Bragging rights go to me

Frankly, I really don't  have anything to write about. I mean, I do, but they are all uninteresting. Like when a guy in the institute building said "Howdy, howdy!" to me as he walked by and I was caught off guard so I was just like "Guh--" (Thinking he was going to ask "how are you" and being sadly surprised and mistaken) or just now when I unplugged my head phones and Tech N9ne was blasting in the silent computer lab at a slightly profane part. Or maybe that I discovered that you can see through a crevice of my window into my room from outside, making me very fearful that some innocent bystanders have seen some of my underwear dance parties. But other than that, literally I got nothing. But I want to write. So here I am.

This week has been rough. Filled with voluntary 2 hour work outs (say what you will about my time management but I have kissed 8 pounds of fat away in the past month so...ha!), social welfare agency visits (That I procrastinated badly considering next week is the last week of school), having strangers text me incessantly to accompany on such visits since we all procrastinated, writing papers, doing work sheets, discussion readings and posts, a talk for sacrament meeting, cramming in early morning grocery store trips via public transportation and a sociology final. I've just wanted to crawl into a hole. (Preferably one filled with these protein bars that trick me into thinking I'm eating candy). Or like, go home. Home-home. To G-town.

I am 10000% done. Literally and figuratively. So, what makes me happy when I'm not? My boy. :)

And ice cream, but that's irrelevant.

Sometimes, I get really embarrassed that he reads these things, or when he finds out I have been listening to his Soundcloud because it is linked up to Facebook. I really don't want to be that "overly attached girlfriend" since my big eyes already fit the criteria...

 But, I miss him really a lot. So what else can I do after I have watched Letters to Juliet, The Lucky One, Dear John, Footloose and Safe Haven all within the past week and want my own Charlie, Logan, John, Ren and Alex? (And you all wondered why I didn't have a social life. Actually, that probably never even crossed your mind.)

But anyways, I want to write about Chase because really struck gold when it comes to him. (and I wasn't even digging because I kind of planned on being a little bit of a slut my freshman year of college). For those of you who don't know, we've basically in a long distance relationship for our entire relationship. The only times we've really been together while being "together" were my breaks from school and like a month of summer beforehand. And that's it. We've talked every single day, without fail, my entire 2 semesters at school. And when everyone says, "that sucks that you're in a long distance relationship". However, whenever anyone says that, I think the opposite. I mean, what is more cool than a guy being 800 miles away from you for months at a time and stays completely loyal, who talks to you every day, is there to call when you're sad, or calls you when he knows you are sad but are being too stubborn to ask for help, make you laugh or smile and anything else. This kid actually likes me! And that is mega weird for the girl who before going to school contemplated majoring in "Third-wheeling".  (seriously though, I am the best if you need a cop out or a tag along for a pity date. I may have an actual business plan for this.) He is my best friend in every sense of the word and continues to inspire me and encourage me everyday, while also being my number one distraction from all school work. (It's all about balance right?) Anyways, he came into my life right when I needed it most and nothing makes me more joyful and grateful than that. He keeps me grounded with his always reliable, sometimes semi-brutal honesty, while I continue to set up camp on Cloud 9.

And some pictures for my own indulgence.

Expect the unexpected? Pls.

This year of college is nearing the end, and in the coming weeks, I'm going to have A LOT to do, so I figured writing in the blog now would be the best thing to do now instead of getting ahead on my work.

That's just my good, excelling, student logic. (ha, yeah right.)

Anywho, I figured I'd explore the topic that came into my head this weekend, which is that my freshman college life was not only like what most people experience, but also completely opposite of what I had expected all through out high school. And here is my list:

I had expected:

1.) To room with a friend from high school (Brittany you got my hopes up, dangit!), or at least connect from people from high school.
2.) I would live in a dorm with a bunch of cool girls who occasionally stole my clothes but also had clothes I could steal.
3.) To have a posse to hit up dance parties with
4.) Kiss/go on dates with lots of boys
5.) Share a bathroom with a whole floor of girls
6.) Have a job
7.) Read my textbooks every night
8.) Own a laptop on which I could type my papers from home.
9.) Go on late night food runs with my roomies and/or people from my floor
10.) Have plans every weekend.
11.) Join the lacrosse team
12.) Pulling all nighters with a huge thing of caffeine beside me to fuel me
13.) To do well in classes that had everything to do with my major
14.) Do poorly in classes that had nothing to do with my major
15.) Make friends with the people in class that sat near me
16.) To have a friend group to call my own
17.) Have a roommate with a car so we could all pile in for our grocery trips
18.) To stay out in the wee hours of the night doing hoodrat things
19.) Gain some freshman 15
20.) To love being away from Gilbert and everything familiar to me
21.)  To be anxious to go back to school every time I went home for a break of some sort
22.)  Being able to bake cookies for people
23.) Become a true aggie

