E True Cheverly Story

An Average Day in the Robinson Household


7:00 am Wakey up SQUIRM!!
Grunts....grunts....growls....gruntsSTRETCH!!!
7:30 play time- they wake us right up with their cuteness.
-Feeding (every three hours)
-Pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat EEERP (cheers from all)
-Eee Eer Eee Eer Eee Eer Eee Eer (rocking chair) and much etc.
-Whimpering and crying, and breathing through conjested noses when napping.
-Chica a Chaca Chica Chaca Chica Chaca Chica Chaca (the swings...best way I could think of to spell the sound ok?)
-Sneeze- ACHOO hooooo ACHOO hoooo (we die every time the boys do that)
-Nap Time
-Television heard in the backround (Now it's time for the weather report in DC, Larry take it away!......... President Obama plans to visit Tampa on Wednesday, more about that tonight)
-"Tonight's gonna be a good night" (song stuck in my head that I blurt out alot)
-Will you throw me a burp rag?
-Shh Shh Shhhhhh Shh Shh Shhhhh
-Nap time (sometimes lasts for an hour sometimes, 5 minutes. They seem to sleep longer when held)
-Ah goo ah goo ah goo! (noise from the babes and us...)
-Hahahahaha hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha (That's Emily and I laughing throughout the day).
-Shhh Shh Shhhh Shh Shhhhh
-Nap time
-"What movie should we put in now?"
-"Daddy's home!" (around 6 pm)
-Dinner time at last
-Babies like to watch us eat while they sit in their bumbo chairs. We are always too distracted by their coos and smiles to have our own dinner table conversations.
-Dishes put away, Dinner is always a nice pause.
-Bouncie bounce bounce bounce sway.....sway....sway.... not working, shoulder time....pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat
-Eee eer eee er eee eer eee eer eee eer
-Will you throw me a burp rag?
-Sneezing...AACHOO hooooooo. ACHOOO hooooooo
-Grunts....grunts...growl....
-Shh shh shhh shh shh shhhh
-Eee eer eee er eee eer
-Bed time
-9 pm- Goodnight guys thanks (emily and I to KC and Janice)
-2 am-thanks guys goodnight (time for our shift)
-Sometimes babies are so good we take turns going back to bed and resting for another hour or so, or we just camp out in the living room. I like the couch, Emily likes the air matress. I like Maryland.

...in case you were wondering

Three of Everything

Every day is baby day! 

and of course…

Day 5 and I still have two months exactly till I go home. I love how slow time is going here because I am just trying to soak in every minute of this experience. We watch movies all day and recently finished the Lord of the Rings series. Right now we are watching Tommy Boy which I’ve never seen before so I am having a good time! Emily and I made bean dip today and had the hardest laugh we’ve had yet. I made breakfast yesterday morning…turned out delicious thanks to Emily cooking up her homemade syrup! I am learning so many cooking skills!   When the babies are asleep we catch up things, for example Emily will work on the babies room (which is complete) and do laundry while I make some phone calls or try to catch a power nap. No matter what we are doing, we are always having a fun time. Every time I see all three babies laying next to each other, with their constantly kicking legs, I still can’t believe there are three of them. As I write I see three car seats all lined up next to each other-amazing. And when I see each swing with babes or without, it is breathtaking. These babies are so cute and so precious. Play time is between 7 and 7 30 am and we just watch them coo and smile and kick their legs and swing their arms and even though we are tremendously tired from camping in the living room getting up every hour to feed and put back the babes back to sleep, we are still smiling and laughing with them. I’ve recently discovered that the best way to keep a baby asleep and to catch a nap yourself at the same time is to sleep with them on the couch or on a bed. Until we get them in the mode of sleeping in their cribs, I want to try to nap with one of them as much as I can-it’s smart because if they start to wake up I’m lying right next to them and can still be half asleep while rocking them with my hand. I don’t have to get up and pick them up. This green goo is named Gary-the babies favorite toy in my opinion. But why does he have name? About 4 days ago, Emily picked up this toy and started waving it at one of the babes. She said “Oh dis is scary!” But I stopped her and said, did you just say Gary? Is his name Gary? She laughed so hard and said “No, I said SCARY!” Just a funny side note because it is always a joke when we pick that toy up. Now to get back on track, these babies are only getting older and better with everything they do. They will soon be starting to sleep for longer hours in the night, and soon old enough and good enough to take to the mall and downtown DC. Oh speaking of DC, Emily and I got to go on Sunday. We took the Metro system and got there in 15 minutes. I was so excited to be there. We went in a few museums, enjoyed sipping hot chocolate strolling along the long stretch between the capitol and the Washington Monument- felt awesome being there. The weather was chilly…but not too cold to need a coat. Forecast the day before said it was to rain all day. It did until we left for DC so we were really lucky. We finally left at 6 30 ish after walking past the Washington monument and the World War II memorial- beautiful. By this time it was dark and we were tired, but it felt great to us getting all that exercise! Until next time, ta.

And It’s 4 am In Cheverly

I don’t think there’s a more perfect time to write than in the quietest of night-that’s right, the quietest. The triplets are all sound asleep in their swings…unswinging. Emily and I both went to bed at 9 30 and she got up at 3 and I stayed in bed till 4 now she’s back in bed for another hour or so. I told her to not get up if it’s quiet. I like the morning shift of 2 to six better than being up from 9 to 2. I don’t know why. In the hardest of times with these babies (which actually hasn’t been to dramatic) I am always finding myself having fun no matter what and I think it’s because I am in Maryland! We don't get outside hardly at all, but that’s ok because I’m in Maryland it’s a great feeling.

