good things will come in time, and a baby and puppy go along with that.

Despite all the things to look forward to in the future, I am happy where I am now. I know that after Bob and I have kids our lives will never be the same. I am enjoying all the time that we are able to spend together just the 2 of us. We are taking this time to grow closer together and make our relationship strong. Life is good.

Oh boy, tangents are fun! Back to the point of this post: graduation. Still excited to be done. It makes me think back to my high school graduation. Now THAT was something to be excited about! Just look at this cute 18 year old Priscilla:

Awe! All ready to take on the world! Dang, my hair looks AWESOME in this picture! Too bad I'm trying to grow it out right now. Bob and I made a deal that if I grow my hair out until October he'll take me horseback riding! Yay! I haven't done that since I was 8!

Sheesh! I am the master of tangents tonight.

ANYWHO...

All that stands between me and graduation is 4 papers, 1 assignment, and 2 final exams. Now if I can only find the motivation to finish it all! One day at a time, right? Right! Now please excuse me as I go procrastinate some more on Facebook.

Absence

2010-04-19T13:29:00.004-06:00

Good people of Utah, the time to rejoice has come upon us. The sun is beaming, the flowers are blooming, and I am smiling.

Spring is here!

(Hehe... I'm so funny)

I cannot guarantee my loyalty to this blog in the near future for I would prefer to spend my time in the great outdoors. The semester ends in a few weeks, and if you cannot find me rollerblading in Sugarhouse park, I'll most likely be typing up one of the 5 papers I have left before graduation. I'm sure I'll pop in every once in a while to catch you up on those random life happenings. Until then, I hope you all enjoy this amazing weather as much as I do.

P.S.
Less than 1 month til I'm here. Oh boy, OH BOY!

Peepshi!

2010-04-02T13:29:00.006-06:00

In honor of Easter this year I will be breaking out my most amazing culinary skills to make the ultimate Easter-y treat:

Peepshi!

(Aka: Peeps Sushi)

My coworker told me about this fun recipe and I just have to try it! The Easter Bunny will be so proud! Just be careful when making these. You will want to eat them all. Do not. The sugar rush just may kill you.

Here's what you need:

Here's how you make 'em:

Step 1: Slice around 1 1/2 inch wide rice krispy treats (packaged or homemade). Or just make them as wide as the fruit by the foot.

Step 2: Decapitate your peeps using a sharp cleaver knife. Cut off more neck than you think is appropriage. Don't be shy.

Step 3: Roll the rice krispies and fruit by the foot around the decpitated peep head (the head will stick out a little).

There is no art to these fine treats, just get creative and do what you need to to make things work. Check out the picture at the top for more Peepshi rolls you can try.

More a more detailed step-by-step guide, go to the Serious Eats website. They also have a lot of other tasty treats for you to try! ENJOY!

Accepted

2010-03-14T11:47:00.003-06:00

This past month and a half has been agony waiting to hear back from the Graduate School at the U. The mailbox and I had become enemies as it would never produce that one letter. Well folks, the wait is finally over.

I have been accepted.

This fall I will begin my 2 year program at the University of Utah in Speech-Language Pathology. I am so excited! It will be a lot of work, but totally worth it! Also, Bob and I will be graduating at the same time. After that we can feel more comfortable starting a family, and possibly buying a house.

Our life is sure to be busy in the next little while, but we are ready to take it on! Not to mention the fact that we will be really really poor as we try to pay for two graduate programs. So if you ever want to invite us over for dinner, we will not hesitate to accept.

She's a Biter

2010-03-08T12:30:00.004-07:00

A new habit has attacked me. When I get nervous, or am thinking REALLY hard, I bite. Well, more like gnaw. On the inside of my cheek. Today was especially bad...

I had a horrendous Hearing Science test today that wasn't too hard, it just required way too much thinking and reasoning through each problem. My little mind was banging on all cylinders as I was taking the test. About 3/4 of the way through I realize that I had been ferociously gnawing on the inside of my cheek. Thankfully I hadn't started bleeding yet, but still... the poor thing was getting really sore and just screaming out for help.

But once I start, I can't stop. I have to keep gnawing, and I don't know why! Even after I'm aware of the biting, I just keep making it worse.

Food helps, but only for a tiny bit. Right after I take the final swallow, I'm back to chewing the cheek. I'm like a friggin chinchilla today! What I really need is some gum to keep my jaws occupied, but alas, no one in the office has gum. Blast! Why have a suddenly become the gnaw master? I truly don't get it. I never used to do this before this school year.

I think I need to break myself of this habit. It is no bueno. I don't want my cheek being chewed to pieces...that can't be good for oral hygiene, I'm sure. But how do I break ties with the gnawing if I'm not even aware when I begin doing it? Hmm...maybe I'll just stick with the gum for now, and hope this constant chewing is just a phase.

Any suggestions, folks?

The Dirty Linens

2010-03-01T11:44:00.013-07:00

I've been thinking lately that maybe being a Speech-Language Pathologist is not my true calling. I mean, sure it's the logical thing to do, but if for some reason I decide to throw all pragmatics out the window, I have an alternate future in mind:

***Kickin' Band Member***

Oh yeah, baby! I need to be in a band. I can see it now....

Priscilla enters stage left dressed in what can only be described as total awesomeness. She strolls to her scarf-laden microphone stand. Her sparkly, silver jumpsuit casts diamonds of shining light across the walls of The Depot. A scarlet red keytar hangs over her right shoulder; the strap covered by out-of-control, wickedly awesome blonde hair. As for makeup? A thick layer of black eyeliner compliments bright blue eyeshadow and deep red lipstick. A black, sequined vest, red scarf, and silver stiletto heels complete the ensemble.

She's ready to rock.

The crowd is thrown into a frenzy. Applause and cat calls echo back to the stage as the rest of the band strolls to the stage.

Drums: Michael 'The Mikester' David. 6'2", 170lbs of pure rhythm. Environmentalist by day he ensures that his band is always Earth-friendly. He prefers the purple spandex-open vest combo matched with a pair of black diesel sneakers and dark shades. His motto? Lurpiness is next to godliness.

Bass Guitar: Bobierto. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galatica. With wavy, shoulder-length hair, Bob keeps it simple: ripped jeans, shiny t-shirt, classic tennies. Given the 2009 award for sexiest hair, he is considered the 'pretty boy' of the band. Sorry girls, he's taken.

Lead Guitar: Kimbo. Despite Mike's pleadings, wailings, and temper tantrums, she loves her leather. Tight leather pants? Check. Suave leather jacket? Check. Sexy leather boots? Double check. Unnatural colors for leather? Many a check.

Priscilla grabs the microphone in her right hand, tossing a section of hair over her shoulder with her left.

"Hello Salt Lake City! Are you ready to rock?!"

[Utter hysteria from the crowd]

"I am Priscilla, this is my band, and together we make up

THE DIRTY LINENS!"

After performing a set of insanely awesome 80-influenced tunes, we are called back on stage for an encore. Linens! Linens! The crowd calls. Bob and Mike enter the stage first. Girls wail in the audience, throwing themselves at the two sweaty rockers. Guards quickly rush to restrian the women. Kim and Priscilla enter next, jogging into place to play their final song...

***

Oh boy, it would be fantastic. We'd be huge all over the world. Tours, interviews and morning shows would increase our fan base. We'd be the hottest thing since sunburn.

I'd expect one our group pictures to look something like this:

Please don't judge the outfits. We fired our manager shortly after this photo was taken.

The Bucket List

2010-02-22T11:24:00.006-07:00

I originally put this on the side of the blog, but decided it was worthy of its own post. Here is my list of things that I want to do before I kick the bucket (hopefully in many, many years from now). I'm sure I'll continue to add to it as I think of more awesome things I want to do in my lifetime.

1. Marry the coolest guy around (5.30.2009)

2. Get a graduate degree in Speech Pathology

3. Run a half-marathon

4. Feel a little one growing in my tummy

5. Watch my daughter in a dance performance

6. Become certified as a group fitness instructor

7. Get to my ideal BMI on Wii Fit

8. Buy a house

9. Get a furry puppy (6.1.2010)

10. Become a college professor

11. Get my undergraduate degrees in BSH & CSD (5.6.2010)

12. Fly a plane

13. Get laser eye surgery

14. Travel to Italy

15. Dance with my son at his wedding

16. Learn every word to "It's the End of the World as We Know It" by R.E.M.

17. Compete in a karaoke competition

18. Become an official 'soccer mom'

19. Be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding

20. Read the entire Harry Potter series in 2 months

21. Hike the Grand Canyon

22. Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary

23. Go on a cruise

24. See the Northern Lights

25. Overcome my paralyzing fear of snakes

26. Learn a second language

27. Swim with dolphins

28. Buy a brand new car (and not just new-to-me)

29. Finish a drawing of Laurel & Hardy that I started in 2005

30. Learn to surf

31. Actually catch a fish (I know, it's hard to believe I've never actually caught one)

32. See a musical on Broadway

more to come...

Curling

2010-02-18T15:59:00.003-07:00

It's a weird sport.

But this is funny.

The Flu: Day 3

2010-02-07T11:38:00.002-07:00

So begins my third day reclining on the couch watching endless hours of mind-numbing television. This is not of my own free will, oh no, it is out of force. Some mysterious bug has entered my bod and wreaked havoc on my GI Tract. Where were you on that one, Immune System? Seriously! I'm thinking of trading you in for something new: a nice, shiny, plastic bubble. If you can't do the job, you will be replaced. I'm sick (haha, no pun intended) of your half a** job at keeping me healthy. Do you know what I missed this weekend? An awesome trip with 4 of my college friends. Free food and snowmobiling included. Yeah, thanks for nothing. Also, I spent all last night on the couch whining in pain after eating these amazingly delicious Hawaiian meatballs. Thank goodness I haven't thrown up yet. I truly think that throwing up is possibly the worst thing in the world. I think I'm wearing my sick body out just by trying not to puke every hour. Yuck! But I swear to you, Immune System, if I have to run to the bathroom in the middle of the Superbowl to lose my lunch, you and I are through!

Ugh...where's the Imodium?

Branching Out

2010-01-25T13:03:00.004-07:00

Hi friends,
So I want to branch out from this little, personal blog to something different. Something more. I want to express myself in a less here's-what-I-did-this-weekend-style. I want a blog that can help people, amuse people, make people think. But what should I create? A [mostly] nonfictional account of my life...in a story line format? An unorthodox advice column based on my random experiences and comments? Commentary on pop-culture? I am not one for crafts, or anything hands-on, so that's out of the question. It needs to be unique and interesting. All-Cilla, all the time. Less cutsie, more real-life. Suggestions? Advice?

2010. A Very Good Year.

2010-01-20T22:09:00.005-07:00

So, no comments on my last post, eh? Too much reading for you guys? Well suck it up and read it already! Not like I'm demanding anything...just sayin' it's remotely clever and you might enjoy it. If you have time to read this little random-smandom post, you have stamina for the last. This I promise you (oh N'Sync, I miss you).

Onto other things:

1. I spilled Dr. Pepper all over myself at the beginning of class yesterday. I mean, ALL OVER. I swear the clerk shook the bottle while I wasn't looking. I must now plot my revenge against the employee at the cafe in the Marriott library.

2. I have been trying to finish my personal statement for graduate school for like 2 weeks and am struggling! How hard can it be to talk about myself? I mean, I'm doing it right now. Why can't I just create a letter like this:

***Disclaimer: If you are actually one of the individuals on the Admissions Committee for the master's program of Speech Pathology at the University of Utah, please do not accept the following ramblings as part of your consideration for my application. In no way should it be accepted as anything less than random blogging.***

Dear Graduate Admissions Committee,
I am a kick-butt student with way too much motivation for graduate school than should be allowed. I love talking, and want to help other individuals with their talking, so please let me stop talking and accept me into the program. I'm only applying to the U because I want to get in soooo badly (oh, and my husband is in law school at the U, so I'm kinda counting on this one application to be a success). So please send me that happy acceptance letter so I can prove to you all that I will be the best Speech-Language Pathologist in the world (setting my sights too high?). Okay, the city. We'll go with city. Also, I am awesome, and that should be all the information you need to let me in the program.
Sincerely,
Cilla Neve

Alas, I actually DO want to get into the program, so a letter like this would pretty much kill any chance I have of being accepted. On the bright side, my letter is coming along nicely, I just want to make sure that I don't sound too arrogant or unenthusiastic about the graduate program (AKA the complete opposite of this letter). The end of the graduation process is just around the corner, and I am excited to take the next step in my educational career.

3. This is my last undergraduate semester and I couldn't be happier. I have a lot of motivation to do as best as possible this semester. I'm talking a 4.0, baby! I want it and I will do my very best to succeed.

4. Bob and I have been on a cooking spree lately. From homemade buttermilk doughnuts, to my personal favorite, Hamburger Pie (think Shepherd's Pie with beans instead of corn), we have been eating a delicious variety of made-from-scratch goods. It makes me happy to cook with Bob, and the result sure is tasty!