Annnnddd what actually happened:

1.) I came up here completely alone, and although I have people from high school around, I never see them. And its April.
2.) I lived in an apartment, connected to a dentist office with Korean people living above and below me who love to cook weird foods and sing Taylor Swift while in the shower. (I hear it from my kitchen). As well as some creepy dude who takes his morning smokes. I lived with a psycho druggie roommate and a Korean and then ended up living in a empty apartment all to myself.
3.) What dance parties? What posse? What is a social life?
4.) Found myself an incredible boy in the summer before school started that I never expected anything to happen with or to continually go well for the whole school year. :)
5.) I only had to share a bathroom with two sloppy girls, that i had to personally clean. And then I got it for myself.
6.) ...never applied for a job and have collected the credit card debt i learned NOT to do in my Financial Apps class senior year. (I'm sorry Mr. Hoffland, it probably didn't stick since you hated me.)
7.) I think I have only ever opened my text books while studying for an exam. Like the week before. Or night before. Or day of. Or on my way to that class.
8.) I had to go to the computer lab in the harsh winter nights of December. I decided against it and missed ^ online assignments. #whoops #arizonagirlstruggles
9.) Pop tarts runs by myself in the institute. Or forcing Chet to walk to Subway with me.
10.) I did well at having plans at first...but now I leave for the weekends probably 3 times a month. Friday and Saturday included.
11.) Haha noope. Dodged a bullet and a financial downfall by avoiding that.
12.) I have yet to pull an all nighter. *self high five*
13.) Got a D+ in my Psych class (I'm a social work/ social science major) ( I did bad in psych because of the stupid online assignments).
14.) B in Biology. (I hate physical science)
15.) I never made friends sitting next to people in class, but my boxercise class has made me a lot of good friends that I get to act stupid with. For example, dance around the gym acting like seals and sky dancers (if you remember that 90's toy I applaude you) with kick-catching mitt thingies. (There is no maturity).

16.) I have no go-to "group", per say, but friends who invite me places more than others. And I love them.
17.) I ride the bus by myself for groceries. Always. So did my roommate, until the shopping cart incident. (see previous blog posts)
18.) I think I stayed out until 2 once to watch A Night's Tale. (I didn't get to choose the movie)
19.) Lost a freshman 10. :o
20.) I was so homesick. Still am a lot of the time. Utah people are still weird to me.
21.) I'm anxious to go home for the next break every time I get back to school...
22.) Roommate stole my cookie sheet when she moved out. Good thing I stole her bowl.
23.) Not a necessarily a "true" aggie, BUT I did get to kiss my special someone on the "A", so it counts enough for me!


All in all, it has been one....interesting year to say the least. Things definitely didn't go as planned, but I know that at the very least, I had a few things (Particularly 4, 16, and 23) that turned out better than I ever would have expected. That doesn't go to say that I will miss it here, because valley winds, cold, long distance relationships and being lonely for a better part of my time, is not my cup of chocolate milk. (chocolate milk in my favorite. Tea sucks.)


And now pictures.

A sky dancer, so you know what I am talking about.

Okay, so I do hoodrat things sometimes

My school is pretty. And I am a pro photographer.

One thing I will miss when I leave here...

If this semester kills me, you can find me here. The on-campus cemetery. Yes I am serious.

College.

This is my view as I do my laundry. Yes, I live a life filled with glamour.

Making my Landlord give me a new fridge. Like a boss.

Aaaand this one is just to be self indulgent. We are models.

April snow brings a great big "NO!"

So, um, when is Utah going to stop pranking me? April fools is over and so is winter. Officially even so WHY is it literally storming outside with fluffy white sadness falling from the sky? Yes, I did refer to snow as sadness. I am sad. So very sad. Being in 70 degree weather in Arizona really threw me off.

So, I haven't blogged in a while because I am too busy enjoying life! Took a 2 week long spring break (which was THE BEST BREAK YET), missed a good 9 class periods, and then spent the next few weeks catching up, preparing for exams, taking exams, missing an exam on accident, going to a ballet by myself and almost being stranded at the theater and oh so much more. You can skip through if you really want to get to the better parts, but I'm going to break down the highlights into sections. Enjoy! (or not. you are free person. if you are reading this while in America at least)

CUTE SIDE OF CORTNEY'S LIFE:

Alright, so here I am bragging again, but um, how can I not? I nabbed a real gem and I am proud of it. My boy, Chase Gilmore, is the greatest, moral of the story. The moral doesn't typically come first, but this will prepare you.