The flight seemed to pass extremely fast without any turbulence. The babies were so good and quiet only crying out maybe twice and only for a short period of time. It was so fun just carrying them around the airport and getting on and off the plane babies strapped to us-just cute. On the drive home through the beautiful freeway (I cried out once approached the onramp saying, “There they are! The infamous eastern highways!” Driving on Maryland/Virginia freeways is a nature walk in itself.) The babies cried and cried…but then we started rattling the rattler and instantly they were calm. Good thing they’re at the age where they notice those blessed gadgets! Once we entered into the Cheverly I instantly fell in love as it felt like we were driving through the cutest of towns in Logan. Every home (old and cute) was hidden in the trees. I felt like we had entered a forest. Well the second we got our luggage in the house, it was time for work: eat, sleep, play, sleep, eat, etc. First night I could not sleep one minute even in my oh so comfortable bed, an air mattress that I love so much I want to switch it out with mine at home! (my room was so clean and cozy when I arrived- I truly feel at home) So I stayed up till 6 am then slept till 9. Felt great the rest of the day after finding myself a small power nap while feeding Bennett. We celebrated KC’s birthday with a wonderful dinner of Lasagna, garlic bread and salad with a finish of raspberry cheesecake. I found it extremely delightful and decorated so cute-I praised Emily’s culinary influences. So then we sang a harmonious Happy Birthday then enjoyed gift opening. After that proceeded to play as many rounds as the babies would allow us to Banagrams. So the second shift began and this time I did fall asleep. Emily and I both awoke at 2 am and slept off and on like the babes till 7. The day went on like normal. It’s always fun to have the television on even if we’re watching Days of our Lives or The Bonnie Hunt Show; just to have background noise is fun. I enjoy every minute of being here. The babies are so sweet and I think I’m starting to fall in love with them. I love this opportunity more than words and I love being involved in their little lives. I found out the best news today from Emily, she’s going to take me to downtown DC on Sunday! I was so ecstatic. I can hardly wait-only one day more! Well today is Saturday and it will be a good day.  I am crocheting a beanie for Alex. Ruby’s was already made before we flew out. Once Alex’s is done, I will start on Bennet’s- just a fun project to do on the side. 

Of Aprons and Tomatoes

A short story

When they handed me the stiff, crisp dark blue apron, I chuckled to myself as I reflected on my first job where I also wore an apron very similar to the one I had in my hands. I thought to myself, “Will I ever escape from the apron world?” I brushed that very small issue aside and took my apron and shirt and went home. I would start my first day of work the following morning, a Thursday which was perfect for me because I had no school that day. I put on my apron before I left my home like a good new employee, and was on my way. As I pulled into the large grocery store parking lot, I steered my eyes toward the area where I was told we as employees could park. I did so still cautious if it was the right area or not (I was nervous because when I filled out my employment papers, there was a blank provided for my license plate number, for the reason of my car being ticketed if I parked in a no employee parking-zone area). All the same I liked to think I was going to be ok. I walked into the store, feeling a bit shy due to the fact that every employee was probably looking at me because they knew I was new. I was afraid that I’d walk the wrong way or open the back door the wrong way, or that my kakis were the wrong wash or that my hair was too simple! Are all new employees that paranoid? So I went to the back room to clock in. I was feeling pretty excited to finally do it myself; the previous day during “tour” time I observed various employees bush fifteen buttons then swipe this cool card then press another seven buttons. I remember thinking I could not wait until I was not “new” anymore.

I clocked in that Thursday morning, feeling one step closer to being learned. When I was done (it only took 18 seconds) I turned around and stood still for a moment or two bewildered at what I should do next. Where was my supervisor who would come and rescue me from this dark hallway? I didn’t know if I should go out to the front or find a dark corner and wait till someone found me. I hated standing there looking “new”. Finally, surprised that I had to be the one to tell someone I was new, told some random person in an apron that I was new and was looking for a manager. I was found and put right to work behind the register. As a kid I remember taking field trips to a Museum for children and there was a pretend grocery store. I thought it was the most fun activity in all the world. I remember I always wanted to be the cashier and make the beep noise as other kids brought their plastic peppers and cereal boxes to the black conveyer belt. As I stood there with my manager standing right behind me literally breathing down my neck watching the ever move of my fingers and toes, I took the first item and as slow as I could be, (not on purpose) I ran it along the scanner. BEEP it was in the computer: WF BL BEANS. As if I wasn’t feeling dumb enough that I took five minutes to ring up two boxes of cereal and some more canned beans, my manager would slip out random side notes about everything. It wasn’t that I was doing everything wrong, she was just giving good pointers and I appreciated it. Things were going pretty good as I tried my hardest to make eye contact with the customer AND slide their grocery items, AND make conversation with them, AND continue to bare the embarrassment of my manager right behind me telling all that I am brand new. I remember when I worked at an ice cream parlor, new employees had to wear a tag that said they were new. Can a sigh of relief ring through the store? That would be excruciatingly painful to bare but I suppose having someone stand behind you telling what to do comes pretty close.

As time goes on (which passes very quickly here in the grocery store world) I notice the produce coming forth. For once in my life, I had a smart moment and knew there would not be a bar code on these thin plastic bags. I grabbed the Tomatoes, “What do I do with these?” I ask humbly. The reply comes, “set it on the scale to be weighed then type in 9133”. I did so and it rang up TOM ROMA. The dark days have begun. A code for ever produce item, and eventually I’d come to learn that there would be a code for every kind of tomato- is there a trap door underneath my shoes I can refer to? Each check stand came with a code sheet for every item that is in stock. I don’t know why I didn’t use this right away because Instead I turned around and asked the cashier behind me or if I had to, called out to a manager which I hated doing! I hated asking people. I was so caught up in how annoying it was so type in so many codes all starting with a 4, that I didn’t realize that soon I will have most of the common ones down! 4066 4070 4011 4068 4187 4062 why don’t we just add Pi 3.145673847382947398147398?! It seems just as complicated! I was amazed that other employees could just shout out a four digit code while having already memorized sixteen other codes. Oh the day when I can punch in that code on my own!