5. 2010 is the year to get this 23 year old body back as it was in High School. Dance company kept me fit as a fiddle back in the day, and now my stamina has greatly decreased. The regimen?

- Kickboxing Tues & Thurs for 45 minutes.
- Wii Fit Mon & Wed for 30 minutes/day.
- Spinning on Saturdays for 1 hour.
- Total exercise: 3.5 hours/week

By the end of this semester I will be a new woman. I will know if I will begin my graduate degree this fall, I will have 2 undergraduate degrees, and I will have a new, sculpted bod. I knew 2010 was going to be a good year.

Winter Awesomeland

2010-01-07T13:29:00.010-07:00

Holy Guacamole! There is so much that has gone on this winter break. How about an update in pictures? Sounds good to me!

November 19 - 1 year engagement anniversary. Bob had his wonderful sister Mariah arrange a gorgeous rose heart for me! All together now...awwee!

When Bob proposed last year Mariah had arranged a huge heart of roses with the ring box in the middle. Kudos for Bob for making a miniature arrangement 1 year later.

December 11 - My 23rd birthday. The entire day was simply wonderful. We finished off the day with seeing The Princess & The Frog. We enjoyed it lots and lots.

December 19 - Neve family pictures at the Capitol. Even though we started a little late, the pictures turned out beautiful! (P.S. the last two were taken with my camera...)

As we were leaving the Capitol the fog was almost completely covering the dome. Very eerie and awesome.

December 25 - Our first Christmas married! Do you like how attractive we are just after waking up? Also, for the past few months whenever Bob asked me what I wanted for Christmas I would say "A Puppy!" (even though I know we can't have one). Bob, being the adorable thing he is, got me a stuffed Dug from Up! My Christmas wish did come true. I got a puppy.

December 31 - January 2 - Ringing in the New Year in Bear Lake. Our friends Michael David and Kassidy Mather invited us up to Bear Lake for New Years. We spent the weekend eating, reading, playing video games, and playing board games. It was muchos funos. We even attacked the mountain with some extreme sledding. Very cold, but very adventurous.

Dear Journal,

2009-12-08T16:35:00.002-07:00

Last week Bob and I stopped at my parent's house to grab some Christmas decorations we had stored in a closet. While we were going through stuff, I found my old journals. Oh boy, were these fun to read. Let's just say that I was a rather dramatic adolescent and that my grammar has come a long way from where it was. Here's a bit of entertainment from March 6, 1998. (Keep in mind that I am typing this EXACTLY as it appears in my journal. For extra effect, I wrote it in orange pen and will therefore type this in orange):

Dear Journal,
I am sick and tired of mom and dad do this do that. Well I don't know when I don't know How but I am going to run away I will pack blanket, quilt, plenty of clothes, watch, scriptures, you, hair stuff, food, lots and lots of mony over 1,000, House keys, bike & lock, backpack Mom's signature, dad's signature, Pens, Pencils, 1 or 2 extremely long books, winter stuff 1 or 2 toys, mainly just food and matches (for fire), I would sneak out at nighttime (2 in morning), pillow, I would dig out the bottom of a tree and, who am I kidding I wouldn't survive winter. Well I gess no matter what I do I AM STUCK AT MY HOUSE WITH MY INNOYING PARENTS!!!

Oh boy, calm down 12 year old Priscilla. This must have been a very 'innoying' day indeed for me to plan my runaway! Just a few comments I find particularly hilarious:

- This journal entry is nothing but an extremely long run-on sentence. I guess in the heat of the moment I had not need for periods.
- My random list of items. I especially love that was planning to talk about taking my parent's signatures with me. I guess I'll have many opportunities to forge their signatures while living in my tree.
- The fact that I am going to live in a tree.

Anything else you find hilarious?

Only Me

2009-11-30T09:54:00.010-07:00

Yet another unfortunate event that would only happen to me:

My sister called me last week to ask if I wanted to get my eyebrows waxed with her. I never turn down a good bit of pampering so we made an appointment at our favorite spa. Later that evening we walked into the peaceful atmosphere of the Sego Lily Spa to receive our newly quaffed brows. I grabbed a quick mug of hot cider before being called to the room, and as my 'therapist' escorted me back, I took a quick sip of the cider. HOLY HELL IT WAS HOT! I burned my tongue soooo bad. And of course the lady asked me a question afterwards with me unable to talk. Nice.

So she begins to tweeze, trim, and wax my brows while I'm trying to keep my tongue from touching the roof of my mouth (owie!). The waxing hurts as usual, but my skin feels especially tender after she's done. Oh well, it happens when you rip hair out of your skin. So I head home with my ruby red eyebrows blazing for all the world to see. I get home, show my beautiful eyebrows to The Bob and kinda forget about the whole ordeal.

Upon getting ready for bed (you know, putting on jammies, flossing, brushing teeth, washing the face) I notice that right under my brows the skin is really raw and tender. And I mean raw! I call at Bob to come in the bathroom to confirm my suspicion. Bob agreed that a thin layer of my skin was ripped off during the waxing. Yikes! So it pretty much looks like this:

I had a wedding shower for my friend Mackenzie the day after (Saturday) and seriously used a ton of makeup to try and camouflage my sad eyelids. It worked fairly well, but not perfectly. So today I'm at school with my now-scarring brows hoping that nobody notices. I'm even wearing my glasses to help make it less noticeable. Sad day.

So needless to say it's going to be a while until I get my eyebrows waxed again. Yes they look great, but I'm not a fan of this ripped-off skin bit. I think next time I'll get them threaded. Keep the look, keep the skin. Good philosophy.

P.S.
On a completely unrelated side-note: The Utah-BYU rivalry game this weekend was horrible to watch. Both teams were playing so dirty, and the refs were definitely one-sided. Not to mention Max Hall's nice commentary on hating everything to do with Utah. In case you missed it it went a little like this:

"I don't like Utah," Hall said. "In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything.... I think the whole university, their fans and their organization, is classless. They threw beer on my family and stuff last year, and they did a whole bunch of nasty things, and I don't respect them, and they deserve to lose."

Doesn't saying that the entire school is classless kinda make you classless, Max? Kinda hypocritical if you ask me. I'm a big-time Ute fan, and this comment went way too far. It's pretty sad that Max Hall hates me and all my comrades. Oh well, at least we didn't embarrass our school. My rebuttal to this statement? "You stay classy, Utah!"

I Smell, I Smell, WINTER!

2009-11-23T10:09:00.005-07:00

Winter: "You smell me?" (said like Ducky from The Land Before Time)

Me: "Why yes winter, I do indeed smell you. And let me tell you how much I enjoy it. You smell like apple cider, gingerbread cookies, pine trees, and pumpkin pie! And boy, do I love me some pumpkin pie!"
Unreal conversations aside, winter is definitely here! I always have mixed feelings about this season. I love the look of snow; seeing everything blanketed in white is simply gorgeous! I also love sledding, skiing, and playing in the snow. I like getting bundled up on the couch with hot cocoa and a good novel. I especially love how everyone seems just a bit more thankful and giving around this time of year.

Mmm...hot chocolate goodness!

Even though I love all these things, there are still plenty of things about winter that I dislike. I really don't like driving during a white-out. It just scares me. I don't like scraping the ice off my car every morning (but thankfully this year I have a husband who can do it for me!). I don't like falling on my butt while walking to class. I don't like waking up to a cold apartment.

See? Winter driving is scary!

And believe it or not, I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas. I know, I know! Who wouldn't love the one day of the year that we get presents? I'm just not into it. I'm a horrible Christmas shopper. I always wait til the last minute (I'm talking Christmas Eve) to get shopping done. I'm always too worried about finals to focus on my Christmas spirit. I also feel like Christmas ends up way more stressful than it needs to be. I honestly could care less about oodles of presents. I just want a day of relaxation with my family in our jammies watching the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story and eating all the candy from our stockings. In fact, I'd love if we took a vacation over Christmas! Oh how much I'd love to spend a day at the beach over the break!

Christmas is just not my thing. I'm sure when I have a family of my own with kiddies I will be more into it, but until then, I think I might just hang out in my bipolar winter wonderland. Love it, hate it, I'm just not sure. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe winter and I will patch things up, make amends, buy each other BFF bracelets (Melinda, this reference is for you). And just maybe I won't be on my way to becoming the next Mrs. Grinch. Maybe.

Wow, That's A Lot of Blush

2009-11-11T21:28:00.010-07:00

Story time friends!

To begin, fall is my all-time favorite season. I love everything about it. I love watching the trees change, I love being able to wear my warmer clothes (my cold-weather wardrobe is WAY better than my warm-weather wardrobe). I love going to football games and drinking hot chocolate after a cool day. Me and fall are tight, and we will totally be BFFs forever!

But of all the things about fall, I love those crunchy leaves most of all!

I am the enemy of all fallen leaves, for if one is in my sights I will most definitely crunch it into oblivion. I will even go slightly out of my way to step on a crunchy looking leaf. It is my biggest fall addiction. Hello, my name is Priscilla Neve and I am a lean, mean, leaf-crunching machine.

So here's where the story comes in. I was leaving work yesterday and walking up the stairs outside. To my joy and surprise the sides of the stairs were covered, and I mean COVERED in perfect, brown, dry, crunch leaves. So what did I do? I went on the biggest leaf-demolishing rampage of my life. I jumped, I stomped, I giggled, and boy did it feel good! This was, by far, the best leaf-crunching episode of the fall season. (It's making it on to the blog, for goodness sakes!) Just as I'm reaching the last few heavenly steps, I hear a quiet chortle behind me.

Holy fish sticks, Spongebob! There was a lady behind me that witnessed the entire ordeal. My beautiful moment was ruined! My cheeks turned a lovely shade of crimson (Go Utes!), and I quickly skipped the last steps. Yeah, I was kinda embarrassed. Worst of all, we had to stand next to each other waiting to cross the intersection. She looked at me with a smirk on my face and I couldn't muster up an explanation for my actions. I should have 'fessed up to my addiction. I shouldn't have hidden it from her. I should have finished the job and smashed the life out of those last clumps of leaves. But I didn't. I feel sheepish.

This little event just adds to my week of embarrassment.

Story #2:

I have a coworker named Craig. He's a pretty cool chap and we chilled in the office all summer while working full time. So yeah, we're work chums. I like bugging him, and he tolerates it. Kudos to him.

Now to the story: I was about to leave our office on Monday with backpack and sweater in tow. Craig had left to go to the restroom, and as I saw him approach the door I yelled out, "BOO!"

...Too bad it wasn't Craig passing the office. I was some random, sophisticated-looking man probably in his 50s or so. He came back into view and saw me, shocked and bewildered Cilla, searching for an explanation. My face flared as I responded, "Uhh...sorry about that...I thought you were my coworker coming back into the office and so I tried to scare him, but clearly it wasn't him, so I'm sorry I just randomly hollered at you, and, uh, yeah." He gave me a funky look. A wow-that-was-the-most-random-thing-that-has-ever-happened-to-me look. After a second of this awkwardness he simply responded with, "That's okay, it was pretty funny. Kinda made my day." He then 'turned on his heel' and left. Now I've read this expression before, but never actually witnessed it. Seeing this man turn on his heel made my day, too. I guess it was a mutual day-making experience.

Too bad it had to come at such an embarrassing price. I will definitely identify before I scare next time. I also need to work on that beet-faced thing. It totally gives me away. I could have played it cool had my cheeks not given me away. Right? Right? Of course right.

Blonde?

2009-10-21T22:30:00.003-06:00

I started a group on Facebook. If 1,000 people join the group I will go

BLONDE

I thought it would be fun if I went blonde just for a kick, and then decided to see how many people would encourage me. Who knows if it'll work, but it'll be fun to see! If you want to join the group you can go here.

I'll keep you posted!

I Gotta Feeling...That This Week's Gonna Be A Good Week!

2009-10-07T19:37:00.013-06:00

Here's what's been shakin' as of late:

So about a month ago Bob and I noticed that parts of our wall in our bedroom were splitting. We alerted our landlord, and we come to find out that water is seeping through the wall. Uh-oh. Thankfully our great landlords were willing to fix it. After thinking that only part of the wall would need to be removed it turned out that entire thing had to go. So after a week of their hard, diligent work, the wall is fixed! We even had a fun little sleepover in the living room on the couch cushions while waiting for the new paint to dry. Seriously, though, our couches are awesome. We both slept like babies, and didn't want to wake up on Saturday. I like sleepovers :)

Anywho, so the room went from white to a beautiful beige and it looks AMAZING! Bob and I were able to clean and reorganize during the fix, as well as put up some pictures, and our room feels cozier than ever!

SO HAPPY!

Also, we talked Bob's brother, Isaiah, into swapping us beds (we convinced him with the fact that our Full has a memory foam top layer). So sometime in the next week or so we are getting a Queen bed! I can't wait!