I flew home from Salt Lake on a Tuesday night. It was my first time ever flying by myself, so that was an adventure in and of itself. I can't tell you how many time I had to ask for help, despite flying about 10 times beforehand. But I somehow made it Phoenix unscathed and ready for my break. I called Chase (who was picking me up from the airport) and I got that familiar feeling of my heart racing and getting excited to see him again. But that was kind of ruined by this psycho lady who was controlling the traffic and the curb pick up. Really, she was an ornery, cranky woman who just waddled around waving and yelling at people, while putting herself in danger by putting herself in front of cars. I was intrigued and entertained by this to no end, until he rolled up with that huge "Sundown Audio" decal on his windshield. He picked me up and we immediately went out to eat at a restaurant in Phoenix. (we are suh fancy) Right as we were seated, I noticed this cute see-through box on the table that had the salt and pepper inside it. I made a comment about how cute it was and how I wanted to steal it so I had a place to put my salt and pepper. Chase then grabbed it, took out the things inside of it and slide it onto his lap underneath the table. I just figured he was going along with my joke and laughed, but then he slid it back to me. I kind of pushed it away since I didn't want our waiter to think I was going to actually steal it or anything, but Chase pushed it towards me again. I kind of pushed it back again, but as I did, I saw something inside it. A deck of cards. "You got it!" I was so happy. A couple days before I had sent him a deck of cards, each one saying something on it that I loved about him. 52 things I love about Chase. He had never told me he had got it, so I was so excited that it showed up in the mail before I had gotten into town. He told me to look again. Around the deck, holding it together were these elastic bracelets that he had had his brother make for me that I was really excited about. But upon realizing that, I noticed the deck was a lot fatter. Chase had taken the same cards that I had put the things I loved about him on and on the backside of every single card, he put what he loved about me. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I melted. Melted into a heart shaped puddle. I went through them all, smiling bigger and bigger at every card. I had accidentally put two things on one card, so I had a card left over. So he took that to his advantage and on both side's put "and that is why we are a full deck". I'm a lucky one.

So break went on, and although Chase worked most days, I saw him EVERY SINGLE DAY. We went out to eat, ate at home, went to Jesters, watched the finale of Breaking Bad (it was our thing that bonded us over summer), took naps upon naps, worked on his car, watched movies, got froyo, got scared out of our pants by some freaks on the road while we were trying enjoy said froyo and more. I actually got to see a few girl friends this time and get my nails done, go tanning, go shopping, which I hadn't done in months so that was fun, too. Arizona is just the place to be, man!

BACK TO COLLEGE! (Noooooo)

I am never excited to come back to Logan, and this time was not an exception. But this time I kept the tears in until I was in my apartment because I was took busy holding on for dear life on that flight to Ogden. Seriously, we were on a sketchy plane (flying Allegiant) and the wind was blowing like I was landing in the eye of a tornado in Kansas. Okay, not really, but turbulence was something I had never experienced and me being terrified by airplanes as it is, I was not a fan. I also was not a fan of this puny little airport that had no food except vending machines. So my nutritious meal was a Reese's peanut butter cup until I got home at 7 that night. (my flight was at 1). 

So, once I got back to the old grind, I spent two weeks catching up. Doing all things school related and spending the weekends playing my guitar in solitude or watching movies on my own. It sounds depressing...but its not because I'm used to it! Haha college has destroyed my ability to be social. But I am not kidding. Here is an example.

My friend Jess had called me earlier in the week for my to accompany her at her boyfriend's band concert (performance? idk). (By the way, the band's name is the Immodest Socks and her boyfriend plays the banjo. Which is awesome) Anyways, before the show, we met some up with some of her boyfriend's friends which she had already known, but I hadn't met before. They got on the topic of only coming to Logan to go on Tinder dates. Which, started mine and Jessica's mocking of Tinder for the entire night. It was basically the theme of giving this one guy a hard time about his Tinder dates. 

Tinder, for some of you older folk, is an app that shows you people in your area and you decide if you think they are attractive or not. If you do, and that goes through a list of people and find you attractive as well, you get a "match". If you get a match, then you can start a conversation with this person. But only if you both find each other attractive does that make sense? Anyway, it's supposed to be like online dating, but college students use it as a tool to meet girls and make out with them, yada, yada, yada. It has that stigma to it, and almost everyone has a bad, strange, funny or scary experience with it. EVERYONE. Including me. But, I'll get to that later.

So, we had been with one of Jessica's boyfriend Steve's friends before the show, because the other one was with a girl he was on a date with. So after the show we were all together talking, and someone brought up something about Tinder. So, I went off making fun of it again. Dancing around and singing "It's going down, I'm yelling TINDERRRR". Well, apparently the guy who we hadn't been with for the majority of the night, (the one who was currently on a date with a girl) had found her on TINDER. So I wasn't paying attention, but I guess the guy had motioned to Jess that he had met this girl on Tinder as we started to make fun of it in front of the both of them, so she stopped. But no, not me, I just kept going. Completely clueless. Poor girl.
This is why no one invites me places anymore.