Now Tomatoes are like beetles; they don’t taste very pleasant and they are squishy; the way they nestle in my palms as I gently take hold of them to lift them up and then set them back down on the scale. A certain kind of Tomato came through, they were called Zebra- a much more expensive breed due to their exquisitely sword shaped green leaves that embrace the rounded tomato. Why are there so many different kinds of tomatoes and what makes them more expensive than the other? The soil which nourishes and produces such crimson fruit? I was sure at one point in my life that the earth holds soil of it’s own unique kind. Unless you go to China, I’ve heard their soil is much much colder and can cause fevers when in contact with human skin. I am not exactly sure why this is nor do I ever care to be sure because Tomatoes are unpleasant unless they are chopped in flea sized pieces mixed with refried beans and guacamole that came from a fresh pillow soft Avocado on sale for 99 cents--delicious.

My hands grow pretty dirty through out the day which means my poor dark blue apron becomes filthy as well, we’re like a team my apron and I, we both grow with filth and dislike tomatoes (juicy tomato juice does not perform an artistic masterpiece on dark blue). I’d like to say it is because of those retched tomatoes, but I cannot do so because they are safely secured in those dinky thin plastic bags they provide for you at the produce section. I could tear through those bags with my eyelashes. Maybe I should try doing that some time because forty-seven out of fifty-three customers will have tomatoes in their cart. Thank goodness they are scent free in those one penny bags.

I once knew of a a girl who could eat tomatoes like apples and grape tomatoes like grapes. I wish I could do that, they are truly healthy…but I still won’t do it, throw me an apple and I’m off both sugar and fat! We as a human race are so interesting in our differences in what we like and dislike. I love refried beans, you hate them. I hate banana peppers, you eat them for a snack. Why can’t we all like Tomatoes…uh…did I just admit that I wish I liked tomatoes? Ok I will admit it-they are so healthy and of a pretty color and they are abundant in variety. Enough of this poor allowance of tiny slivers of smashed tomatoes in my salad or bean dip. Is it possible to teach our minds to like a food of which we never have? At the end of the day, as I exit my check stand and release my till from the register to go to the back and enjoy recounting what I’ve been entering and receiving for seven hours, I untie my loosened apron bow, and hang it up on the trail of hooks, and gaze outward from the large windows overlooking the entire store. As the vegetales vegetables say, “If you like to talk to Tomatoes…” Another day of Tomatoes I say to myself. Perhaps tomorrow I will like them.

The End

Long Live The Christmas Season!

Christmas came and gone like a car speeding past you. It seems almost impossible to grasp the reality of how fast years really do fly. I remember perfectly everything I did last Christmas of 2008, and now it’s almost 2010. This time last year I did not have a job so all I had to stress about was school. Having a job this year creates double stress and twice as busy of a life. I did not think life could get this busy. I love Christmas and unfortunately, this year I really had no time to grasp all the tiny details of Christmas that I love. I’ve listened to Christmas music every day as I went to school, I watched Christmas movies, but something was missing. As heart broken as I was with being so busy not even having time to soak up the fact that it is Christmas already, I topped it all off by working on Christmas Eve. It was a good day even though it was terribly busy because I was able to involve myself in a true Christmas service- an employee I worked with had his house robbed the previous night of his entire family’s Christmas presents. When I was informed, I extended a plea of giving from anyone who could donate a little something to this big gift basket. At the time he was finished with this shift (it was also his last day of work) we brought him to the back room with his parents and presented them with the gift basket, $180, and an 8 feet see through stocking filled with toys. It was very touching indeed. I was grateful that I was able to part of that experience because it brought a little more of Christmas in me. Well at closing time, I became extremely frustrated with the remaining customers as they pleasantly took their time through my line even when they noticed the lights were dimmed meaning “It’s time to go people”. This one woman took her precious time writing a check as I am anxious as anxious gets to get home to my family. Well I was able to be out of there by 6:30 pm still gathering all the while that It was Christmas Eve. I’ve never had a harder time believing in something. I got home very tired and emotional. My family was all ready to eat at the table. I changed and went to the table again, still trying to believe that I was not dreaming. The night passed very quickly. It was nice watching “It’s A Wonderful Life”. That brought my spirits up a little. I was sad most of the night though. All that was going through my mind was “Where did the year go???” Well Christmas day eventually came and it was a wonderful Christmas day filled with the joy  that wasn’t quite felt on Christmas Eve. I was glad I felt it though. It is now December 30 and I say to the world, it is still Christmas. New Years is a part of the “Holidays”. How and why would you want to throw away your Christmas tree the day after Christmas? After all the work you’ve put into that and home decorations why would you want to take it down? While working through the Holidays, it grieved me to hear people say, “I can’t wait for Christmas to be over”. That phrase right there tells me they have forgotten what Christmas is all about. Yes the rushes are tiring, but it’s their own fault for putting it off so drastically. Christmas is turning very commercial and it appears to be all about presents more than it ever has before. I hope I can do as much as I can next year to enjoy every tiny beautiful thing about Christmas.

 

One thing I have always loved about my family traditions after Christmas, is how we go to Logan my grandparents house for New Years. It is so wonderful knowing after Christmas day is over, we still have that fun fun trip to take! It is just a relaxing time. Something about Logan is just relaxing. We play ping pong, watch movies, tour the old town and just have fun being with each other. I can’t wait! I love Logan and I am going to live there someday. Well, After new years, we will be back to the real world and that means for me another new semester of school. I enjoy school, but I will miss Christmas and the holidays terribly. There is no happier time in my life then during the cozy peaceful November and December months. But it is comforting to know that it really will be here very soon.

And A Happy New Year

Oh the weather outside is delightful, but the fire is so frightful…

I love winter and I love this time of year. In the words of Bing Crosby and Danny Kay, “What is Christmas with no snow?”

I remember that It snowed last Christmas and it was glorious indeed. It seems as though once Christmas is over, snow and ice is just ugly white cold slushy dangerous stuff; perhaps. However, I still love snow storms.