Things just keep getting better and better in the Neve household. In other news:

The other day I showered shortly before bed and decided to curl my hair. Bob's cute mom gave me some sponge rollers for our wedding after I'd mentioned how much I liked them when I was younger. So after doing the washing, I rolled my damp hair into the curlers. I wanted the rollers to stay in all night because my hair is still fairly short, so I rolled them good n' tight. Upon waking up the next morning I took out the curlers to see this awesome sight:

Little Orphan Annie, is that you?!

Clearly I rolled my hair a bit too tight. Yeah... I was laughing so hard that Bob had to pick me up off the bathroom floor. I still lose it everytime I see that picture. I think it'll be a little while before I curl my hair again. Or at least I'll make sure to roll them looser next time. I especially love how in the second pic there are some bottom pieces not as curly. It kinda looks like a curly mullet. Those are H-O-T!

Moving on, Little Ginny is definitely a part of the family now. We give her lots of loves (I'll be posting a video of the Ginny massage soon - she loves getting pet and scratched). And we let her out every evening before bed for 30 minutes or so in the bathroom to get her wiggles out. Last night Bob cleaned her cage in the afternoon (her sleep time), and she was tuckered out the rest of the evening. Because of this we didn't bring her out. I came to find out today that last night she kept waking Bob up with her sad squeaks. They kinda sound like an "EEP! EEP!" And according to the Internet (which knows all), if they squeak when you're not near it means they're lonely. Poor Ginny! She woke up from her siesta and Mom and Dad were fast asleep. No shoulder to sit on, and no extra raisins to snarf down. Awe, she likes us lots :)

Bob and I are getting a new car! Well, new-to-us at least! My brother and his wife are selling their 4-dr. Chevy and we've decided to buy it from them. Also, we'll be selling Bob's Saturn to his brother, Isaiah. Wahoo! No more owning 2 of the same cars (both white, manual, 2 dr. 4 seaters). We'll be picking up the car this weekend from my brother who has graciously given us a great price for the car. Thanks you guys!

Once again, SO HAPPY!

So that's about it for now, friends. It might be a couple weeks until the next post. I take the awesome GRE next Friday. Bleh! Soooooo not looking forward to it. I leave you with these cute pics of us newlyweds :)

Seriously?

2009-09-23T09:37:00.004-06:00

I've been saying this word quite often to myself lately. It just seems like random things have been happening and "seriously" is the best response.

1st Use:

I was sitting in one of my classes, zoning away from the lecture. My head plopped on my palm, and my eyes slowly drooped for slumber. Before I could be whisked away into partially-sleeping-but-still-kinda-awake-in-case-my-professor-notices-land I detect thin slivers of paper on the floor. Wait, those papers are curved. Wait, those are not pieces of paper at all...are those...I mean, could those possibly be...

Nail Clippings??!?!

SERIOUSLY? Who in the heck decided that class was a good place to trim up their nails? I mean, really! That is just a wee bit disgusting. This person must have been raised in isolation, because you don't clip your nails in public. You just don't. Keep that hygiene in your house, please. I can only imagine what the other students thought as this guy (I'm assuming it's a guy, because women have far greater class than dudes) whipped out his nail clippers and started snipping away. I think my bluntness would have given him a crusty look and then said something like, "Seriously, dude? Can you keep the clipping to your private life? I'd really not have your shards of nail in my granola bar." Sheesh!

2nd Use:

Priscilla finds herself at WalMart (I know, I know! But I went there to see if their optical center was still open. It's now a Subway). As I'm looking at cheap shampoos, and smelling my way to a headache, an old man walks up to me and asks where we keep the batteries for hearing aids.

SERIOUSLY? How in the world do I stand out from the other brainwashed WalMart shoppers as being an employee? Do you see me wearing the smock? Do I have a nametag asking you in a ominously friendly way if I May Help You? NO! Bob suggested the solution, "But you're wearing a blue shirt." Psh. Yeah. A BABY blue shirt.

So there you have it. Apparantly I look like a WalMart employee. I bought the shampoo. And a Milky Way. Why don't I feel better?

Ginny Chinny

2009-09-11T09:49:00.009-06:00

I want a dog. Really bad. I've had a dog in my life at all times since I was two and living without one makes me sad. Very sad. I mainly want a Golden Retriever. Big dogs are my favorite, and when they're furry and energetic it is a match made in heaven. I mean, just look at this and tell me you don't want to cuddle up with it and love it forever:

All together now. Ooohhhhhhh!!!!!

But our landlord won't let us have a dog.

Or a cat.

Or even a bunny!

Allergies. Suck.

Especially when the backyard is HUGE and perfect for a little ball of fluff to frolic and fetch.

But alas, the answer is still no.

I'm having fur withdrawals. I need to pet something! I need to watch something jump around. I need to love an animal other than my husband!

Introducing:

GINNY the CHINNY!

(This actually isn't a real picture of her, but they all kinda look the same. Ginny has a little bite taken out of her right ear probably caused by a sibling argument.)

Miss Ginny is a 3 year old chinchilla. She is super soft and quite the character. Chinchillas are prey animals and take a while to trust new owners. It'll be a while before she lets us hold her. Sad day. But other than that, she is a funny little creature who loves raisins, being pet behind those big ears, and taking dust baths. The only problem with this little critter:

These bad boys.

Ginny is a rodent and her teeth will continue to grow her entire life. Therefore, she gnaws. On everything. We let her out last night while watching a movie (after Ginny-proofing the living room of course) and her path of destruction included: Futurama DVD, my GRE book, the X-Box remote, and our filing cabinet.

Seriously, Gin? The world is not for you to grind your teeth on.

Time to get her some chew toys. And maybe a wheel to run on so she doesn't go crazy when we let her out every night. I was thinking last night how a dog would be so much better than our little destructive chin but then thought of this:

And this...

And especially this...

Oh the destruction of a puppy! Even grown dogs get bored and decide that an innocent rug is suddenly an enemy. I'm starting to think that a little nibble taken out of my book is nothing to finding a new puppy has discovered the trash.

So we're happy, and now a family of three. I'm sure we'll have many an adventure with out new Ginny, and I can't wait to share it all with you. And maybe someday I can come home to a snugly, puffy, wonderful dog of my own.

Reason #2 Why Summa-Oh-Nine Was So Divine!

2009-08-24T21:14:00.010-06:00

After the honeymoon Bob and I had oodles and kaboodles of adventures in Utah.

We oohed and aahed on Independence Day.

Bob and I battled it out during a serious game of Mini Golf. Bob won...barely.

We spent a friggin' hot day finding what fun is at Lagoon with Mike Simmons and Nate Birth.

We went camping in Island Lake in the Uintas. We hiked in 3 1/2 miles with all our stuff and my shoulders divorced me. After some consoling, they finally decided to rejoin Team Priscilla and the weekend was a wonderful adventure of fishing, swimming, and cliff jumping.

The future Ivan and Ashley Yordinov prepping to go off the "High Dive."

I'm dead sexy. Sexily dead. Dying of sexiness.

Documentation of the jumping. Sorry the vid's sideways...I can't figure out how to turn it. Enjoy that cranked neck!

Jeff Panos came to test his guts. He chickened out like three others...myself included. SCARIEST THING EVER!! (And hurts your butt if you land wrong. I learned this from last year's jump).

Bob, Ashley, and Chaz opted to ride to shore. Water. Friggin. Freezing.

One night I had to pee and it was raining outside. So plastic Priscilla squatted outside the tent door. In the rain. In a yellow plastic poncho. Just TRY and be cooler than me. I dare you.

Man, my life is so spectacularly super!

Reason #1 Why Summa-Oh-Nine Was Mighty Fine:

2009-08-24T18:20:00.011-06:00

We went to Cancun, Mexico and had had amazing adventures! (Haggling mexicans and the awesome buses not pictured).

We left lookin' good

and driving in style!

We stayed in a sweet hotel on the beach,

wore some sexy Mexican attire,

And had crisp beverages with our chips and salsa!

We visited Chicken Pizza (AKA Chichen Itza),

and snapped photos of the hotel by the ruins.
We swam in an underwater cave,
And flew high in the sky!

We had some much-needed R&R,

ate some good food,

and found this leather bed outside our motel (ewe!)
We looked HOT in our snorkle gear,

And even hotter in our fishy-safe sunscreen.

We had an amazing week in paradise,

And I was once again reminded that my head does not qualify for "One Size Fits All" items.

I WIN!!!

2009-08-17T11:14:00.002-06:00

MuaHahaha! I win $5.00 from my hubbie! 1 month without changing my blog! Are you as shocked as I am? Crazzzzyyy! Here I go off to find a new, fantastic background. Weee!

ZzzZzZzzzZ

2009-08-08T15:30:00.002-06:00

I haven't had a full night's rest in 4 days. Once I'm awake my mind races until it's time to get up the next morning. All my worrying is making my stomach hurt. I don't feel like eating, but I find it harder to sleep if I'm hungry. I'm keep telling myself not to worry about things but I can't help it. I'm a worrier. Once I start thinking about things it's really hard to stop.

I'm exhausted.

My tummy hurts.

I'm yawning so hard tears stream out of my eyes.

But here I am unable to nap.

Oh how I hope that a sleeping pill helps tonight.

Two Months!

2009-07-30T13:10:00.008-06:00

Two months ago today Bob and I got married...

Awesome!

The Bet Is On!

2009-07-15T14:46:00.003-06:00

Okay folks, my own husband has bet me that I cannot keep my blog background the same for 1 month. The challenge has been accepted! If I am able to contain my need for a new background for 1 month from today I get $5.00.

I will overcome my demon.

I will cure myself of this blogging disease.

I will WIN!

Wish me luck!

Intervention

2009-07-15T12:38:00.010-06:00

This is an intervention.

For myself.

I have a problem and I am more than ready to admit it. I am addicted to stalking websites that provide me with free Blogger backgrounds. I then constantly alter my own blog in hopes of satisfying my need for change and renewal.

I am ill and confessing it to you all right now.

I feel guilty and am now calling out to the blogging world to help me. How can I stop this raving addiction?

This beast within me that whispers, "your background is too bland, time to spice it up."

With which I respond, "it looks just fine, someimes simple is best."

"Is that what you're trying to tell your fans? That you're PLAIN?"

"Stop it! Stop it! You know my blog doesn't attract 'fans' only a few "followers.' And no one comments anymore so who even knows how many people even read this random blabber."

"Exactly, little Priscilla. No one's reading because your background is bland and you need something better. Something flashier. Something new. Go to the websites, go surf your day away browsing the polka dots, the stripes, the wide variety of free backgrounds. GO!"

I am powerless to my nagging need for new, and begin to stalk the following websites:

The Cutest Blog on the Block

Aqua Poppy Designs

Delighful Dots

Shabby Blogs

Dotty Dot Dot Backgrounds

Scrappin' Blogs

And where my current layout comes from:

Leelou Blogs

Someone please stop me. Please stop this blogging monster inside me. I need to stop changing my background every other day. I need to be satisfied with what I have. I need help. I need...

...a $5.00 bet that I can keep my blog background the same for 1 month. Who's willing to take me on?

Anyone?

Finding Middle Ground

2009-07-09T15:07:00.021-06:00

"Take it easy!"
- Ignacio (Nacho)
*Luchador*

Being a newlywed is not easy.

You think it will be all sunshine and joy and joyness but it is not quite that fantastical. Don't get me wrong, it is a fun, new, and exciting adventure. I have greatly enjoyed being married and having a new home with a man that I love.

But I wish that, like babies, newlywed life came with an instruction guide. There are so many things that you don't think of, and oh how a little booklet would help! (Especially if it had pop-up pictures!)

I wish it would have told me to lower some expectations and be satisfied with life.

For example, I wanted things to be perfect from day 1:

- I wanted us to be completely moved in after the first week with everything in its right place, and the apartment feeling like home...
...After a month and a couple weeks we still have boxes in the front room, pictures to hang up, and countless other chores to complete. Ugh.

- I wanted to calculate a perfect budget and make perfect lists of everything that we would need to perfectly stick to that budget...
...No such budget has made it's debut as of late.

- I wanted to get my name changed ASAP, get thank yous written and sent, and finished wrapping up things from the wedding...
...The stupid Social Security office is only open M-F from 9-4 and I work 8-4. I'll have to get off work early tomorrow to get my name changed. Boo. Did I mention that not 1 thank you has been written?

- I wanted us to get into a good rhythm of getting up in the morning, making lunches, planning dinners, spending equal amounts of time with each other as with friends and family, and still having an awesome summer at the same time...
...Umm... what was I thinking!?!

- I wanted perfection, and I wanted, no I EXPECTED it immediately.

And I didn't get that perfection. There just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I desired. After 7 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work, dinner, errands, home-improvement, laundry, and dishes, how did I ever expect to get it all done? My expectations were on a mountain, and my abilities were in a ravine.