"YOU'RE A RAPIST!"

How's that for an attention grabbing title? But it actually fit the situation. Now, I never wrote about this, because A.) I felt like an idiot B.) it was embarrassing C.) it was so stupid of me and D.) I hadn't fully recovered from when I had to tell Chase about it, even though at the time we weren't "officially official". But it is a good story nonetheless, so I will share.

So, this was around Halloween time. It had been weeks since I had seen Chase, and still about a month before I would see him again. So, that was depressing in itself, but I also had zero friends. No one to call when I was bored and no one to really talk to. I had my crazy roommate, but I kind of avoided her at all costs, and my Korean roommate was always gone anyways until like 1 in the morning. So there is the back story of my desperation for any human contact besides my brother's friends whom I was convinced only ever invited me because Chet made them. 

So fast forward to the Howl. this huuuuge party we have on campus for Halloween. Costumes, dancing, a live band, the whole shabang. College students come from all over Utah to come to this apparently. I had bought tickets to go with my brother's/my friends, but it was still hours away. So I got ready. (which was me dressing up, looking like the lamest cowgirl you had ever seen since my costume was so last minute). So I got ready and was just sitting around my apartment waiting fro the time to pass. As I was laying on my couch, I was on my iPod just going about my social media, when I had remembered hearing a lot about an app called Tinder. I had never heard of it until I got to college. So I went to the app store and got it. I figured it out, put a picture of myself and started scrolling through the people. I wasn't looking for anyone to date, but I was just wanting to know what everyone was talking about. I liked some people, disliked others, with no intention of meeting people or anything. So I passed the time and went to the Howl. Afterwards, I came home ready for and I saw that I had a notification from a match on Tinder. I messaged back (the second mistake, the first being that I made an account in the first place) and had a short conversation with the guy, that we will call "S". S went to Utah State as well, so we talked about school, majors, where he lived in proximity to campus, where I lived, where he was from, whether or not he went to the Howl, what we both dressed up as. A friendly conversation. After I laid down in bed, I went to the app and deleted it. Thought nothing of it. The next day, I got a text from a random number that said "Uh, did you block me on Tinder?" I was freaked out and asked "How did you get my number?!?" "Facebook! I'm sorry, is that weird?" My picture I had used for Tinder was the same as my profile picture, so looking up "Cortney" on Facebook and "Utah State University", it wouldn't be hard to find. I replied to him saying "um, yeah. Just a little." Really, I was FREAKED OUT. Like, what the heck? College people are weird and scary and I don't like it! I expected better from Utah, but horny college-aged people are horny college-aged people wherever you go! So S tried to pick up the conversation where I left off, but I ignored him. And this went on for 2 weeks. he would text me every few days. I didn't have his number saved, but the area code was different from anyone in Utah so I knew it was him. So late one night, I had just gotten back from a bonfire with people and was feeling really upset. Sad that I hadn't made any friends of my own and that I felt like I was just the tag along to people. An annoyance. A nuisance. So S texted me that night and said something along the lines of, "Look, I know you have been giving me the cold shoulder, but I really just wanted to hang out with you to just talk to you. I don't have many friends here... I promise I won't try anything. I just want to get to know you." I felt that sympathy. He was from out of state, and even though he was 21, he was a freshman at a new school by himself. So, me being in the state that i was in, feeling like we had something in common, I agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt. (Just a side comment, NO STRANGER SHOULD RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AFTER MIDNIGHT) This is where the REAL stupidity kicks in. So, I told him to meet me on campus, in the open on this Saturday night where people are bound to be up and about. Especially by the sorority houses, which is where I told him to meet me. So, we did just that. But upon the first step outside, it was colder than I anticipated. I went outside and waited until I saw his tall, skinny guy walk up to me. It was really awkward. Especially when S went in for an unexpected hug and I smelled alcohol on his breath. (I had a bad feeling then. Ignored it. Tried to not be judgmental. Again, I am an idiot.) So we talked outside for a bit, but it got too cold to bear, so I just made the decision to take our meeting to my apartment since my roommate was home. (another bad move. Showing him where I live after he stalked me to get my number? (so dumb.)