This past thanksgiving was pleasant aside from me having a cold. Luckily Thursday wasn’t the height of my sickness so it was bearable…it was the next day which is decoration day. I have to rest every ten minutes because my throat was so painful every time I tried to swallow. It got that way from moving around a lot. All the same, I played the Christmas music and I got the decor up.

I’m so thankful for my family. I love my parents and siblings and the relationships I have with them. I love that we are a Disney family and that have the opportunity to vacation together so often and with Disney; it really is a dream come true. I’m thankful for my education and that I’m as far into college as I am. I love that I know where I’m going with my career and that if feels right and I enjoy it. I’m thankful for my employment. It was tricky getting a job, but I have one now and it’s a lot of fun. I’m thankful that home is a safe place for me and that I always want to be there. I’m thankful for good health and good health of my family. I’m thankful for the privilege I have to tend my nieces still. I’ve been doing it twice a week for four and a half years and it’s been  very rewarding. I’m so lucky to have a way to make a bit more money on the side. My sister is so generous to me in this. And most of all, again I’m thankful for my family and the love we share with each other; the love clearly comes from Heavenly Father.

On a slight tangent, I’d like to one day come in contact with Kozy and ask them why they cut off Christmas music on December 26. Hmm…We wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! New years is part of the “Holidays” and I really wish they’d realize that. Now, I’ll still listen to the Christmas music on my ipod if they won’t play it, but it’d be nice to turn it on on the radio when my ipod is dead.

What is playing on my Ipod you ask? Well I listen to only the best and the music I grew up listening during the holidays:

Mannheim Steamroller

Pat a Pan

Joy to the World

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Deck the Halls

Stille Nacht

Good King Wenceslas

Neil Diamond

Morning Has Broken

White Christmas

The Christmas Song

War is Over

Santa Clause is Coming to Town

 

What I love about my family’s New Years tradition is that we go up to Logan and stay with our grandparents. Although Grandpa Scott passed away in June, It’ll be slightly different without him there. It’ll be quieter with less laughs. But of course we won’t forget him. So it’s fun to know after Christmas we still have our trip there to look forward to. We have snow ball fights and play pool and ping pong as it snows outside, we go to Smith’s Market Place to buy treasures for the men and their New Years shoe. I love that tradition and I get weird looks when I tell people about how on New Years Eve we lay out our shoes and in the morning there’s a little gift or two with candy; it’s just another fun surprise to look forward to.

What’s most hard to believe is that it’s just this time of year again. I remember more than perfectly everything I was doing a year ago. Once we get to this time of year, time freezes which makes the year until now seem  like it really flew.

Well until my next post, Merry Christmas.

Our Disney Cruise…Off the Florida Key

I finally found the time to talk about our cruise. There’s so much to say to I had to take a lot of time to do it! Enjoy!

 

November 7, Saturday morning we made our way to the airport. I was feeling sick all night and crossed my fingers extra tight, tighter than the parent trap twins, that I’d get better for our most magical vacation. Feeling mediocre on the way to the airport, and on the plane, I finally felt recovered Saturday night; I was very glad. We stayed at a most exquisite Marriott in Orlando near the airport. We had a pleasant night, aside from our twittered stomachs anticipating what we would see the very next day. In a hurry, that very next day came swiftly. We got ready and caught our van that would deliver us to the port of dreams. After about an hours ride, a very frightful one to most of my kin, rumors have it that the driver was going eighty, though I didn’t mind nor notice, we arrived at Port Canaveral and spotted as if it was a contest who could spy it first, the Disney Wonder. Once we got out of the van, a perfect Florida breeze hitting our faces, we made our way through an unfamiliar detour due to construction right at the site. We entered the doors under the huge sign that read DISNEY CRUISE LINE and got through security safely, except for my elder brother Ben…you’ll have to ask him yourself ;) We nearly walked impatiently up the escalators up to the enormous lobby where we would check in and board the ship. To much of our surprise, the entire building was decorated for Christmas. I was so glad because I had been hoping it would be; and seeing the lobby decorated triggered our thoughts to the possibility of the ship’s interior to be all decorated. I’ll skip ahead and give away the surprise that it was decorated! As we finally entered in the boat the greeters asked our last names then announced through their microphones, “Disney Wonder please welcome the Fowles and the Jensen Family!” It was quite thrilling really.  Well this being our second cruise, we found ourselves a bit more familiar with our surroundings and where to find our rooms. We did so speedily, and went directly to Beach Blanket Buffet. We enjoyed a big lunch and then went off to explore the ship. At around three or four in the afternoon, the sail away party began with dancers and even some Disney characters hopping on stage to dance as well. It was very fun to be in the crowd dancing away knowing all this fun we’re having is only the beginning! Before the ship took off, we heard it’s horn blow loud and clear “When you wish upon a star…” How cute is that. And before we knew it, we were treading water. That night there was a show in the Walt Disney theater called The Golden Mickey's and what it was was parts of almost every Disney movie played out on the stage; it was very entertaining. My favorite one was Tarzan. Anyway, after that we just explored some more, ventured to the various lounges and hallways. Again, it was so delightful to see beautiful Christmas wreathes up against the windows, and Christmas trees here and there and the main lobby where we first walked in had a enormous tree by the stairs. It was glorious to see these decorations throughout the ship and what was even more wonderful is that there was music playing in the halls and elevators and that music was from Disneyland! I did not remember that happening  from our first cruise so it was so fun. The first night was a lot of fun because the boat rocked a lot because of our speed and it was extremely windy outside. My dad and my brothers and I all went to the bow of the ship and stood at the very front. The wind was so strong we could hardly walk without having to hold on to the railing. It blew against our faces that we could hardly open our eyes.  They tried their best to play basketball. It was funny to see their shots blow right back at them after shooting. I’ll never forget that night.

