Sometimes you feel like a Nut....

....Or sometimes you feel like this...



When I turned 25, my roommates (who, incidentally, were all 18) put this on the door of our apartment for all to see, with my name on it, and "Over the Hill" signs and decorations everywhere.
This was almost 2 years ago, and there are some days when I literally feel like this. Today is one of those days. Maybe its the dreary rain, but I feel like I feel like-slash-look like this today. I think I am gonna excercise tomorrow and give myself one heck of a mani-pedi & makeover. This is the ultimate frump day. But watch out, Thursday! After my frumpy feelings are over, I am gonnna be rockin the most unfrumpy me ever! (ok "unfrumpy" still leaves a lot to be desired, but its the best I can promise.)

They're Engaged!

On March 15th, my bro James and his girlfriend Taylor got engaged!!! It was their one year and one month anniversary (monthaversary??). Anyway, I was lucky enough to fly down just two days later and rejoice with them :) I am so excited for them, they are rediculously cute together, and they are so happy. I am thrilled to finally have a sister too! Its extra fun because Taylor and I were friends and roomies before they started dating, so we aren't just friends cuz we have to be! :) I do have to say that I take full credit in getting these two lovebirds together. I was her Visiting Teacher, and because of that we decided to move in together, and I gave her James' phone number and the rest is history!

Isn't that the most gorgeous ring!!!

James' birthday was on the 17th (the day I arrived) which is the day Taylor was baptized 2 years ago, and Taylors b-day was on the 22nd (the day I left), so we got to do a whole lot of celebrating! It was great fun! (and boy did we have LOTS of chocolate cake) I haven't been home in about 8 months, so it was so nice to be in Ca again. I am definitely am not the type who can be away from my family too much, I miss them a lot, and love being around them. My Mom and I have a tradition of going to lunch at Olive Garden and the swap meet on Saturdays, and I have missed that, so it was fun to do that again! We also went as a family to Dave and Busters to dinner and to play Pool and some other games. My Dad and James are quite skilled at pool, and my mom and I try to look fancy, but that's all we can claim. Its always fun though :) So here are some pics of the week!





**James and Taylor will be married in the Newport Beach temple on June 27th 2009. If you haven't given James or Taylor your address for an announcement, you are welcome to email me or leave it in the comment section. My email is JerilynHartley@gmail.com.**

Word To Your Mother

I'm not gonna pretend like it was a lame concert, and they were a bunch of washed up has-beens, cuz it wasn't... it was amazing. We made it all the way to the front after much hard work and toil, and had more fun than Dwight at a Star Wars convention.

Except for the part where I almost died a lot, and where I got doused with a bucket of water like I was on fire, and my camera got semi-destroyed, and the part where I was forced to spoon with smelly sweaty creepy people who occasionally had flatulence problems for 3 1/2 hours. Other than that it was "off the hook!"

All in all I wanted to end my own life at times, but it was worth it. It was actually quite entertaining to watch and listen too, and jump around and sing to. Granted much of the jumping around was just to ensure that I wouldn't get pulled under and trampled, but I rejoiced in the fact that I didn't. I went with some fun girls who I had a blast with, well, when I saw them anyway. We were torn apart by the crowd quite often. MC Hammer did his little hammer pants dance, pot-belly and button-up vest and all. They did most of the songs we wanted, including 2 Legit, Hammer Time, Ice Ice Baby, Ninja Rap, and Pray(You got to pray you got to pray, just to make it today!). We stayed for the whole thing, screaming and sweating like OJ Simpson on Judgement day. It was awesome.... here are some pictures before my camera was officially ruined. (Sorry no MC Hammer, my camera perished before he made his entrance- my friend got some, so more to come. I'm sure you'll be waiting anxiously.)


THE SWEATY CROWD...

US BEFORE WE GOT HOSED DOWN WITH A GATORADE BUCKET......





AND AFTER WE GOT DRENCHED....NOTICE HOW I LOOK LIKE A RECENTLY DROWNED CAT, AND MY FRIENDS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE SHOOTING AN HERBAL ESSENCE COMMERCIAL...

KATARINA...MARIANGELA...DROWNED CAT

Chip Chop

**Caution** This post is completely done "tongue in cheek"...if you don't know what that means, either stop reading or go call your Mom and ask her, then proceed.

CHOPSTICKS
There are those pivotal moments in friendships or relationships that really change the way you look at someone. If you share things in common that are important to you, it makes you feel like you can really connect on a certain level. However if you find out that they are inept in areas that you feel are important, you tend to look at them differently. Not necessarily less, just different.
That being said, I believe that being able to use chopsticks or not is one of those things for me. Albeit INCREDIBLY shallow, but none the less, it is one. If I find out you can use them, chances are I will like you better all of a sudden. I have often said my only stipulations for marriage is that the guy is LDS, filthy rich, and can use chopsticks. I plan to hold to that as much as possible, and if I had to let go of one, I guess I could do with being upper-middle class.
Think about it; having the ability to use chopsticks says a lot about a person.
For example...