SO. We got inside and I sat down on the couch, expecting him to do the same. He looked around at my kitchen and my ugly apartment, before he said " I want to see your room" and darted down the hallway before I could say a word. (REDFLAG! REDFLAG! REDFLAG!) I chased after him. "Which bed is yours?" I didn't even answer, I just said "Okay, you've seen my room, now GET OUT!" He sits down on my bed and makes himself at home. I was PISSED. I started to be extremely rude and sassy. He tried to ask me questions, but I was like "I'm not saying anything until you leave my room." He didn't budge. So I continued to be snarky to him and unbelievably sarcastic. Not even phased. He sat on my bed and talked to me while I stood in the doorway, arms folded glaring at him. He started to tell me about his life fro the next half hour or so, so I let my guard down and started thinking that he wasn't so bad after all. Laura was in the next room, the door was wide open, and Christine should be back ANY minute. So, I warmed up enough to him that I sat down on the bed on the opposite side. My back was against the wall, my arms were folded as he continued to tell me about moving a lot since his dad was in the military, him serving a mission in South America for 6 months, then coming home early because he didn't believe in the church anymore. It was interesting, so I mellowed out even more. I told him about my life, my boyfriend (which I was VERY clear about) and my crappy college experience. I lightened up and started to have a good time with my new friend but that came to an abrupt stop when out of nowhere, he put his hand up the leg of my pants to see if I had hairy legs. (Which I did, but that is besides the point.) I went to go push his hand away but he grabbed my wrist, I looked at him, half puzzled half angry, when he grabbed my other one. I tried to pull away but he was just looking me in the eyes saying:

"Cortney, you're so adorable. I have had a great time tonight, and I know I said that I wouldn't try anything, but I feel like we have a real connection. And I feel like you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you." 

Me: (in my head) 'where the freak is Christine!?!?!'

(In reality) "Uh, I don't think you're reading me right. I have a boyfriend, remember?"

S: "That doesn't matter right now. All that matters is how you feel right now."

Me: (Thoughts) 'okayyyy you freak!'

(reality) "S, I'm not going to kiss you. I don't want you to kiss me either."

S: "So you're telling me, if I lean in, you're going to reject me?"

Me: "YES" (remember, he is still holding both of my wrists so I am almost defenseless. In an AWFUL position. I didn't know if I should scream for Laura or what. I was freaking out.)

S leans in and I move my head to the left, dodging his kiss. 

S:"Really!?" 

Me: "I told you!"

He tries AGAIN. I am livid at this point.

S: "awh, come on!"

Me: "S, I told you. I DON'T want to ki--"

He kissed me mid-sentence. Tried to even go for the make out. I pulled out my Napoleon Dynamite techniques of "breaking the wrist and walking away", except I broke the wrist and jumped off my bed.

Me: "Get. Out."

S: "but Cort--"

Me: "GET OUT!" 

I am screaming at him at this point, which makes sounds from Laura's room of her getting up out of bed so he gets up, thinking he"ll have to deal with two pissed off girls.

On his way out, he tries to apologize saying things like "I'm sorry! it's been over a year since I kissed anyone!" and other stupid excuses, and I"m just like "I don't care. You're a rapist! You're disgusting, LEAVE!" He keeps trying to defend himself as I am shooing him out the door, but I would have none of it. I probably overreacted but, I was mad. I just wanted a friend.

He later apologized to me, and I accepted, But I also made sure not to see him again.

So there you have boys and girls! Tinder is no bueno unless you want stories and horrific experiences! So it can be fun! Its all up to you! I only had mine for a total of 5 hours! The possibilities are endless!

Until next time, loves. 

Peace and Blessings, Peace and Blessings.

STORY OF MY LIFEEEEEEE (I TAKE HER HOME)

Lately, my life has been rather un-bland. Which is good. However, reading this may make you feel like I am bland. Proceed with caution.

Let me start off wayyy back to February 14. Aka, the completely adorable side to my life. Because let me tell, most of it is not. I am a walking train wreck most days of the week. True story. But this day is particular was so cute so I must brag. It was the day Chase was to arrive in Utah. I was sitting at the second floor of the student center, right next to the windows, looking downward at where the Salt Lake Express would drop him off, literally on the verge of pooping my pants. That's gross, but for real, I was freaking the crap out. My heart was beating a million times a minute and I'm pretty sure I was sweating gallons. After what felt like a decade, the big red van with rainbow colored stars pulled up and I leaped off the chair, opened the nearest door and ran down those steps like an Olympian. He was the first one out the door and I didn't know whether to full on sprint or just calm myself down and only jog. I slow jogged right to that curly-headed, brightly grinning boy and attacked him with the biggest bear hug and (mom don't look) kiss you ever did see.  JUST LIKE A MOVIE. (Because PDA doesn't matter on Valentine's Day. Or in movies). As I was in the midst of it all, I heard people behind me "awh"ing and "that is so cute"ing. I loved every minute of it. And that was just the VERY beginning of the 4ish days we had together. Which were equally as great since we filled it with lots of good (some even incredible food) food, a trip to the temple, movies in my apartment, a basketball game, a picnic, long walks through Logan, and all the cute stuff couples do. (Minus all the snow stuff I wanted to do because Utah ruined those for me). I didn't want it to end.

This is the breakfast Chase made me before church.

Aaanndd our kiss on the "A" since we both fell asleep on True Aggie night and didn't get to participate.