 

Well, Monday morning we arrived at Nassau and got off the ship at around ten a.m. All of us went straight to the scooter rental place to get our scooters, then we rode them around for a while, then us ladies were dropped off at the flee markets while the men rode away happily (All this while, little Reese was being taken care of at the adorable Oceaneers Club.) We found cute purses and jewelry and didn’t have to spend all that much! Well I don’t want to keep going into unnecessary details, so I'll be haste. Mom and dad went to Atlantis, while me and the older sibs did some more joy riding to a beach a bout a half our along the coast. It was so neat to ride around and get to know the country instead of lingering in boring tourist boundaries. Well we all had to be back on the ship at 6 pm or it’s ‘so long Disney Wonder, hello life on an island with no airport.’ or so I’ve heard they have no airport. Anyway, that night was a lot of fun…we…ok I actually can’t remember what we did exactly but I know what we did was absolutely magical! During the cruise, we had dinner at three places. Sunday night was Animators Palate, Monday night was Parrot Cay, Tuesday night was also Parrot Cay and Wednesday night was Tritons which we did not do, a few of us went to the five star Palo while the remainders wallowed in self pity due to insufficient age/lack of desire and possibly money (Palo is an additional $15). Well the reason why I brought up where we ate is because that was where we were able to first meet our waiter/waitress. They were great to us and we will always remember them as we still remember our first ones! My favorite place we dined at was probably Parrot Cay. Our table was right by the huge window. We were quite lucky.

 

Well moving on to Tuesday, November 10. We arrived early at Disney’s private Island, Castaway Cay. The weather was perfect, as it was at Nassau. I somehow lost my family as they went ahead without me and ventured to the beach while I wasted precious time searching for them on the extra large boat. Frustrated at them I gave up and went ahead to the beach hoping to stumble upon them. I took a few pictures by myself and had some “alone” time I guess (not like I needed it) but then as I approached the family beach (there are three beaches, the family beach, teen beach and serenity bay for people ages 18 and older) I was spotted by my father. I was relieved I will be frank. I felt like a child, so upset that I was lost, though I did not shed a tear. Well we all enjoyed a relaxing morning on the beach. The water was very warm once you got use to it. It was so amazing to sit on the sand breathing the Bohemian air  and looking at the ship just parked there so still thinking, “I can’t believe we’re here.” Every minute on that island was truly fascinating. Well, after not too long, we were already quite anxious to go rent our bikes. Little Reese was dropped off with the oceaneers and we went ahead on our bikes and went exploring. Our surroundings were beautiful. We were even fortunate to receive a little precipitation while riding. It was a humid warm rain, but still neat. Once we dropped of the bikes after a relaxing hour of riding, it was time for lunch.  The barbeque they had for us was exceptional. Disney just loves to party so while we were eating there was music playing, games going on, and of course characters wandering about. I loved it! Well, after lunch we made our way over to Serenity Bay. The man in charge of rentals for tubes and pads let us have five of them for free because we told him we were only going to use them for an hour or so, not the entire day like as the offer called for.  Now Serenity Bay was my favorite. The water was as warm as a pool. Laying on that pad drifting slowly was one of the most relaxing times of my life. It was so quiet and a light cool breeze would brush over me but not make me cold because the water would flood over me a few inches or so. I did not want to leave.

 

So we spent about an hour at Serenity before we had to start making our way back to the ship. We got some shopping in and some last minute pictures of the beaches and the Flying Dutchman (the ship used in the movie Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Mans Chest is parked there) with the ship; great picture with the two together.

 

Well it was  sad as my mom and I leaned against the railing saying goodbye to Castaway Cay. Were were at sail again and were going to be for the next 36 hours. Tuesday night was the traditional Pirate Party Disney holds every night after Castaway’s visit. All it really was was dancing. We were all kind of thinking…”ok we get the point…you guys like to dance” but hey, I got into it so it was fun! That night after we all did some shopping in the little stores, we met in the Walt Disney theater for the showing of the new Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey. It was good! And also that night at eleven p.m. was Karaokee at Wavebands lounge. My brothers Bryce and Brad both did Johnny Cash songs and I did Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and then Ben and Lindsey did a duet from Grease. It was a fun night!

Wednesday November 11 was our day at sea. We swam and ate and ate and swam. In the afternoon some of us went to the showing of “UP” in the Buena Vista Theater. I loved it! It was my first time seeing it and I almost cried. Hanging out on the deck was a lot of fun. Seeing nothing but the ocean was thrilling. There’s a brand new cafe called Outlook cafe that has all glass windows above the Cove (adult pool) so you can see everything including the ocean. Around six thirty that evening, a thunder storm occurred. It was so awesome to see the waves slowly get higher and rougher and to see the rain drops collapsing constantly on them. Although we didn’t feel a difference in the rocking of the boat, we still got the same affect just by staring at the waves crashing against the boat. As we hung out on the deck, we began a game of shuffle board. About five minutes in, were were surprised to see Captain Hook walking towards us, then we were even more surprised to see that he wanted to play with us! So we handed him a stick and he played for a few minutes. We were so lucky that dad came outside in time to take pictures of us with him. Those pictures are priceless. That night it was our night to dine at Palo. We got to dress up  which was fun. Mom and dad and my youngest brothers didn’t come, only I and my elder siblings. It was dark outside but we could still see and hear the rain hitting the large glass windows. It was fun to be able to look outside. After dinner, we met up with the others to hear the most exciting news! Mom and dad added more points to our vacation club and the reason for that action is because only on the ship were they offering points at a killer discount, and so they couldn’t resist! They saved thousands of dollars. We were all so excited. This means our Disney vacations will come even sooner after each other. So after that little pow wow we made a movie together. Just took random clips of funny things we were doing on the ship, as if we were being spied on. Lindsey and I spent a little while longer in Cadillac Lounge located on deck 3 at the bow of the ship. We got to know a waiter there named Ross. He was very nice, and very cute I’d like to add. What was crazy is that as we were sitting there, the time being about eleven thirty, we looked behind us toward the huge windows, and saw that we were already slowly approaching our dock. I couldn’t believe it. My brother in law Chad and I, always being the ones who stay up last and latest, went out on deck and watched us port. It was neat. After that, we retired and we all woke up to one last breakfast at Beach Blanket Buffet, then sadly walked off the ship. We took a few last looks at the Wonder before our van picked us up. We immediately  already began reminiscing  of our experiences and thrills and it was that way on the ride to the airport, waiting for our flight, sitting on the plane, getting off the plane, and in the car driving home. Today is Thanksgiving November 26 and we all watched videos and pictures together in our theater laughing and loving every minute of it. The day after we returned, we all still felt like we were on vacation. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves. It all seemed like a dream that cruise. It was truly magical and I wouldn't cruise with any other line. Long live the mouse! :)