I can't recall a specific moment or epiphany that triggered my change of mind, but a couple weeks ago something in me snapped. It was as if someone came up to me and shook some sense into me. I asked myself 1 simple question:

Why did I want all these things?

I had every blessing I could imagine: a good job, a caring husband, fun family and friends, food in the house, clothes on my back, and a wonderful life that was passing me by.

Since then, I have been attempting to find a happy medium between getting things done and enjoying the fun activities of summer. So far, it's working! I'm pulling my expectations down, and taking special care to enjoy this summer. Last week alone we went boating (first time wakesurfing!), fishing (also a first time for me!), to Bob's family's cabin with his siblings (not a first time, but still great), and up the canyon on Saturday to roast some mallows. Good times.

Our apartment is looking better and better each day! There are still a few more things to do, but I know they will all be completed in time. It's finally starting to feel like summer. (I know, halfway into July, and Summer finally hits me!) I am a happier, more laid-back person right now with high hopes for the rest of the year. As much as I know we both want to do so many things (camping, fishing, hiking, Lagoon, water parks, BBQ's, game nights, etc.), I am content with what will come from this summer...keeping in mind that the years ahead of us will be filled with countless time to have adventures.

Sheesh! Thank goodness I figured this out sooner than later! I could still be the crazy wife trying to perfect everything in her life. There is still the little Cilla in me nagging to get everything in order, but I'm working hard every day to keep her (fairly) quiet. Bob and I are continually working on improving our marriage through increasing our communication, support, and love with one another. Life is good.

Maybe I'll have to write a newlywed guide manual...

Diane

2009-07-07T08:47:00.006-06:00

My friend and coworker from the Utah Museum of Natural History passed away last Thursday. Diane Karwacki peacefully passed after an intense battle with pancreatic cancer. These few months have really helped me realize the frailty of life. She had no signs, indications, or symptoms before being diagnosed. In fact, if a chest X-ray hadn't "accidentally" captured a picture of her pancreas, they may not have caught the cancer until...well... She was given up to 6 months with intensive chemotherapy treatments to live, and the cancer took her after 2 1/2. I will miss her dearly. She was always full of spunk, energy, and her personality matched her bright red hair. I am sad to have missed these last months with her as I no longer work at the Museum.

I never got to say goodbye.

Her events were impeccable, her attitude firm, and her heart full. I will miss her so much, and hope she finds peace and happiness in the next life. Traffic and Sweet Pea will miss their mom so much, as well as her sweet husband, Matt. I can only hope that they are able to find comfort during this emotional time.

Love you forever, Diane.

Michael Jackson: 1958-2009

2009-06-26T10:52:00.013-06:00

Unless you've been living under a rock (sorry, Patrick) you've now heard of the passing of Michael Jackson. While I am not Mrs. Water Works right now, I am quite saddened by hearing of his death. I have so many memories that revolve around his amazing music and dancing:

Flashback montage...Little 15 year-old Priscilla (complete with bangs and glasses) stands in front of a tv at the Coburn's house with Kenzie and Madison watching MJ's video 'Ghosts' over and over to learn the dance sequences. On later days, they watch 'Scream', 'Bad', and 'Beat It' all in attempt to improve their serious dancing skillz.

After Priscilla had mastered these moves of awesomeness, she competes in the dance competition at EFY. Billie Jean starts playing on her turn and she KILLS it with pulling moves from all of MJ's videos. Does she win? Psh...the other competitors didn't stand a chance.

Jump forward 2 years...
High School Priscilla (a little less awkward-looking Priscilla, that is) is devastated that her Honda has been broken into. The only thing missing? Her spectacular CD collection complete with every Michael Jackson CD released.

And ahead 3 more years...
Priscilla and friend Avery kill her car's battery after dancing to Michael Jackson in the Institute of Religion parking lot on Valentine's Day.

Back in those days I had this secret desire to be a backup dancer in one of Michael Jackson's videos. Every dancer was amazing, and every time I listened to his music I got some serious boogy fever! I'm even pretty sure that in High School whenever a MJ song would come on, my closest friends would create a circle so I could show them how his music would carry me into a fit of dancing. I knew that, in reality, I would never get the chance to be in a video, and that I was probably no where as good a dancer as all those amazing people in his videos, but part of me never lost hope...

...and to be honest, I don't think I'll ever lose that dream of dawning an awesome costume, and letting it all out in a video with the King of Pop. After all, just think of all he brought us:

The Moonwalk

Amazing Concerts and Performances

And The Invention of the Music Video

Regardless of his personal life, Michael Jackson was an AMAZING entertainer! I know there are a lot of artists now who can dance like there's no tomorrow, but, dude, MJ was the innovator of all those moves they have tweaked and perfected. It is sad that his life was cut short at merely 50 years of age and before a planned comback in the UK. He has inspired many, and left his mark in the music world. I guess I'll just have to keep dancing in my kitchen pretending that I am busting a move behind one of the greatest entertainers of our day.

Two Thumbs 'UP'!

2009-06-25T10:53:00.014-06:00

Bob took me to see this delightful film last night in 3D, and I absolutely loved it. Within the first 10 minutes I was in tears from the montage of a husband and wife growing old together. Pixar has an amazing ability to evoke emotion in the viewer with simple, elegant music, and beautiful, heartwarming images. (Wall-E is a great example of this silent charm that Pixar infuses in their films). From that teary moment on, I was hooked. I was already excited for the talking dog part upon seeing the previews, and when it finally came my expectations were exceeded. My heart skipped a beat when, after being called a "Bad Dog" by the old man the day before, Doug is waiting on his doorstep the next morning and solemnly says, "I hid under your porch because I love you."

Well, Pixar, I've been hiding under your porch because I love YOU! You continue to top yourself! I never expected this movie to take me on such an adventure...to make me laugh, cry, ponder, and hate a villain so much. Each character had such a wonderful background and story. I became emotionally connected to all of them (even the silent "snipe" named Kevin)! I was on the edge of my seat towards the end of the film crossing my fingers that all would end well. In the spirit of not spoiling the ending, just know that, yet again, I was a blubbering baby as the final scene concluded. If I was not 1 of 6 people in the theatre I would have jumped out of my seat in ecstatic applause! Even the credits were a masterpiece! Bob and I left the theatre so happy and 'UP'lifted (hardy har, har!). I want to see it again and again and again!

And Pixar doesn't stop with movies. When a little girl's dying wish is to see UP before a rare cancer takes her life, they fly an employee to her house with the DVD and a sack full of goodies. You can read the heartwarming story here.

My new favorite Pixar movie? UP. Go see it. I know there are a lot of other appealing movies out right now...Transformers, for instance. But I can guarantee that they will not have as much beauty, humor, or heart as UP. Plus, talking dogs. Gotta love the..SQUIRREL!

P.S. I put up a poll to find out what YOUR favorite Pixar films is. Vote, baby!

Bob and Cilla: Southpark-i-fied!

2009-06-22T10:53:00.013-06:00

So I found myself bored on Friday and wound up on a website where you can make your own Southpark characters. This was way too addicting! So here's what Bob and Cilla would look like if they were all of a sudden cartoon characters living in Colorado with dirty mouths:

Everyday Bob & Priscilla:

Wedding Bob & Priscilla:

Honeymoon Bob & Priscilla:

And I didn't stop there! I proceeded to make my friends into Southpark characters! I could feel the addiction growing and growing! Finally, hunger got the best of me and I was able to leave the computer to eat. Thank goodness I was able to pull myself away! Hmm...I wonder what my dad would look like as a Southpark character...

I Miss 1993

2009-06-16T13:30:00.010-06:00

My friend Melinda Johnson-Christensen just posted this picture on her blog and it is too wonderful not to share on mine as well. Here we are with her little sister Natalie in our infamous "Jasmine Jammies." When we were, oh, I don't know, like 7 we wore these religiously for probably a good 2 years straight. They were the best pajamas ever! They got thrown away after we wore them to shreds, but both of us still wish we had them...for old time's sake, you know? (It's not like I want to still wear them while doing housework or anything...) Anywho, some humorous points of interest about the photo:

- We all have the same hair style...bangs with a short bob...SO HOT!
- Melinda (on the left, by the way) and I are holding Natalie's hands behind our backs. Creepy or cool?
- 1 word: Wallpaper.

Thanks for this awesome trip down memory lane, Ninny! (Way back when I was "Cryla" and she was "Ninny"...all thanks to her younger siblings who had a hard time saying "Priscilla" and "Melinda"). Miss you!

Moving Busy-ness!

2009-06-16T10:21:00.012-06:00

Hi friends and family!

I've wanted to post so badly about all the adventures Bob and I have had since getting married, but we've been so INSANELY busy since we got home. In lieu of these fantastical stories complete with cheesy puns and pictures, here is a happy little bullet list of current happenings:

- Bed, Bath and Beyond is my homeboy...or girl...I'm not sure what gender it would be classified as...Anywho, we went to this "party" deal last week where we could get the rest of our registry (& whatever else we needed) for 20% off. After returns, and our new purchases, we still have $50+ left to spend there! We also got sooo much stuff for the apartment. It's pure insanity! Domestic insanity! Thanks BB&B!

- A few points on Cancun that I intend on expanding on:
1. Tipping. Seriously, folks. I don't get the concept of tips. Hey, I just handed you a hand towel that you were entirely capable of getting yourself, now give me a peso. Are you serious? I don't think so.
2. The bus system in Cancun rocks! It cost less than $1.50 for both Bob and I to ride 1 way into town. They also would come like every 5 seconds so you could always catch one!
3. Torrential downpour + giddy 20-somethings = more fun that you can ever imagine.
4. Some activities to post pictures of: Chicken Pizza (AKA Chichen Itza), Xel Ha, Parasailing, snorkeling, swimming in a cenote, and so much more!!!
5. Bob and I also looked like tourists...big time! How could we not? A super-white couple wearing Tevas and backpacks? Man, every Mexican and their dog wanted to sell us something. I was getting to the point where I wanted to wear a sign saying something like, "If I want to buy something, I'll come to you. Stop bugging me!!!"

Xel Ha. Cancun, Mexico

- Moving sucks. Every day we get a little closer to being all moved in, and everyday we add at least 5 things to our To-Do list. When will the madness end!?! On a positive note, our apartment is starting to feel like home!

- This rain must end. I don't mind a good thunderstorm every now and then, but it's been gloomy non-stop since Bob and I got home. I'm sick of wearing jeans and tennies. I want to wear my shorts and flip flops already! C'mon, Mother Nature!!!

- Oh, and, as a follow-up to my post about birth control, I'm switching to something new next week. I'm done being psycho-girl. Let's pray this new kind likes me better!

- Bob and I made seriously amazing Stir-Fry last night. I have a feeling this is the beginning of many amazing meals to come!

Hopefully everyone else is having an amazing summer!

Love,
Bob & Cilla Neve

FINALLY!!!

2009-06-07T12:21:00.007-06:00

Bob and I finally got married on May 30, 2009 in the Salt Lake Temple!!! Yay! The day was simply fantastic! After a crazy awesome party with good food and great people, we boarded a flight to Cancun, Mexico! No swine flu could keep us away from paradise! The weather was wonderful and sunny, and we enjoyed a week of sun, parasailing, and hot...sightseeing! I have so much to talk about, I'll need to write a good couple of posts to share all our wonderful adventures! In the meantime, just know that we are extremely happy and are overjoyed that we no longer have to say goodbye every night. Here's to a lifetime of happiness and love!

You Men Have It So Easy...

2009-05-28T13:41:00.011-06:00

So I have a friend named Chelsea Chamberlain. She’s pretty awesome, and we are always have fun chats on Facebook about the most random topics. Today’s topic: the crappiness of Birth Control and being a girl. We had so much to say on that little chat that we’d thought to share it with the cyber world. So here’s a nice summation of our discussion.

Oh, and be warned. This post may very well contain too much information:

Birth control is the devil. That’s pretty self explanatory, but because my vocal filter hasn’t been changed in a while I will expand on this subject:

Who in their right mind thought that it was okay to pump women full of artificial hormones to prevent unwanted pregnancy!? Don’t we have enough to go through as is? I mean, maybe I’m crazy (thanks to the BC), but I kinda think the PMS, cramping, bloating, and ‘special gift’ once a month is bad enough! But noooo, let’s add timed medication to the mix, eh? Sounds, fun!

“Hey, Priscilla, how would you like to wake up at the exact time every morning to take a pill that will make you dizzy, nauseas, fatigued, lightheaded, and possibly gain up to 10lbs?”

“Oh, geeze, men of the world, can I, please? I sure love not feeling like myself!”

Psh, ridiculous. So here I am, suffering all sorts of crappy side effects from the pill, and I can’t go off it cause, SHOCK, there is no way that Bob and I could support a child right now. NO WAY. Sure, I can change to a different type, but I was told to give it 3 months to see if your body regulates to the new amount of hormones. And even after I was to switch it’ll throw my body through another hormonal rollercoaster!