The next weekend though, I was down in Salt Lake enjoying time with friends watching the extended version of all the Lord of the Rings movies in Jess's home theater, eating sweets out the wahzoo. It was so much fun. just hanging out and NOT being in Logan. It was supposed to be a weekend long event, but Chet and I had to dip early for our cousin's farewell that Sunday. Chet, being the meanie he had been all that weekend (volunteering me for things I didn't want to do and saying/showing people things to make me look stupid) continued to be a poop and when we were getting in the car to leave with the guy who we barely knew who was driving us back, he "so graciously" gave me the front seat so I would have converse with the driver and make the 2 hour drive as un-awkward as possible. Freaking kid.

The next day Nicole's farewell was bright and early. We were being picked up at 8:30, and it wasn't until I woke up to my alarm that morning just how bad of an idea it was to leave the party at Midnight. And to eat my body weight in popcorn. Man, I was feeling it. Chet ended up NOT waking up (shocker) so I flew solo with our Uncle Nolan to the church. The meeting was going as normal until the youth speaker spoke. Which, from the beginning was normal. It wasn't until he turned pale and eyes rolled back that I realized there was a problem. He fainted. He straight up fainted right at the pulpit. People caught the poor kid who was either 14 or 15) but the roar of gasps that came from the congregation came over me like a wave and it almost made me literally crack up. Which is awful, because at this point, we had no idea if he was okay.

SO, as he fell, some dude came running up (I learned later on that he was a doctor) and literally picked the kid up like a baby and ran out of the chapel with him in his arms. And then it was Nicole's turn to take the microphone. It was a tough act to follow, so luckily she did such a good job.

My life went back to its bland reality of paying a dollar a pop for laundry, my teacher overhearing my groups' plans to ditch class, playing my guitar or with my iPad instead of studying, giving the wrong answers to study group questions, and not getting ready for the day. Until today I took a step back to realize things I hadn't before. People in Utah are NICE. Like, extremely. Early on, I was so weirded out by the people and how different they were in the ways they dressed, acted, jokes they made, etc. But, it wasn't until I stopped noticing those things that I realized how genuinely kind they are.

For example,  I can't tell you how many times in the day I say thank you to someone opening the door for me, or students offering other students scantrons THE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR on the exam day when other students forget, or a random girl at the grocery store today who saw me walking to the bus and offered me a ride home. (Yeah, I got in the car with a stranger. Something people probably advise strongly against at ASU or anywhere else I would have gone if I had stayed in Utah). It's amazing. People write each other notes (in my ward), ask you how you are doing AND CARE to know the answer. I talked to so many people today and learned so much about them and told them so much about me, and I absolutely loved it. I'm just mad it took me this long to realize this. I think it may be the high density of LDS people at this place, and I can say that I have never been so proud to be a member of something as I was today thinking about this. These things can  really brightens up someone's day, and they are the LITTLEST things but are done so consistently. Utah State finally takes a well-deserved win in that department.

My last time seeing Nicole before she heads off the the MTC and then to Portugal for the next year and a half!

Oh! 

I made this, too. For your viewing pleasure.

Ninja Grannie

So this week has been weird. Like, what else is new, right? So, Friday I come back to my apartment in between classes to make myself lunch or whatever, and there's a note on my counter. I looked it over and it said something about being in town and getting Laura's stuff. I just had skimmed the practically illegible handwriting, So I just assumed Laura still had her key and that her and her boyfriend had rented a car and came back to pick up her stuff! like she told me she was going to. Well, after I came back a couple hours later, and expected to see Laura around, she wasn't. I retread the note and realized it was written by Laura's grandma who didn't have a key to our apartment. So, she just let herself in, instead of leaving the note on my front door. Granted, I should have probably not left my door unlocked but it still freaked me out. The next day there was knock on my door and it was Laura's grandpa, grandma, aunt and uncle. Her grandma came up and gave me a big hug and before I even told everyone to come in, they helped the,sleeves and started cleaning up her room and taking her stuff out. So I just stayed in my room until they were leaving. As they were about to go, they commented on my shopping cart and were laughing saying "who stole the shopping cart? It was Christine wasn't it (my old Korean roommate)?" I kind of scoffed and was like "uh, no, that would be Laura". They were astonished. "She pushed that thing all the way up the hill!?!?" Then her grandpa made comments like "that girl is so strange" her grandma was defending Laura but I had to leave the room to keep from laughing. So they took he shopping cart back for me and now I am completely alone, with no evidence of a roommate other than the strange aroma of her room and the red hair dye on her carpet.