Dear October

Farewell October. Like the others you flew by incredibly fast, but you truly are my favorite month. You sent fall a bit late I'd say...but you also snowed and that was thrilling! I'm going to miss you terribly because I love everything that goes on: Halloween, red and oranged leaves, cool breezes and just a fall feeling! I love the cozy feel every day. Now, I want to let you know what I was for Halloween, you're final day. I was wind blown on the 30th and then a milk jug on Halloween. I got to wear those to work so it was fun! Ahh I still can't believe how much I already miss you. Although it is still fall out, it won't last for too much longer because snow is going to invade, but don't worry I'll still love you more.

Love,
Britney

I'm Still Single. . .

I cannot wait to be married and have about one hundred and fifty more things to write about. It is a different world writing from a single life. I have no stories of funny things my kids did, or stories of my honeymoon, or stories of my pregnancy. . .but some day I shall. So I will keep writing independently and freely; after all my major is creative writing, so I should get all the creative poems and stories in before life takes over and I start having to write about non-single life!

Opinions vs. Facts

I'd like to write about something that's been on my mind lately, something I've noticed with people. First I'd like to bring up the terms we call Opinions and Facts.

Opinion: A belief that may or may not be backed up with evidence.

Fact: A pragmatic truth, a statement that can, at least in theory, be checked and confirmed.
(source: Wikipedia)

Example 1. Lets pretend I was talking with some friends about who the best looking actor is. I say, "I think Hugh Jackman is so attractive". They then say, "He's really not."

1. Hello, I was giving an opinion and you can't say to me he's really not. Where is your proof that he's really not? Where can you confirm that? What this person should have said instead was, "In my opinion, I don't think he is."

Example 2. Lets say I was talking to a classmate and said, "I like the name Logan." And then they say, "That's not a name."

1. Hello, who are you to say it's not a name? Do you have back up? A statement saying it's not a name? I didn't think so.

Example 3. Lets say a friend of mine began to discuss the issues among congress. I notice confusion she has with one cabinet and the other. I correct her and say, "Actually I think it's this way other than that way." That would be more factual than opinionated because I could find proof for my answer.

I've heard people who will correct wrong facts in a mean way. All we have to say is, "Actually I thought it was this" or, "It might be this!" or, "I actually heard this". No need to get excited for knowing something someone does not and then make them feel stupid for not knowing it. This has happened to me many times and I wish people would just word their phrases differently; so instead of saying, "I can't believe you didn't know that" or "Wow everyone knows that". (sarcastic tone) they could say, "Oh, I thought you'd know that." or "Well now that you know that, isn't it great?"

I bring these thoughts up because it's becoming so common these days. People will interfere when someone gives their opinion by trying to outsmart them (when the opinion giving person was not trying to prove factual knowledge) and transform the "opinion", turn it opposite, and make it to sound factual-very unnecessary. People should not get offended or think they have to hurry and outsmart a person because they disagree with the opinion; they need to stop and think hey, they were just speaking their minds-nothing official.

That is all.

The Wonder

On January 27 2009, my family embarked on our first Disney cruise and had the time of our lives. Being in the Disney Vacation Club allows us to vacation more than we ever would with incredible benefits! We are so lucky that we are already going on our 2nd Disney cruise!! We all can't wait. I wrote a poem out of my excitement. . .

The Wonder

Just over the bridge
there is a ship of red and blue.
Larger than ten houses,
there will be nothing you won't do.

We pull out our tickets;
our passport of dreams
and anxiously make way,
hastily it seems.

We are greeted by smiles
asking our names
then ringing through the ship
we catch a glimpse of fame.

Through mazes we find our rooms
then interest soars;
tall and wide we roam
up and down twelve floors.

Three pools on our left,
a movie theater on our right,
mickey mouse passing by,
cuisines at every sight!

We cannot help but smile
when smiles are all we see.
The horn blows strong and clear
filling our bodies with glee!

The water begins to hustle;
a view with no end.
The Florida breeze cools,
the Disney ship has begun to send.

Some Sun and Poetry

Over the UEA break, my family and I had the pleasure of going to Moab. The weather was perfect, not hitting above 70 degrees. We visited Dead Horse Point and Park Avenue in Arches. They were spectacular, especially Dead Horse Point- I had never been there before. At Park Avenue, we dropped dad, Bryce, and Brian off at the beginning (Brad was back at the Condo, he wasn’t feeling too good-very sad)and we drove to the end and walked up to meet them halfway, people passing us said, “This way’s harder! You should’ve gone down instead of up”" I wanted to explain that we know the route, we were just going this way to meet up with our kin. Very funny.

Anyway, on Saturday our last day, Grandma Julie, who we had the wonderful company of, was paining and pasting away in her thick creative scrapbooks. I sat next to her out on the deck and listened and watched her in the zone. I was very much intrigued by it all. I stood up and said, “Grandma, I’m going to write a poem about this very scene, what your doing.” She laughed and was thrilled. I took a seat on a near by anti-gravity chair (newest addition to the condo) and started writing. After only about twenty minutes or so, I presented to her my poem:

Grandma’s Paint

The sun gives
ideal source
for drying acrylic;
perfect for her pages
on which she pastes
thoughts and pleasures.