So to all you women out there working your butt off to prevent unwanted pregnancy, I give you a million and one gold kudos. You take so much crap from that little daily pill, and you keep a smile on your face (most of the time, at least).

And to all the men out there supporting a woman on birth control I have a few things to say to you:

You better darn well treat your lady like the ultimate queen-goddess divine that she is. Not only is she doing all the work to make sure you guys don’t have children before the time is right, but she will one day friggin’ carry a child in her body for 9 months and then push it out of a way-too-tiny opening after a traumatic 12 hours of intense labor pains. Worship the ground she walks on, men! If she wants authentic Canadian bacon, you grab your passport and haul your heiney into the car to get her that glorified ham! Tell her she looks beautiful every chance you get. Oh, and, you better do the dishes and take out the trash WITHOUT being asked. If she gets to deal with this hormone crap, you better have the decency to help with the housework, you pig. Kiss her on the forehead. It is seriously one of the sweetest things ever. Forehead kisses. Golden. Oh, and, give her the remote. Just do it.

And now to turn the ranting over to Miss Chelsea:

And men, don’t you dare tell us we can’t blame everything on that blasted pill. Because we can. And we will. I’m irritated, because of the pill. Because I’m irritated, I might want to punch you in the throat, because of the pill. I am constantly complaining about head and boob aches, because of the pill. I need EXTRA loving, because of the pill. Just as you men blame your perverted and sickening ways on the simple fact that you are dude – we blame our overly emotional and psychotic ways on said pill.

And that’s not all… Oh no. You think you men are off the hook THAT easy? Tuck that tail between your legs and THINK AGAIN. Not only do we have to carry your children for 9 months, bleed for 7 days of the month – every month, and deal with lovely side effects of maintaining said menstruation… There are many more reasons why you should be kissing the ground we walk on.

Hair. We actually have it. And we spend an infinite amount of time making sure it looks okay. Blow drying, curling, straightening, coloring, styling. You might respond, “but you don’t have to do all that”… And you are correct. So let’s consider for one small moment if we were to spend as much time on our hair as you do on yours… Hmm. You’d probably get something similar to this…

Pretty… right?
Don’t even get me started on plucking and shaving. It is socially unacceptable for a girl to have a mustache. Men have freedom of choice in this matter. Have you men ever TRIED tweezing your mustache?! Let alone waxing it?! Keeping our eyebrows in perfect shape is beyond obnoxious. Have you seen how fast those hairs grow?

If you can honestly tell me that you want to jump this girl’s bones right now… You are hereby excused from the eyebrow rant.

And SHAVING? Man almighty. The only things you’ve got to worry about are your face and neck. We… shave our armpits, our legs, and our bikini areas. Why?

Enough said. So when we take longer in the bathroom… You sure as heck better keep those perfectly kissable lips SEALED as to what the hold up is. If you’d like to run your hand across prickly stubble, then go ahead, rush us.

Peeing. The world is your friggin urinal. Full bladder on a camping trip? NO PROBLEM! Just whip out Kroll the Warrior King and relieve your waters to your heart’s content. You do not need to worry about peeing all over your pants that are at your ankles, or having a stream of urine run down your thigh. Nor do you have to worry about sitting on a toilet seat that has been splashed with another male’s urine. Nor do you have to worry about going to sit on the toilet and falling in because another man didn’t think it convenient to put the toilet seat down. And lastly, you do not EVER have to worry about standing in a line to pee for over 10 minutes…. EVER.

Speaking of bodily functions… Farting and burping? Why does it seem to be 50 times more repulsive when a girl does these things? Who started that trend? Give me a break. I find it incredibly ridiculous that girls feel that they need to hold in their farts and suffer the inherent pains of doing so because it’s not “lady-like”. PUH-lease. If you’re not in a position to poop, then by all means, TOOT! If a guy does this, it’s half expected, and “kosher” – if you will.

Boobs. You do not have them. Though you lust after them for heaven only knows what reasons. They are blobs of fat, and you do not realize exactly how annoying said blobs are, until you have a pair of your own.

You do not have to worry about a car repairman, or any sort of repairman trying to charge you more than something’s worth.

If you’re a man, wrinkles add character. If you’re a woman, cursed be your name if you have a wrinkle.

You can sit with your knees in separate counties no matter what you’re wearing.

Have we made our point clear? So I highly suggest that you go to the store and buy your wonderful woman her favorite flowers right now. She deserves them. Then kiss her and tell her how much she means to you. Go!

Oh, and, sorry about the intense cynicism of this post. Chelsea and I blame it on the birth control. Deal with it.

Oh What A Wonderful Morning!!!

2009-05-24T11:20:00.008-06:00

Yesterday was an amazing day! I went to the temple for the first time (the best experience ever!), helped the parents in the yard a bit, took a nap, got my car checked out, got new tires for Bob's car, moved gifts to the apartment, and saw X-Men. Today Bob and I are planning to go to his family's cabin for the night as a quick relaxing getaway before the final crazy week! I cannot believe that we are within 1 week to becoming man and wife! I am so excited and ready. Not to mention our vacation will be AMAZING!! In honor of the wedding being in 6 days, i've decided to post some of my bridals here! I figure that Bob never checks it anyway so it's a safe place for postage. Wahoo!

Teehee... the 7th one up looks like the Mamma Mia picture! Thank goodness I'm not using my wedding to find out who my daddy is!

Bang Head Here...

2009-05-12T11:05:00.008-06:00

With 18 days left before the wedding, things are getting a little stressful. Any of you that have planned a wedding know exactly what I'm talking about. The big things (cake, dress, catering, etc.) have all been taken care of, but now all those little details are popping up. I've made a list of things that are left to do & it scares me every time I look at it:

- Wrap favors
- Make sign-in book
- Get wedding shoes
- Buy temple dress
- Get joint banking account
- MOVE to new apartment
- Begin writing thank you notes
- Finish registries
- Schedule hair for bridals & the wedding day
- Take bridals
- Get vaccines for honeymoon
- Buy groomsmen ties
- Finalize bridesmaids outfits
- Order pictures for reception
- Buy frames for pictures for reception
- Buy glass centerpiece containers
- Choose 1st dance song
- Compile music playlist for reception
- Send out remaining invites
- Create announcements & mail
- Buy stamps for thank yous
- Finish backyard
- Plant flowers in yard
- Buy health insurance

I swear I'm adding more to this by the hour. I have 2 1/2 weeks to get all this done and get ready for the big day! Can you see why I'm a little stressed at the moment? Emphasis on little? All I want to do is rub a magic lamp and wish that all this would magically be finished so I can enjoy my last few weeks before the wedding. Dang Aladdin. Why did you have to wish the Genie free? I could really use his humor and phenomenal cosmic powers right now.

Invitations went out this weekend, and they were by far the most stressful thing of all. So stressful, in fact, I got hives. Yes, hives. Full-on itchy, annoying, hives! I think I need to take a chill pill. Better yet, I'm going to go get one of those stress things that you squeeze and the eyes pop out. I think I'll name him Frank. Frank will help me calm down, right?

School's Out For Summer!!!

2009-05-07T11:14:00.002-06:00

Goodbye textbooks.
Goodbye boring lectures.
Goodbye BEH SCI building.
Goodbye school!

...until August? What the? I'm not done yet? I still have 6 classes left before I graduate with my Bachelors? This sucks.

At least I'm getting married in 23 days to the man of my dreams and can spend the entire summer enjoying being Mrs. Neve.

The glass is totally half-full.

A Toast!

2009-04-20T11:58:00.010-06:00

Last week I took a happy little trip to Costco. I LOVE this place. I love how I can buy anything I want in copious amounts to last me for at least 1 year. I love being able to get hair products. gum, and food for amazing deals. But most of all, I love the free food samples.

This could possibly be the biggest perk of being a Costco member. While I shop for my bulk products I can sample the latest in fine warehouse cuisine: Progresso soup in a plastic shot cup, white chicken breast on a stick, and a couple sips of Vitamin Water. It is the perfect appetizer for the chicken bake I always plan to get after I've dropped at least $50 and walk out of there pushing a cart double my size.

I propose a toast to the ladies and men who stand behind those little white tables keeping the snacks coming. May your hair nets stay tied, your aprons stay white, and may you continue to ask me if I would like to try some beef taquitos. I would love to. I would love to.

It Has Come

2009-04-17T13:30:00.003-06:00

Good people of the Salt Lake Valley. The time to rejoice is nigh. Mother Nature has heard our pleas and is granting us with a week of heavenly weather. Put away that parka, dawn some shorts, and join your friends in the park for some Frisbee. Allow that pasty-white skin to bask in the burning sun while making sure it has a protective layer of SPF 40 on it. My good friends, here is the forecast we've been waiting for!

The Air Taco [dun, dun, duuuuunnnnn!]

2009-03-30T10:43:00.013-06:00

It all began with a sunny weekend...

[Begin dream-like, reminiscing sequence complete with puffy clouds & strumming harp...]

The smell of Spring was in the air as Mother Nature finally decided to give some desperate Utahans a moment of sun-filled ecstasy. The Bob and Cilla thought that a trip to St. George would be a wonderful ending to an already splendid week, so they packed up Cilla's little Acura with all things awesome and headed down south.

But before they could go they needed to get some important items. Namely tasty beverages and books. A quick stop at the Millcreek library and then a gas station should do the trick! Wait, they didn't have the book Bob wanted at Millcreek. Off to Whitmore! "Hmm...this book looks good...I've always wanted to read that!...Dude, Bob, you should totally get this!..."

So after 2 hours and multiple stops, Bob and Cilla finally leave the Salt Lake valley with some Gatorade and 5 books in tow. And no, they didn't read all of them. They didn't even read half of them. Only 2 were opened and neither were finished. But at least they had options!

Anywhosie, so Cilla-Bob finally arrive in St. George and play in the pool with their friends Mike, Andrea, Chad, Lonnie, Heidi, Chris, and Emily, eat some amazing In 'N Out Burger, and get ready for sleep...

...on their awesome inflatable mattress!!! (Seriously folks, these things are tubular. No more sleeping on the floor for me! All I need is the pump, some blankets, and we're good to go). "What's that, Bob? We forgot the pump? No worries, we'll just blow it up manually."

*** 1 1/2 hours later ***

Horay! We finally finished! Are you lightheaded? I'm feeling a little woosie myself... Let's go to sleep so my head feels better. "Night, Bob-a-rino!" "Night, Cilla-putty!"

Fast forward 8 hours. Cilla wakes up to a kink in her think as she finds herself in the middle of a ginormous taco! What the hockey? I swear we went to bed on an air mattress! Sorry, Cill, you thought wrong!

You see, about 11 3/4 years ago a man named El Gordo created a space machine to transport him to a little planet called Horchata where all the little creatures spoke Spanish and ate Mexican food. Upon leaving the festive planet, a little pig-o sneaked into El Gordo's sombrero and hitched a ride all the way back to el planet Eartho..I mean planet Earth. Shortly after arriving, El Gordo caught the pink pig-o eating down at the local Taco Bell one Saturday afternoon, and forced the pig-o into solitary confinement so it wouldn't eat the world out of burritos and beans.

Despite El Gordo's best efforts, the pig-o managed to escape every night by using it's laser stare to burn a hole in old Wii Box he was being held in. The pig-o would then rush to the closest mexican fast food restaurant and devour every morsel of food in the establishment. El Gordo needed to take action.

So he devised a plan. A wicked plan. A wickedly awesome plan. A wickedly awesome devious plan. A wickedly awesome devious plan to change the world of road trips as we know it! He invented the air taco! [dun, dun, duuunnnnn!]. The air taco [dun, dun, duuuunnnn!] was an evil contraption that, to the naked eye, looked like a normal air mattress. But upon sleeping on it, it would strategically deflate creating a human taco and send out a signal to El Gordo and the pig-o. The pig-o would then teleport to the air taco [dun, dun, duuuunnnnn!], pour some chalula hot sauce on them, and gobble those humans up!

Before Cilla and Bob knew how to defend themselves, they were suddenly being attacked by the pig-o and his mutant asexually created spawn! Bob punched! POW! Cilla kicked! SMACK! They screamed! AAYYYAYAYYYAAAAA!!! And the pig-o and his demented friends retreated in pain and scaredom.

SUCCESS! The dynamic duo of CillaBob prevails again! All was good in the world again, and Priscilla and Bob headed out for their second day of fun in the sun. They have learned their lesson and will carefully sleep on only those air mattresses not tainted by El Gordo's evil taco-making contraption.

Take heed fellow readers, for if you do not take caution you too may end up face-to-face with the pig-o in the dreaded Air Taco [dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!]

Ready to be Wed

2009-03-16T10:13:00.003-06:00

Bob and I have been engaged for 4 months.

We have a little over 2 months to the wedding.