So, Monday rolled around and I embarrassed myself being the fool I am. In sociology that day, a guy had come into class late, sat down right next to me (since I was in he seat nearest to the aisle) and immediately pulled out his laptop and earbuds and watched the Olympics. No notes. No attention paid anywhere elsewhere. Just on the Olympics. I was taking notes feverishly, since we had a lot of information to cover, but I kept getting distracted watching the skiers. 15 minutes before class ended, he got up and left. So, later on that night, I went to a study group that a TA has for our class to study he material for our exam this coming Friday. Pat one point, we started to talk about alignment actions (excuses, justification, aplogys, disclaimers) and one is called motive talk, where you basically say why you do something. (Ex: I go snowboarding because it's fun) we had to come up with one to share with the person next to us. So I turned to the guy next to me and said "I have a real life one from class today! I couldn't pay attention, because the guy next to me was watching the Olympics all hour so I was distracted" but then as he laughed I went in and said " and then he left early! I couldn't even figure out why he went to class in the first place!" My have a big mouth and a loud voice, so the guy 2 rows in front of me turns around and was like "hey, that was me! You were sitting next to me!" I froze. I felt my face heat up, but I tried to play it off and be like "oh my gosh, I'm talking crap about you literally behind your back!" I laughed but there is no way people didn't see the embarrassment that flushed my skin and then turned it redder than my lifeguard hoodie I had on. Moral of the story: I have a big mouth not only physically, but metaphorically as well.

Yesterday, yet another strange and terrifying thing happened. I went to class, came home after Zumba to shower and get ready for my next class. After my shower, I was walking to my room, and noticed my roommate's door was shut. I had had it wide open for the past few days, I opened it and relaized that gye beds that had once been pushed next tie another by the closet doors, we're not separated against the opposite wall. I FREAKED. I didn't know if Laura's grandma had come back to clean up or if I had gotten a new roommate or if the bank came in to clean up the stuff since she wasn't living there, I STILL don't know. So I RAN TO my room, and locked the door behind me. I was so scared luckily I wouldn't be alone that night in case it was demons that moved my bed or something.

Yesterday I had a rather fortunate turn in events, as I got a random texts from my good friend Ashlee who goes to BYUI. She was heading to Logan with a friend for something and asked if she could spend the night at my apartment. So, she did. We partied from 7 to 2 in the morning talking about how much we both hate college, about old memories, her missionary and my boyfriend and then about people we had a mutual dislike for, and then got froyo late at night at it was just awesome. It's probably one of my favorite memories from college thus far. We laughed until our cheeks hurt and until I snorted and made people give us strange looks. I needed that.


But even more exciting, Valentines day is here this weekend, but more importantly, so is Chase in about 49 hours, 8 minutes and 40 seconds. Not like I'm counting down or anything.

Sappy Sap!

(Warning: His post contains things of a cheesy, and sappy nature. Proceed with caution)

In just over a week, my boyfriend Chase is coming up to Logan to spend Valentine's Day with me and not even I can fathom how excited I am for this. So, in celebration of this, (since I have been waiting for an entire agonizing month for this) I wrote a song. Which, is a miracle. Honestly. I have sat down and tried with all my might to try and write songs before this, and nothing happened. Yet when I was studying, and picked up my guitar during one of my breaks, the song just flowed wonderfully and I kicked out an entire song. Though it's nothing special, I'm really proud of myself for finally being able to do this and I wanted to share it. Besides, what kind of typical white girl would I be if I didn't post a singing/guitar playing video? Perhaps what makes me less basic is that I look like a total slob and that I put the camera at an angle that makes me look even worse. But it was late at night. Also I am aware that I suck at guitar, but in my defense I just learned how to play it last semester. And don't mind all these disclaimers. I wanted to post it in the safest environment possibile for my self conscious tendencies, and I figure that they only people who read my blog are people that actually like me so I'd be safe from all the HATERS. (Tho h8rs R my motiv8rz! Lulz)  

So without any further adu: Here We Go by yours truly!

So, I feel like I need to give a little back story to this so you understand the song in its true essence. This summer, Chase and I had what I guess you could call a "fling" but I knew I was going off to college as well as he did, so I didn't expect much to come from it. But things just fell into place, even though our first kiss was HORRENDOUS ( I take the blame for that. In my defense, I was caught off guard and hadn't kissed anyone in a year and a half sooo). So anyways, the day came that I was to leave, and as Chase drive me to my house, I was looking out the window trying to hold in tears and not succeeding. I was partially excited to start my college adventure, but leaving was hard because I really liked him. REALLY.  I expected things to fall apart, but they didn't. They actually improved, since separation makes you really appreciate someone and everything they have done for you.  Things got better and better. I was surprised since we were 800 miles apart and people always claim that long distance doesn't work. But we were constantly proving that wrong.
My college life, however, was getting worse and worse, and he continued to be the support I needed, letting me cry in the phone to him when I needed, and complain about all the things I have complained about on this blog. He was my rock that I'd never had before, yet now have when I need it most.
Now, our relationship is finally official, and I look forward to the future, not knowing what it brings. All I know is that I'm happy and that after this semester, Utah State will be a thing of my past and I'll be home free.