Light breeze ripples
on hardening liquid.
Cool eases heat
that hits her forhead
but even then
strokes of stained fingers
on crinkled paper
ignore unsettledness.

Birds afar conquer
allowing new ideas
to enter book;
cars hum, them also
implanting a new head title.

All now that is heard
are dogs, birds, faint bugs
and grandma's brushing,
paper crackling.
The king of creative
could not even compete.

She closes book;
cracking of new and
past entries.
Thicker than a brick,
she'll return on inspired ideas.

I felt so honored when she then cheered with glee (like Grandma does) and demanded she have a copy for each of her books. I was very excited. Later on after a few changes in the poem, very minor, I wrote it on a half sheet of lined paper and set it on the table on the deck, next to her crafts for her to see. She was very excited. If there’s anyone to be complimented on my poems by, it’s Grandma. I like to say I have adapted her style of writing to my own. I hope one day I can have a book of poetry like she does.

Dear September

I can’t believe how fast you went by! Don’t be offended or anything, but I’m glad your over because that means it’s time for October, which brings red leaves and cold, and eventually Thanksgiving and Christmas! It was a fun month though. You were full of corn mazes, babysitting, bunko and decor shopping. Thanks for displaying all Halloween decor so early! Makes me so excited! Well, there’s not much else to say except, I’ll see you next year and we both know that will come by faster than we think.

 

Love,

Britney

Chesnuts and Pumpkins

I cannot put into words how much I love Fall, Halloween, and Christmas. A cold, rainy fall morning is another's hot sunny summer's evening. I am in love with the upcoming seasons. Just thinking about them makes me smile. Right now, I cannot wait to see the mountain's trees turn all the way Red. I cannot wait to see orange leaves on the ground and covering my car. I cannot wait to hear the wind howling, knowing it's carrying a cold chill, and I cannot wait to wake up to the sound of rain, a sky full of grey clouds, and fog covering the mountains. That is a moment where I'm most happy.

I just decorated my room for Halloween, decorations bought last year, over $40 worth (I spend more money on decor than clothes!) I think Halloween is my most favorite holiday to decorate for and yes, I decorate my room, where else can I?! I put up spider webs on my one piece of furniture (a humble straw chair) and on the corners outside my closet and on my lights. I also set up my harvest spice candle that has filled my room with the glorious scent of fall. I put up fake leaves and hid pumpkins in them, and I laid my pumpkin fleece blanket on my bed. If that's not love for Halloween, I don't know what is. It's amazing how scents remind us of things. I went to my sisters house the other day, and when I walked in, I smelt fall. I smelt Halloween, I smelt Christmas. Immediately, I was there again.

Ah Christmas. Is it any wonder that the time we celebrate Christ's birth is truly the happiest, most peaceful time of the year? It is when people come together. When shopping at the grocery store, everyone seems to be a bit more friendly. It's when we're standing in a terribly long line while Christmas shopping, but not at all frustrated, because we can see snow outside, and we can hear Christmas music playing. At least that's how it is for me. I love the Christmas rush, and although it appears to be a stressful time for most (the shopping etc.), I try to make the most of it because it only comes once a year and there is not any other time in the year that can even come close to how the Christmas season makes us feel.

I cannot wait to leave school, speedily zipping up my coat because it just started to snow. I cannot wait to get into my car, blast the heater, and turn on Christmas music on Kozy, cheeks still ice from outside. I cannot wait to arrive home from school, see the Christmas tree through the front window, and hear Christmas music playing in the kitchen. I cannot wait to go in my room to work on homework and see the decorations I put up a month early. I cannot wait to watch White Christmas and The Bishops Wife with my dad. I cannot wait to hear Mannheim Steamroller and Neil Diamond Christmas music, because that is really where it all started for me. And last of all, I cannot wait for. . .

Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire

Yuletide carols, being sung by a choir

Folks dressed up like Eskimos

Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow

To see if Reindeer really know how to fly

To know that Santa's on his way

Two turtle doves

Tree tops glistening

Children listening

To hear sleigh bells in the snow

How to Write a Deep Poem In 10 Minutes

(caution: take heed only to your risk, amateur poet ahead)

Pick something or someone write your poem about. Gather unfamiliar words and form them into Renaissance dialogue (optional). Leave out or replace unnecessary words such as because, however, actual, awesome, again, etc. Right click on words to find synonyms that may sound more sophisticated and refined. Don't refer to anything directly. Use metaphors and analogies.

Here is a poem I wrote in 8 minutes.

Falls Ending

Post rains visit

as drenched leaves follow.

Gusts seem to speak;

recollect on seasons haste

memories among scents.

It is your crimson,

not white, I wish to see.

Vibrant skies

harmonizing with

everything you have

given to my ground.

Now comes white world.

Fall last seemd to pass,

devoid of farewell.

Frozen rain raids,

layering your colors.

Here, exodus

of this glorious setting,

'til we meet again.

Chocolate Rain

Yesterdays rain put a smile on my face. I was at school at around 11 am talking to my good friend out on the grass when it started. We both sat there letting the rain collapse on our heads and clothes and we loved every second of it. Everything about yesterday looked like fall and it was brilliant. The clouds hovering over Timpanogas made it look like it was snowing. Words cannot describe how much I love and am excited for Fall and Winter. We pull out our winter clothing and start buying hot chocolate. We light our fire places, or put on a movie while in cozy pajamas. I think the most priceless moment anyone can have in their lives, well in my life, is cuddling up with a blanket, drinking hot chocolate by the fire, while it's snowing outside. I cannot wait for that. I am also excited to be able to watch White Christmas and The Bishops Wife, some of my personal favorites.

I humor people when I tell them i decorate my room for the holidays. It's my excuse for not having my own home, but hey, when I do, I will already have plenty of decor! Halloween is probably the most fun to decorate for, then Christmas.