I am so ready to get married it's not even funny. Sometimes a six-month engagement seems like an eternity. (How ironic is that, seeing as that we'll be together for an eternity after we're wed? Chuckle, chuckle) I'm ready to live together, go shopping together (for reals now, not those little sprees that we take to get Mac 'N Cheese and Apple Beer). I'm ready to begin my life with Bob: waking up next to each other, struggling financially, and having petty little arguments about bills and such. Sigh. But no, Bob and I decided to go the tough route with the six-month deal. Grr.

But upon thinking more about this set-up, I'm actually glad that we have such a long engagement. It is amazing how much more I have learned about Bob during our engagement. I also think that our love has grown by having a longer engagement. We have the impending wedding on the horizon, and it has allowed our excitement to grow. We can't wait to be husband and wife! Yay for anticipation.

Our long engagement has also given us plenty of time to prepare for the wedding. It's not like we're huge procrastinators, but it sure has been nice not worrying about rushing orders and plans to have a quick wedding. It has actually been quite relaxing. I'm hoping that because of this long planning phase our day will be stress-free (or as close as one can get on their wedding day!).

I suppose it is also good to get this semester under my belt before attempting the whole marriage thing. We'll be able to take a full week honeymoon and not have to come back to tests or classes! Super bonus! Actually, the more I look at the positives of our 6 1/2 month engagement the more I like it! (Not saying that short engagements aren't awesome, too, because I'm quite jealous of all you 3-month engaged-ers).

Hopefully these next couple of months will be exciting, enlightening,

and fast!

What The???

2009-02-26T19:49:00.002-07:00

Okay, I just realized that I blogged about some random movie I watched when I was like 7. What the random? Seriously, I like how that movie randomly popped in my head and I decided to write some crazy post about it. Anywho, hopefully the next one will have more thought put into it.

We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story

2009-02-26T17:29:00.005-07:00

Who remembers this movie? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Oh man, was this awesome! I mean look at these fine bullet points:

- The "good" guy is named "Captain Neweyes." His evil brother is "Professor Screweyes." Screweyes can control people with his hypnotic stare. GENIUS!

- The Dinosaurs get fed Brain Grain Cereal to make them smarter. GENIUS!

- There is a Dinosaur named Dweeb who is truly the geekiest Dino ever, AND he has buck teeth. Another Dino is name Woog. Dude, Woog is like the coolest name ever! GENIUS!

- This movie was made in 1993, and the 90's rocked! GENIUS!

- At the end of the show, ravens completely cover Professor Screweyes and when they fly away all that is left is the screw that was in place of his left eye. A seriously dark and morbid scene in a friendly children's movie? GENIUS!

Dang this movie rocked. I wanna go watch it now. Excuse me.

20 Random Things About Me

2009-02-20T12:06:00.007-07:00

Yeah, I think I was tagged on this like a bajillion years ago, and since procrastination is my middle name, I'm finally getting to it:

1. When I lived in the Avenues in 2007 my friend Vanessa and I must have made at least 50 prank calls. All of them using different voices, names, and crazy quirks. We are prank call MASTERS!

2. I secretly want to be the person who brings out different guitars to the lead singer in a rock band. I think I'd make a GREAT guitar-giver-lady (especially to John Mayer).

3. When I clean I dance. I am a dance-cleaner. I do almost all my tasks to the beat of the song that's playing. I especially like vacuuming to 80's Rock.

4. I have a serious fear of not being able to get pregnant. I can't wait to be able to carry my own child that my husband and I created, and am so scared of never being able to experience this.

5. Up until I was 17 I was POSITIVE that I was going to be a star on Broadway.

6. I walked on the wrong side of the stage during my High School graduation. After my name was called and I got my diploma (more like the container that holds it), I found myself walking behind Jace Hansen and thinking, "Awe, crap!"

7. I love grape juice. If there is a container in the fridge in the morning, chances are it may be gone that night. (BTW-I'm drinking some right now). But here's the catch - I really only like Welch's grape juice. All the others are just not up to par.

8. Two weeks before my 8th birthday (or was is my 12th?? I don't remember...) I fell down my friend's staircase and sprained my ankle. I then insisted that I was okay and crawled home - 2 houses away - bawling my eyes out.

9. I love going to Summer concerts with my sister, Holly. Our first big concert was in 2002 when we saw John Mayer at Deer Valley. Since then we have been to at least 1 a year (including our weekend trip to Denver in 2005 to see John at the Filmore!)

10. I'm engaged to an awesome man named Bob. He's the bomb.com. We have awesome old-people names that will suit us awesomely when we're crazy and senile. Bob and Priscilla. Sweet.

11. I love reading crappy magazines while waiting to check-out at a grocery store. One time a checker made me buy a magazine because I had read so much of it.

12. I was named "Dancing Queen" at the end of a 26.2 hour dance marathon at the University of Utah.

13. As soon as I'm able to I'm getting a Golden Retriever and giving him a name from one of my favorite movies like "Charles De Mar" or "Kronk."

14. I have never been out of the U.S. Maybe Bob can help me with this for our honeymoon (wink, wink).

15. I got Mono in 9th grade and I had never kissed anyone. Medical mystery?

16. I can type 75 words per minute and I never took a typing class. I learned how to type through MSN Messenger. Trust me, when you have 7 different conversations going, you better be typing fast enough to keep up with them all!

17. I had a colonoscopy, an endoscopy, a CT scan, an ultrasound, and a gastric emptying study done all in the same month (May) last year to find out that I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Did I mention that my 5'7" frame dropped down to around 105 pounds? Not the best month of my life...

18. I was kind of a class clown in school, and one of my professors sent me out of class for hiccuping. Seriously? Like I could control those!

19. I wear jeans for at least 3 days in a row. My philosophy is this: If you can't see the dirt, keep on wearing them. No one notices anyway.

20. It took me three days to finish this post because I kept doing other things and loosing interest.

So there you have it! Do you feel like you have a huge insight into Cilla? You should.

"Walking Flu"

2009-02-17T16:02:00.005-07:00

Okay, so I know my title is not a real condition, but after this weekend I think it should be. I swear that I have something I've so awesomely coined "The Walking Flu" (think of Walking Pneumonia...). Anywho, so I'll go through periods of a couple hours where I feel great, and then all of a sudden I'm boiling up and feeling nauseous! That'll last for a little while, and then I'll feel fine again. This is soooo annoying!!! At least my dizziness is a constant, but who wants to feel like they just got off the Teacups all day long? I hate getting really sick, but I wish my body would make up its mind. You're either sick or you're not, Cilla-body! Half-way is just not cutting it for me. At least if I was really, really sick I could stay in bed and not feel guilty about it. But no...I'm feeling just good enough to come to school and do homework.

Lame.

Yeah, this is me right now...except I'm not a dude, and that should say "flu" not "cold"

Rock the U 2009!!!

2009-02-12T23:07:00.004-07:00

Elyse & Priscilla during "Rock Hour" Rock the U 2008!

I LOVE this event. Once a year the University of Utah has a 26.2 hour dance marathon to raise monty for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. I did it last year and had a BLAST! It truly was a once in a lifetime experience...that I'm doing again! Wahoo!

This year will be different, though. My fundraising strategies will be more creative, influencial, and persuasive. So here's my first plan of attack:

I vow here and now to NOT SIT DOWN DURING THE ENTIRE 26.2 HOURS if Rock the U can raise $100,000!!!

This is serious business, folks! Not only will I be standing for a crazy amount of time, I will be DANCING LIKE A MANIAC the entire day (well, for the exception of eating, and the occasional Guitar Hero of course)...

But this amazing feat of awesomeness will only occur if we can get generous individuals to donate! So please let everyone you know about Rock the U, and the crazy plan Cilla has for not sitting down. Talk to your families, friends, coworkers, classmates, ANYONE! Donations of any amount will help us reach the $100,000 goal!

Also, anyone over the age of 18 is able to participate! You need not go to the U to join this great cause!

So have I convinced you yet? Hopefully I have! So here are the links to Rock the U:

Rock the U Website:
http://www.asuu.utah.edu/rocktheu

Cilla's Fundraising Page:
http://www.active.com/donate/rocktheu09/PHansen83

Hey Milton, What's Happening?

2009-02-04T10:38:00.005-07:00

I stole the stapler from work. It was my stapler, and money was withheld from my paycheck and I took my Swingline home, and um I did not receive three days of my pay and I would really like my paycheck, and that stapler is mine because my first boss bought it for me so I'm taking it home.

Seriously, folks. I totally took my Swingline stapler when I left the Museum. It may not be red, but it is mine.

Would You Like Fries With That?

2009-01-26T18:11:00.014-07:00

Speed bumps suck.

You're driving along minding your business, possibly speeding, possibly not, jamming out to your music of choice (I prefer John Mayer or Muse), and right when you get comfortable with your driving situation the man throws a speed bump in your face! Crapola! You have to slam on the breaks to prevent your front-end from being completely ripped off, and if you drive a happy little Integra like me, you smack your freakin' head on the roof! Serious suckage.

So where is this rambling going, Cill? I'll tell you where. To a super-awesome-scintillating simile! Yay similes!

Life's' trials are like speed bumps.

You're crusin' along in your happy little vehicle going a steady 63 MPH (just ask Ferris, life moves pretty fast). The road is straight, and you are jamin' out to your life's soundtrack. Just when you roll down the windows to take a good whiff of this city's aroma, the man throws a speed bump at you! Ugh! The car looses traction, and slides off the road into a dirt road with a rusted yellow sign that says "detour." You start down this unknown road hoping that the bumps will soon smooth out and you can get back on the paved road once again.

I have currently hit a life speed bump. Certain circumstances with the Museum have forced me to quit, and starting next week I will be ... gulp...unemployed.

That's right. I will soon be joining the ranks of all those out-of-work individuals competing against one another for the few jobs the economy is offering right now. So many places are cutting back on employees I wonder if I will ever find a suitable job! I have taken to revising my resume daily and stalking certain employment sites like a hawk, attacking prey the moment a job is posted. It's pathetic.

So far nothing has come through. I am either too unqualified for some positions (what do you mean I can't be an Program Coordinator for a hospital?), or the jobs don't work with my school schedule (which is set in stone until the beginning of May). So here are the phrases I've begun to practice just in case worst comes to worst:

"Okay sweet cakes, what'll ya have? More cwafee for ya?"

"Dang, who could've clogged a toilet THIS bad?!"

and the ever popular, "Would you like fries with that?"

No! Not McDonalds! Anything but that! Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and I'm sure that some level of good will come from my lack of money-making-ed-ness. But until that time comes I just have one question for you...

...can you spare a $20?

Star Wars From Bits & Pieces

2009-01-18T11:33:00.001-07:00

My friend Tiffany had this on her blog and I thought it was freaking hilarious! I'm still laughing my guts out over it. Check it out!

http://vimeo.com/2809991

I Need a Little Space...

2009-01-15T17:21:00.004-07:00

Bob and I got in an argument! I know! I can barely believe it myself. But don't you worry, it was nothing of a serious nature...at least intellectuals would tell you it was petty. I beg to differ, smarty pants!

Here's how the story goes:

I was online updating my resume for a number of reasons, and while Bob and I were proofreading it, he took my double space after a period and deleted it. Whoa, whoa, whoa! I had a minor freak out. What did he think he was doing? You ALWAYS leave two spaces after a period, don't you? According to Bob, you only leave one space after a period.

One! No Two! Dude, it's One! Nooooo, I totally remember being taught that the proper way is TWOO! ONE! TWO!

One? Two? One? Two? Ugh! Who is right?

Time to consult the all-knowing being of greatness: The Internet. Too bad that didn't help at all! Some places said one, others said two. But the main argument rested on these two points:

Two spaces were originally used for typewriters. The typewriters had mono spaced fonts, and you needed the two spaces for the eye to pick up a new sentence. Also, two spaces tends to be more pleasing to the eye. Nowadays, fonts are adjusted, and one space is sufficient. With publishing companies, space is money, and those extra spaces after a period need to go! Also, many computer programs will only put one space after a period no matter what you type.

So, alas, we came to no answer. I can't seem to stop typing without my trusty two-spaced break after a sentence, and Bob is stern that I'm wasting a precious space.

So what do you think? One space or two? Personally, I like to think that a little space never hurts.

So Sorry For Your Loss...

2009-01-03T10:55:00.004-07:00

For all you Alabama fans out there, I am sorry that the Utes kicked your trash yesterday. We truly meant to only smother you a tiny bit, but decided to do a full body slam after the success of the first quarter.

So go crying to your BCS mommy all you want, Coach Saban, but I think it's been proven by the 31-17 domination led by QB Brian Johnson that it's time to let the Mountain West join the all-exclusive BSC club. Go ahead and keep whining how your team didn't play like they usually do, goobering over losing Andre Smith when the oh-so-intelligent left tackle was in contact with an agent (Real smart, Smith. Are you beating your head against the wall, now? Maybe you should think about following the rules like all the Utes did next time), and saying it was all your fault, and blah-blie-freaking-blah, but I suggest you start giving Utah some credit. We busted into the BCS TWICE, we were the underdogs, we won fair and square on our own merits and not because your team just wasn't up to snuff. Oh, and don't you think the Utes should share the National Championship? Sure we didn't play Florida or Oklahoma, but without a playoff, you gotta look at the stats. Only undefeated team in the nation? Yeah, the resume says it all.