• Incredible self control

-Many people try and soon get frustrated, and and "give in" to the temptation to grab the nearest fork, but not the chopstick user...he/she perseveres.

• Patience

-Many people just plain give up altogether, and never even grab the chopsticks while they are in line at Panda Express. Then, when they see their very chopstick adept friend grab a pair of them, they make some insecure comment about how chopsticks are lame. But this young Grasshopper patiently practices, no matter how much defeat, and learns much more than just the art of the sticks.

• Believing in Oneself

-Nowadays, many people will try to cut you down at every good thing you try to do. Especially if it makes you look better than them. But the person who uses chopsticks believes that they can, and so they do. They have a better, firmer grasp on reality, and the great things that they can accomplish with a little trust in themselves.

• Accomplishing Goals

-Those who do not try, do not know the great feeling that comes with accomplishing a goal you have patiently and consistently worked at. There is no greater feeling than accomplishing something you put your mind to. The chopstick user, clearly understands the importance and value of accomplishing goals.


Now do you understand the importance of chopstick usage? There are clearly exceptional qualities about a person who has mastered this art. (granted, you don't have to be able to eat a whole meal by picking up one grain of rice at a time, just get by-eating the meal successfully.) I know that when I have children I will teach them from a young age, so that when they grow up, they too, can have these admirable qualities.

For all of you who are saying, "Oh dear, I always use a fork at Teryaki Stix," don't worry. You can still learn. Just be patient, and have a loving friend or family member help to support you, and I know you can do it. I don't love you any less if you can't, I just like you less.

P.S. There are do's and don'ts of the art.... this is a don't... (click on it to enlarge)

2 Legit to Quit

"Stop collaborate and listen.......Can't touch this......Ice is back with a brand new edition....."

Seriously M C Hammer and Vanilla Ice are getting together for one night only and its in , of all places, OREM, UT at the Mckay Events center. (poor David O. Mckay, if he only knew)

Apparently they are poor and desperate, and need money from....Mormons? I'm still trying to figure out why Utah, but anyway, its called, get this.."Hammer Pants and Ice." Seriously, how can I NOT go to this. Click here for more details.

So come on all you children of the 80's, teens of the 90's. Who's with me!? Get your parachute pants out and come party with me! We'll break out our tapes and rock out to our ghetto blaster in the parking lot. Anyone (and I mean anyone, any age) who is in the area and wants to go, lemme know. tix are 30-35 bucks...so worth it.

Best Day Ever!

1. I was actually early to my 830 class today which never happens, but I love when it does because it makes me less stressed

2. Most classes I interpreted were very laid back, and easy today.

3. 3 of my classes were canceled today... which is honestly a really nice break

4. I got my hair done! **PAH** its been like, over 3 months and I basically gagged every time I looked in the mirror and saw my regrowth. It feels so good, even though it sounds vain :)

5. This is the best one!! I got my level 2 Interpreter Certification results back and when I took it, my goal was to at least pass one of the 5 components, and today I found out I passed 4 of the 5!!!!!!! Im so excited! I hope they didn't mix me up with someone else, but I quadruple checked to make sure and it seems legit! YAY!!!!

The Lord is so good to me, I can't tell you how much I truly sincerely needed a good day! He has blessed me so much, and I don't deserve it. I am so grateful He loves us no matter what. :)

Help me decide!

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted a Dog. Now that I am done with school, I have been itching to get one, and have (I think) narrowed it down to 2 breeds. A Puggle or a Yorkie. I have done a lot of research, and I want to be sure I am ready when I do get one. Yes, I of course want a "cute little dog," and they are both that. I don't want a big one, since I will be in an apartment probably for a while. In short, here are a few of the pros and cons of both:

Puggles- "pros" They are good in apartments, good with children and strangers, short hair- no trimming necessary, bathing only once in a blue moon, they are friendly and loyal, they don't get stressed or depressed easily, they are super cute!
Puggles- "cons" They can get to be up to 15-20lbs, they need the folds of thier face and eyes cleaned often, they can be hard to potty train, they shed, they may be prone to "digging"




Yorkies- "pros" They are loyal and loving, they are small and good in apartments, they don't need tons of excercise, can be trained well, they are easy to take around if needed, they don't dig or destroy things, they are adoreable!
Yorkies- "cons" They can get lonely easy (I work a lot), they need to be trimmed often, and brushed regularly, Must be bathed 2-4 times a month (not too bad), may have a tendency to be yippie.

I need help in making a decision, especially if you know more about either of them. OR...if you have any other suggestions for dogs, lemme know. So comment away...