Well, again, yesterdays weather got me excited so I thought I'd post a little note on the upcoming seasons.

There and There Again

It seems to always be too late to answer frequently asked questions on here. All the same, I'll talk a little about school and answer the question I'm always asked.

I love school. I once wrote a status on Facebook saying how much I loved it, and my friend replied to it by saying something along the lines of "ha ha ha i love it too! ;)" and we all know the winky face means just kidding. So I replied by saying, "No, I really do love school!" And it's true. I enjoy learning and listening to lectures. I think their brilliant. It's amazing how different school is and your learning when not only the class is good, but the teacher is personal leading to effectiveness. I love when teachers take the time to get to know you. It seems to assist you in taking the class more seriously, and making the best out of it.

I am now a sophomore at Utah Valley University. I go Monday, and Wednesday 8 am to 3 pm, and Friday 10 am to 1 pm. I am taking Math 1010, Shakespeare, English 2010, and Art History. So far my favorite is probably Art History, because all it is is the teacher talking, filling our minds with greatness!

My favorite semester so far has been Fall of '08. I took a tennis class, that was fun despite not learning new skills, and just playing against other team members.

I remember my first semester in college, Spring of '08. I slept over at my sisters house who at the time lived in Orem near by and since my first class was at 7 am, I thought It'd be smart to stay over, being so close. I remember parking by the new library which back then was still being built. It was still dark outside and there was hardly anyone around. My first class was History which I loved. But I only loved the lectures. The teacher never asked us our names, he never encouraged us to meet the person sitting next to us, and he never discussed in class how we were doing on the quizzes (there was never any homework). No matter how many times I read the chapters, or how many notes I took, I failed every single quiz. They were very hard and I only wished they were on what was talked about. (Maybe they were and it was just too early to concentrate, yeah that's it) Well I guess the story is over now that I've become the victim.

Moving on. I once wrote a short story in 11th grade. To me it was one of the best things I had ever written. How it came about was my teacher had everyone write down on small strips of paper a place, a noun, and an action, then he drew one of each out of the jar. We ended up with a Chef, a rooftop, and the action was running. We all had to write a short story including those three things somewhere in it. So, the first thing that popped in my head before I had even thought up a story line was my title, "The Running Chef's Rooftop." I then thought to make it about a restaurant that is run down but brought back to life by some kind of motivation given to the old man who once owned it and lived in the apartment above. It was about a page long. I was so proud of my details and imagery, that when I read it for the class, I made sure I read it slowly and clearly (something that I have weakness in). When I was finished reading it, I received a decent applause and a "Great job" from my teacher, I think. I guess I was over prideful because I was so hoping my teacher would ask me for a copy to show to future classes as an example of "greatness" Yeah right. But nonetheless, It did not diminish my confidence and pride. I still loved the story. Today, I do not know where I placed "The Running Chef's Rooftop" and I've tried at least thrice to re-write it and I cannot. Perhaps it's one of the stories that cannot be re-written again, for it has already been mastered.

I love to write which is why I started this blog. If anyone has any prompt to offer, any idea for a short story, PLEASE let me know!
'Till we meet again

LOST-From Genius to Crap

Calm down, this isn’t my opinion, but it is of others and I’d like to take a minute to discuss why and how a person could think such a thing. My personal background with LOST goes like this: In 2007, I watched the pilot episode of Season 1 while babysitting. Just one episode, nothing more. I was so intrigued by it all that I bought the season the NEXT day! It left me in such suspense that I couldn’t wait until I came back to this house to watch the next episode, it’d be a week at the least! Well, I wouldn’t have it, I wanted LOST for my own. So I handed over $50 to the target cashier and literally skipped to my car with glee.

Ever since then I’ve been a fan and have kept up with every season. Season two is personally my favorite followed by one, then three. One is a lot of fun because almost every episode (after the first disc or two because it’s slow with introductions) there is mystery and suspense. About a month ago, my friend Chanelle, who I introduced the television show to, and I were watching an episode where one of the “passengers” on the plane who before this scene, we find out he was never on the plane and is most likely what they call, an “other”, sneaks up on the young passengers, Claire and Charlie in the jungle, and my friend screamed at the top of her lungs! It was very funny and to this day I’m still laughing at how loud she was.

Anyway, that wasn’t the first time we were on the edge of seats with wide eyes just waiting for another intense part. LOST is full of it. Now Season 2 gets good with new characters from the other side of the plane on the other side of the Island, and a new discovery, The Hatch which is an underground living space. With thrilling suspicions and psycho flashbacks, Season 2 is worth it. Now I’ll briefly go through season three and four. Three we discover about three more hatches on the island that contain unresolved surroundings and people. Season four we feel relieved because there’s a freighter out in the ocean to pick up the survivors of the plane crash, but then we find out that really these rescuers primary objective is not to rescue. Season five began in January of 2009. With season four already slanting down with creativeness and reality, five brought some of it’s fans down and disappointment.

A close friend of mine replied when asked what he thought about season five by saying he hated it. Absolutely hated it. I was able to understand a little of where he was coming from. The Island disappearing under the water, one of the survivors shooting a young boy, and the ending of light hearted moments found in Season one and two. There’s no more scenes at the end of episodes where there's fun music playing and everyone is friends and everything seems to be o.k. That's the LOST we all fell in love with in the beginning; how there could be this black smoke that kills people and then Boone dies, but everyone is slowly brought together by a kind word, or a joke, or a laugh. That's how LOST was kept alive in us because there was variety.

I like to say LOST is every genre: Romance, Action, suspense, Comedy, and Drama. It's true! But in season five some may recall LOST let go of the genres we love and only held onto drama and suspense. Where's the comedy? Where's the love? I miss season one and two! Again, these are not my opinions, but I can surely understand someone who would think this way. LOST is still an amazing show, but the writers seem to be running out of ideas and replacing them with ridiculous twists that shatter our own imagination. Let us hope season six is the best one being the last one!