The Utes are Number 1. Period. You wanna argue with me? Go right ahead. The stats don't lie, and until you allow us a fair chance to prove ourselves to you high-and-mighty football folks, you better give us the credit we deserve... SUCKAS!

Stinky McStinkerson

2008-12-20T20:59:00.014-07:00

Hi.

Um. Confession time. I don't shower everyday. I'm sure you just responded with a resounding, "eeeewwwwwweeee!" Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're reconsidering the high rank you once gave Cilla in your list of "Coolest people I've ever known in my entire life." But before you drop me from your #1 spot to #2 or even (gasp!) #3, let me plead my case:

I like to be mysterious. Part of that mystery includes occasionally skipping a shower, dawning some Zoolander approved 'derelict' attire, and slinking off to school. I like changing my look on occasion so people can look at me and think, "Gee, I wonder if that is a student or a homeless person wandering campus with her partially-bald Tabby cat named LiceTrap." Mua ha ha! The students will never know! But seriously, I do have a cat. She's a ornery little beast named Puddin who secretly plots to scratch me to death in my sleep. Personally, I think I'd prefer LiceTrap.

Aside from being mysterious, who doesn't enjoy going 'au natural' for a day or two...or three? The oils in your hair are able to penetrate your ends, you save some serious cashola on shampoo, and you save the Earth! Water preservation, baby! Yeah, so maybe I secretly want to be a hippie who doesn't shave her legs and spends hours in front of a lava lamp listening to Pink Floyd and saying things like, "totally euphoric!" I just can't seem to commit. So a good couple of days living the dream is better than none, right?

My third and final reason for not showering is this: I get lazy, and I like sleep. Therefore, I just prefer to skip the whole showering scene, grab some body spray, reapply some deodorant, and call it good. Seriously, folks, as long as we shower more than they did in the Dark Ages, we're good. Okay, maybe we should shower more than that...like if you're not showering at least once a week, I'm concerned and no excuses will suffice.

So there we go. You may move me back up to #1 in your list. Sorry to scare you, but maybe you'll think twice now when you try to rearrange your cool list. I plan on showering tomorrow (always gotta shower on the Sabbath!), so I think I'm off to bed so I can allow some extra time for my ritualistic 5-minute shower 'snooze'. Next to stalking John Mayer, it's the best part of my day.

So goodnight, and may your showers be steamy and...uhh...bright? Yeah, we'll go with that.

21 Is Sooo Last Year

2008-12-10T22:06:00.005-07:00

Tomorrow is my 22nd birthday! Shyeeaahh! I'm pretty excited about it. I mean, doesn't 22 sound so much more mature than 21? Oh yeah. Way more mature. I might as well stick in some dentures and start wearing some wool cardigans. Unless those dentures are a size too big and I start looking like a Who... Yeah, maybe I'll hold on to my mature people attire for year 23.

Anywhosie, I've been sitting here at my laptop studying for 2 finals that I have tomorrow morning. Who had the audacity to schedule 2 finals on my birthday? Did they not know that I plan on drinking my body weight in Egg Nog tonight and may show up to class Nog-drunk, wearing my mom's blue leather jumpsuit from 1982 whilst singing 'Feliz Navidad' complete with maracas? Yeah, profs, you may have wanted to consider that.

Wow, tangents are fun. Back to my point: so I've been sitting at my laptop and thinking about all the things that have happened in the last year. I am completely stunned with what I've come up with. Here's a snippet of my brain's processes. Please keep your arms and legs inside the bloggisphere during the ride:

I've fallen in love with an amazing man.
I went from listening to angry-I-hate-boys music (thanks, Vanessa!) to experiencing an emotion that I can barely put into words. Bob and I have such a great connection with each other. He has softened my heart and makes me want to be a better person. I love him with all my heart and would do anything for him. I cannot wait to marry him, and hope these 5 1/2 months go by fast so I can fall asleep in his arms every night. He truly is my other half, my best friend, my everything.

My future career has been decided.
After feeling completely lost in life, and crying way too much over school, I have decided to become a Speech Pathologist. School is going great, and I was even chosen to do an Independent Study/Research Project with some professors at the U. Sure, I have to be in school for an extra year, but it's worth it when I look at my future and am able to smile with a confidence that I know it will make me happy.

I have become more domesticated.
While I have yet to religiously watch Martha Stewart, and create elaborate centerpieces with my fancy casserole, I have been cooking more. I even have a cookbook where I'm recording my favorite recipes. (Mind you, this is coming from the girl who lived on packaged pasta and Eggo Waffles for the 6 months she lived in the Avenues). I even asked for a KitchenAid for Christmas! WTF? Yup, it's time to get a cheesy apron with designs and words created with fluorescent puff-paint.

I am truly, sincerely, genuinely happy.
Not like I haven't been happy in the past, but I can't seem to stop smiling this year. I have so much to be thankful for. I have Bob, my health, great family and friends, a nice home to live in, good food to eat. While things are not perfect (when are they?), they are pretty darn close! In fact, I feel a song coming on...

[Priscilla dawns tap shoes and a sequined vest. Her friends pop out behind her bed, TV, and desk in similar attire with cheesy smiles and matching outfits as they sing...]

Gray skies are gonna clear up,

Put on a happy face;

Brush off the clouds and cheer up,

Put on a happy face.

And spread sunshine all over the place,

Just put on a happy face!

[Spirit fingers galore on that last note! SPIRIT FINGERS I TELL YOU!!!]

Thank you for choosing Cilla Inc. for all your blogging needs. Please remain seated until the post has come to a complete close.

Thank you, goodbye, goodbye now, goodbye, goodbye!

Meet Bob and Cilla!

2008-12-04T14:46:00.016-07:00

***

Meet Bob.

He's really, really, ridiculously good looking.

Pose, Bob. Pose!

Meet Cilla.

She likes having fun on children's playgrounds.

Fly, Cilla. Fly!

This is Bob.

He likes being adventurous.

Jump of the cliff, Bob. Jump off the cliff!

This is Cilla.

She likes dancing for hours on end.

Moonwalk, Cilla. Moonwalk!

See Bob.

He loves Cilla very much.

Kiss the girl, Bob. Kiss the girl!

See Cilla.

She loves Bob even more.

Knit him a sweater, Cilla. Knit him a sweater!

This is Bob.

He proposes to Cilla with 8 dozen roses on Nov. 19, 2008.

Say Yes, Cilla. Say Yes!

This is Cilla.

She says yes without any hesitation.

Call the Temple, Cilla. Call the Temple!

Meet the future Robert and Priscilla Neve

They are getting married on May 30, 2009

Live Happily Ever After, Neve's. Live Happily Ever After!

***

Thank Goodness!

2008-12-01T13:14:00.009-07:00

So I had a pretty awesome Thanksgiving. I ran a 5K in the morning (and made excellent time for not training),

went to the Zoo with my family,

played in the Zoo's playground with my fiance,

and enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner with Bob's family!

I sure like Thanksgiving. I really like the food part, the family part, the pie part, the tryptophan part, and the leftover part. I'm not so much a big fan of the jellied cranberry part, or the yam part. But all in all, I'm a fan!!! I've had quite some time now to brainstorm all that I'm thankful for and here's what I've come up with:

I am thankful for...
1. A fiance who is proud of my belching, sings theme songs from old cartoons, likes to read super nerdy fantasy novels out loud with me, and loves me enough to make me his wife.
2. Creepy guys on the bus who don't follow me home.
3. Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero.
4. Banana Cream Pie with a cold glass of 1% milk.
5. Knowing that I will never truly understand what it means to starve, freeze, or live on the streets.
6. Novels that provide escape, adventure, and enlightenment. Movies that cause laughter, thrill, and tears.
7. Mac & Cheese shaped like Spongebob characters, Triscuit and Easy Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Rich's Turkey, Gouda, & Cranberry sandwiches, cheesy grins, cheesy jokes, and cheesy moments.
8. FREE MEAL! from Cafe Rio.
9. Making it through a meal with the majority of the food in my mouth and not on my lap.
10. Music that allows for singing in the shower, dancing in the kitchen, and head-bobbing at work or while driving.
11. Having family and friends who support, joke, and let me be me.
12. Spring Break, Summer Break, Fall Break, Winter Break, road trips, weekend trips, week-long trips, and any other event with the word 'break' or 'trip' in the title.
13. Having faith that I will see my late grandparents again. Having faith that while the future will be difficult, it will also be full of immense joy and happiness. Having faith.
14. Sleeping in.
15. Being a women who can hold a job, attend a University, vote, have a family, and not be expected to live a quiet, passive life.
16. Not just owning 1 pair of shoes, but being able to feed my fetish with many shoes of differing color, shape, and purpose.
17. Modern medicine and the ability to live a long, full, fruitful life.
18. Butterfly kisses, Eskimo kisses, short kisses, long kisses, quick kisses, and romantic kisses.
19. All things beautiful, fun, exciting, adventurous, spontaneous...that aren't too risky or dangerous (a girl has got to set some limits).
20. Knowing that the entire future is what I choose to make it. And right now, I'm looking to make it a good one!

Blogging For Global Health

2008-11-25T11:43:00.008-07:00

Hello Readers,

This post will be a bit different than previous posts. No witty banter, intense sarcasm or satire will be featured here. You see, for my Global Health class, we are given an assignment to write a blog about something we have learned in the semester. In all truthfulness, I am quite excited about this assignment. For once my random babble can be used for something more than entertaining family and friends. Let the seriousness begin.

-Priscilla

Earlier in the semester we watched an AIDS video from Frontline. At first glance, I was not looking forward to this endeavor. The video was close to four hours long, and let's face it, I would much rather had been watching The Office or Gilmore Girls. Alas, I finally grabbed my laptop, some Triscuit and Easy Cheese, and pressed the play button on what would be a life-altering video.

Being a Behavioral Science and Health major, I have come across the subject of AIDS every semester. I know it is a devastating pandemic. I know it is preventable. What I did not know upon beginning this video is how America's leaders took a back seat to this serious issue.

The subject of AIDS is a large taboo. The HIV virus is spread by fluids such as blood and semen that put intravenous drug users and those participating in unprotected sex at risk. In the 1980s when AIDS was making an appearance in the United States, the main population infected were homosexual men. Instead of attacking this deadly disease with all hands on deck, President Reagan's administration responded with silence and indifference. This silence turned out to be deadly, and by barely even acknowledging HIV/AIDS the virus continued it's rapid spread.

Some politicians even seemed happy that this virus was attacking homosexual men and drug users. One politician stated, "AIDS. It's killing all the right people." This statement makes me sick to the stomach. Personally, I believe that what you do with your life is completely up to you, and AIDS just happened to be infecting these individuals based on its mode of transmission, NOT on the type of lifestyle you lead. I could go into this in more detail, but I prefer to stay away from religious debates.

Okay politicians, some of you think that AIDS was killing all the "right" people, do you? How about once the HIV virus entered the blood supply and young, innocent hemophiliacs became infected? Is the disease still ridding the world of those you find unfit to live here? I dare say no! By taking a back seat to a new disease, I believe the government allowed the spread of a disease across the country. I decline to blame them for the spread of the disease, but they sure didn't do much to help stop the spread.

Finally, as stated earlier, there are ways to prevent the spread of AIDS. Many countries have seen success from dispensing condoms and providing clean needles to the drug community. The majority of these countries have seen a drastic decline in infections with AIDS. These preventive measures work, so hopefully the United States takes part in them.

Hopefully is the key work here. Sadly, the United States declines to participate in a free clean needle exchange because it seems as if we are "contributing" to these distasteful habits. Once again, this heavy taboo against who AIDS affects and the inactivity of our nations government is only contributing to the spread of one of the biggest and most deadly diseases since the Black Plague.

Only when America's government decides to step up to the plate, and push all stigmas aside, will be hopefully see a decline in the incidence and prevalence of AIDS. Until then, this disease is thriving in the inactivity of its leaders.

Time For War!

2008-11-17T11:14:00.005-07:00

I was quite happy to see Utah beat San Diego last week. Quite happy. It feels very good knowing that we have yet to lose a game this season. Very good. The only thing standing between the Utes and a perfect season: BYU.

Oh joy.

I hate the Holy War. Okay, hate is a strong word. I ABSOLUTELY AND COMPLETELY LOATHE the Holy War. This sounds odd coming from a hard core Utah football fan as myself, but this is the one game of the year that ties my stomach in a square knot. Oh, yes, a SQUARE KNOT! (Bah, bah, bahhhhh!) I hate the uncertainty of how the game will play out. I hate having to be in the same stadium as those blue southerners. Most of all, I hate Rilvary Week. Oh...wait...I withdraw my last statement...

I love Rilvary Week. When else am I able to smack talk on Provo and the Y 24/7? How often am I able to spend an entire week looking for reasons to tell awesome Y-coed jokes? Oh, wait, I can do this whenever I want! Sweet sauce! But I feel extra priveledged to gather with my crimson posse in a unified we-rather-dislike-BYU week of mean text messaging, and vocal smack-downs.

Even as I'm writing this, Y jokes are filling my brain. My left hand is grasping my right wrist with all its might so as not to send hundreds of outlandish and cruel the-Y-smells-like-lame-sauce text messages to all my misled friends.

All I ask from my Utes this week is to beat the Cougs. Wait, beat is a strong word. I want them to CRUSH, MAIM, PULVERIZE, SMOTHER, SQUISH, AND TRAMPLE all over those kitties behinds!!! I want them to run from the Utes cowering in fear, wiping tears off their cheeks to prevent stains from their already shredded uniforms. I want to win I tell you, win! WIIIINNNN!!!

Suit up, men! The war has begun!

For Your Consideration...

2008-11-05T18:05:00.001-07:00

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Bulldogs, POW's, and Change: Election 2008 Through Cilla's Bewildered Eyes

2008-11-05T16:41:00.015-07:00

I'm not gonna lie, and neither are my hips. I'm glad Barack Obama is our next President. I honestly think he will do a decent job. Now, instead of going on and on about why I feel this way, let's look at this recent election/campaigning period in a lighter way. Think of it as the Diet Coke of politics: a tasty, calorie-free treat that only minorly curbs that craving, and still leaves you feeling empty.

I'm quite sad this election has come to an end. I have been actively saving newspaper articles and magazine excerpts to add to my "I Heart America" scrapbook. This once People Mag junkie has resorted to searching for all things political. You'd think I'd get sick of all that patriotic, red, white, and blue mumbo-jumbo, but I most definitely did not! In fact, my room feels extremely empty now that I have removed the final link from my paper chain count down to Election Day.

Aside from my own, personal memory-collecting, I have also enjoyed the entertainment that comes during the election season. There are so many things that I will miss about the elections. The following are only a few of many:

- Pondering what a bulldog would look like with lipstick.
- Being constantly reminded the McCain was a Prisoner of War.
- Hearing the word 'Change' approximately 28,459 times in the last year.
- Getting Sarah Palin and Tina Fey mixed up... they look so freakin' much alike!

Ahh....good times, good times. I do believe I will shed a single, glistening tear in remembrance of the happiness and joy this election has brought to me. I mean, I have been introduced to a fabulous new updo, opinions up the wazoo, and Democrat-Repulican vocal smack downs. Where else am I supposed to find this kind of entertainment? And don't say the CW or MTV. They ain't got nuthin on this!

To say bon voyage to Election 2008, please help yourself to this hefty serving of some final politician-bashing entertainment. (See the above JibJab toon) Mmm... trashing goodness! Remember my dear friends to keep your suits expensive, and your promises empty.

...and, I really can see Russia from my window.

Recycling: When Life Gives You Wedgies

2008-11-03T10:56:00.005-07:00

So it's been a couple weeks since my last post, and sadly, I don't have time to write much of anything right now...school has stolen my soul! To keep my loyal fans entertained, I'm "recycling" an older post from the blog my sister and I used to have (It Has Raisins In It). Please enjoy this bit of deja-vu:

WARNING! This post, while trying to keep it rated PG, contains material that might be offensive to readers whose iPods are limited to Kenny G, Barbara Streisand, and Michael Bolton.

The Wedgie. It turns a lady into a man, a man into a Golden Girl, and forces imminent humiliation upon whoever it attacks. It could seriously be the most horrendous clothing experience of our existence - leg warmers and the Dickie following close behind.

In my family, there are two types of wedgies:

1) Wedgie (wej-ee) n. The natural occurrence of undergarment bunching between the buttocks. May also go by the name of "Snuggie" if you are under 8 years old, or are in the immediate family of my sister-in-law.

2) Melvin (mel-vin) n. A super wedgie in which the undergarments say hello to the outside world. These are usually brought on by gym class ridicule or an extremely bumpy water slide.

With this distinction made, I am prepared to tell you about my recent wedgie experience.

The day was doomed to failure from the get-go. My newly cut bangs decided to time warp to 1984, and my bright eyeshadow decided to follow suit. Hoping that my weird luck would stay back with stirrup stretch pants and Duran Duran, I began my 20 minute trek across campus thinking the glass was half-full.

But then glass started to empty...

Precisely seven minutes into my walk, I began to feel my undaroos creeping where they did not belong. Whether it was my stylish, yet constricting jeans, or sassy walk coupled with heels that were the cause of the unwanted movement, I may never know. It only took three minutes for a mature wedgie to develop, and had I been wearing overalls within feet of my older brother, I would have suspected a melvin.

I have experienced quite a few award-winning, may-i-have-the-envelope-please-wedgies in my day, but this one surpassed them all. The wedgie of 2004 caused by an awkward layer of underwear, thick tights, and spandex pants was definitely the most painful. And the most recent melvin of Fall '05 with my sweats was practically painless, but far too visible. My current campus wedgie was the perfect combination of the two: maximum pain with the greatest visibility.

The Ultimate Embarrassment.

So there I was, looking like a blast from the past with the Hulk Hogan of wedgies, trying to find a way to rid myself of this humiliation. I figured I had 2 options:

Option #1: The Pick.

Um...hello...unless you want to commit social suicide you never, ever just up and pick your wedgie. First, you are admitting that you have a wedgie, and second, you are drawing even more unwanted focus to your derriere. Neither of which will help your self esteem. Also, if you are unsuccessful with your initial pick, further picks will be needed and you will be reduced to a monkey. While I like monkeys as much as the next average Jane, we have come too far in evolution for me to resort to such primitive behavior.

Option #2: The Natural Release.

Most of the time the wedgie will eventually work itself out of your fanny naturally. Altering your walk usually does the trick - but for those who oppose to walking with more length between their legs and taking wider strides should probably opt for something different. Allowing the wedgie to find it's way back home will also provide you with extra time to find a restroom or wide-trunked tree for a worry-free pick. 60% of the time, it works every time. Stats don't lie, folks. My vote goes to natural relief.

So with approximately 13 minutes left before reaching my next class, I started taking longer steps with high hopes that my wedgie would go away. But with a group of cute guys feet behind my rear, I couldn't bare to look completely ridiculous. Alas, my steps were just not big enough to release the wedgie. I was forced to suffer with my shame. I finished my trudge to class with my puffy bangs close to the ground, and my glass practically empty.

I am happy to say that I am no longer a victim of the super wedgie, though my discomfort will not soon be forgotten. I tried to cheer myself up today by watching the horrible performance of Britney Spears opening for the MTV Music Awards. Throughout the entire song, she stopped lip syncing multiple times, had distasteful dance moves, and looked confused and/or disinterested. This got me thinking. Maybe Ms. Spears wasn't stoned at all (like I had originally hypothesized). Maybe those tiny shorts had given her her own mondo-wedgie, and she was just weighing the best way to get rid of it... You should have gone with Option #1, Brit. I'm living proof that attempting Option #2 in heels is a bust.

Walkin' For Breast Cancer: Mammo-Grammies Style!

2008-10-15T14:47:00.009-06:00

On Saturday the 11th, the Hansen ladies got together with Mom's coworkers to participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. This was my third year walking, and as always, it was buckets of fun. Sure there was enough pink and Estrogen to make us all crave chocolate and potato chips for 2 days after, but it's always nice to gather together for a good cause.

Team Name: Mammo-Grammies

Team Goal: Stay warm while walking around Liberty Park.

Team Mission: Save the Ta-Ta's!

Team Motto: "Saving second base one step at a time."

...okay so maybe we didn't officially have a mission or motto, but deep down I'm sure this is what we were all thinking...collectively...at the same time...we are related after all...

One a more serious note, I truly was so happy to participate in this event again. Many women close to me have experienced Breast Cancer, include my Grandma Blanche. Every bit of money we raise helps find a cure and help prevention. To those who have suffered in some way from Breast Cancer, my heart is with you.

.::In Memory of Blanche Hansen::.

Happy Trees!

2008-10-13T17:39:00.007-06:00

Last Sunday, Bob and I went up to his cabin to hang out by the fire, snack, and watch General Conference. I was in HEAVEN!!! As most of you know from my previous post, Fall is my favorite season. I could stare at leaves and trees all day long, and the drool seeping down my chin would flow at maximum levels.

I made Bob drive on the way up so I could do such a thing. Like a over-excited pup, I plastered my face against the window to take in as much beauty as I could. Bob was a good sport while I constantly distracted him by saying, "Ooh! Look at those guys!" And, "Seriously, that little grouping right there is the best!" He was even nice enough to wipe up the slobber I left on the glass after the drive.

In between sessions, we watched The Swan Princess. HOLY CRUMBS! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! I remember going to see it for, like, my 7th birthday or something, and then going through an entire notebook of paper as well as at least 2 containers of Crayola crayons drawing up what I still believe to be the best Odette ever! Man, I wish I knew where those artworks were now...

Anywho, it was a great day with the Bobo. Cilla love him long time! Here are some pics we took of the leaves, cabin, and us for your own personal "Ooohs" and "Ahhhs." Also, grab some plastic wrap to protect your keyboard if you have a gland problem like yours truly.

Even the river was sparkling with the new Fall leaves.

The mountain of many colors. You can even see the snow-capped peaks in this picture. Truly a sight to be-hold. [Said like the Asian guy on Better Off Dead]

A happy little patch of trees! Bob Ross would enjoy painting these guys.

The view from the porch. Pretty nice, eh?

I think this sight may have brought out some tears from the Cilla. It truly was that stunning.

Hehe... we had a gooood tiiime :)

Sneaky kiss! Aww...Bob's so cute when he's suprised!

Sakoda Is My Homeboy

2008-10-03T23:22:00.004-06:00

So the Utah-Oregon State football game last night was amazing!!! I mean, I truly have not experienced so many emotions at one time during a football game since the Holy War of 2006 (and please don't make me relive that horrid final play ever again).

There were two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Utes were down by 8, and OSU fans were already celebrating a victory. Just when I thought the Utes would lose their winning streak to the crazy Halloween-colored team, Brian Johnson put his best QB skills to work to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. U-T-A-H Fight, Fight, FIGHT! Our defense also decided to get their heads in the game by stopping Oregon's following run. Yay defense! Once Utah gained possession of the ball, Johnson made it possible for us to get within field goal range. "No overtime for us!" I kept screaming to the fans closest to me. As the seconds clicked by, my fellow Utes and I screamed for a timeout. Finally a timeout was called to allow Utah one final attempt at beating the Beavers. Onto the field walked a calm, confident King Louie (AKA Louie Sakoda). With the ease that only comes with masterful kickers, Sakoda delivered a flawless field goal sealing the final score at 32-28 Utah.

Today I was constantly reminded of the intensity of my screaming as I continued to answer the Museum's phone sounding like Roz from 'Monster's Inc.' Yeah, I'm sexy. Anywhosie, I am so happy I was able to attend such a fun and exhilarating game yesterday. I slept like a baby while 'Utah Man' played through my head and lulled me off to dreamland.

Way to go, Utah! Your fans are beyond proud of you and the miracle you produced last night.

Another JibJab for the Siblings

2008-09-26T16:13:00.001-06:00

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To Cheer A Coworker Up...

2008-09-26T14:10:00.001-06:00

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Cilla: Workin' It In Any Decade

2008-09-18T16:07:00.017-06:00

Howdy Ya'll!

So I was bored the other day and found my way to yearbookyourself.com. Hehe...it sounds like an insult... go yearbook yourself! Anywho, you upload a picture of your face, and it attaches it to different yearbook pics. So let's see what Cilla would look like in different decades:

1950s: Priscilla always has a meal ready for her husband when he gets home from work and serves her casserole with a smile! Sure her heels give her blisters when she vacuums, but she understands that women should always look her best...even when doing housework.

1960s: Priscilla is spreading her wings and decides to go to work while still running the household. Is she overworked? Heck no! Is she syling those cat-eye glasses like every hard-working woman should? HECK YES!

1970s: Priscilla is deciding that it's time for her to go to the DISCO! Maybe she should change into her platforms. How do you like my feathered hair? Do I look like Farrah Fawcett?

1980s: Priscilla finally learns that girls just wanna have fun...by having HUGE HAIR! Oh boys, do you like my stirrup stretch pants?

1990s: Priscilla spends the majority of her time watching 90210 and purchasing miscellaneous denim pieces that she proceeds to spray with bleach. She's pretty much all that and a bag of chips.

Um, yeah, I'm pretty much 99.9% sure that I would be awesome in any decade. I mean, it would take a lot more than clothes and hair to make me not awesome. And, c'mon, you know I would ROCK in the 80s... Blondie and me. BFFs. BFFs.