So there it is. Hope you enjoy!

ALLL BYYYY MYYYYYSEEELLLFFFF

First of all, if you didn't sing that title, shame on you. Stop reading right now and go and think about what you've done.

Sooo updates!

I have been living alone for 2 weeks exactly right now...I was apprehensive at first, a little scared, (the first night even the tiniest of noises were so spooky to me) but now, I absolutely love it. Everything is cleaner, quieter, and just all around better. No one to bug me with the noise of watching "I Love Lucy" in the front room, no scratching my DVDs, dirtying my grill, NOTHING. And I don't have to wear pants. Do you understand me? I DO NOT EVER have to wear pants if I don't want to. WHAT COLLEGE AGE PERSON HAS THIS FREEDOM? Very few, folks, very few. I am taking advantage of it. It's too much information, but there's just something liberating about being able to walk from room to room STARK naked. It's too wonderful for words. The only downfall of it all is I don't feel the need to keep things clean for other people, so I leave my things all over the house. Backpack on the couch, iPod on the table,  shoes in the front room, clothes on the bathroom floor. It never gets too bad, but no one comes over anyways so even if it did, it still wouldn't be a problem.

P.s. Yes, the shopping cart is still sitting there in my front room as a decoration piece.

I still also struggle with my bus rides. ALL I WANTED was to go to walgreens to pick up photo prints, um, I ended up in Idaho. Okay, not really, but almost. The walgreens is maybe 2 mikes or so from where I live, but I took the wrong bus (amateur mistake) and went so far up north that is took me OVER AN HOUR to get back to the transit center from where I walked to walgreens. It was  bitter cold, too, as always.

Also, today, I needed DESPERATELY to get food. My class was cancelled so I took a 9:00 bus trip to the grocery store and bought $80 worth of food. I crammed my backpack to the very top but my bags were still uncomfortably heavy. I left the store and realized it was snow storming outside. Luckily the bus was outside waiting for me so I hoped on instantly. But, I had never been in the bus this early in the morning. And it got PACKED. I'm talking standing room only type stuff. So I crammed my groceries under my seat to be courteous to others, but as I got up, my bag got caught and ripped a huge gash in my bag. I got off the bus and maneuvered the bag in such a way that the contents wouldn't fall out. So here I am, walking a fourth mile to my apartment in the snow, while it's currently snowing, trying to avoid slipping on  ice and keep my food inside the ripped bags which are HEAVY, with sore arms from my work out the day prior. Not a good way to start my day. But then I made healthy muffins that were tasty so it brought my day back up.

So, my exercise classes that are just as interesting  as my life gets nowadays. And I haven't talked about them yet. Sooooo here we go!

Monday and Wednesday I signed up for kickboxing, but got BOXERCISE. Our teacher is this short guy (I'm talking 5'3") with gray hair and crazy eye brows who looks Asian but I guess isn't, and told us today that he used to be able to do wall splits. So there's that. Anyways, it's basically, boxing and karate mixed together,and instead of the aerobic exercise class I planned for, it's basically combat lessons. The first day we even pulled out the boxing gloves. A lot of girls dropped since it obviously wasn't the aerobic kick boxing class we were all expecting, but it decided to stick it out. I mean, I get to punch people and learn roundhouse kicks so I'm not complaining. Even though I look so stupid doing all of it. It's so funny because our teacher is always saying "so if you get in a street fight..." No. We are in Logan, Utah. The only fight you're going to get into is fight the ice while scraping it off your windshield. But even funnier is people watching in that class. It is FULL of odd balls that take it soooo seriously. I just laugh at them. Openly.

My other exercise class is Zumba. Oh mama. That kicks my butt. First of all, my instructor is this cute little tan girl and is THE typical white girl. Always wears PINK by Victoria Secret, leggings, and Uggs until she changes into her bright Nike's. And I have a total girl crush on her. But more in the "I want to be her" kind of way. But anyways, she is always late. It's hilarious. One time she came in and was like "class is cancelled today because I'm going to the hospital right now" her face was all puffy because she was having an allergic reaction. She found out it was to the glue from her eyelash extensions. Haha. Then a couple days later she got pulled over on her way to teach class and was just about 15 minutes late. But she teaches all us Momos to dance provocatively, so it's chill.

(See what I have to write about now my interesting roommate is gone? So lame)

Surprise.

So, if you know me at all, you know I really love surprises. Most of the time. Being away at school has presented me with some rather strange and not really "good" ones, (like everything Laura is and does for example) but still.

Sunday morning, I went to the kitchen for breakfast and I noticed things missing. And in the bathroom Laura's side was basically empty. I figured she was just going to stay at her grandma's house or something since she has done that before. I went on with my day. Monday we had no school, so I took a mental health day and laid in bed and slept most of the day. I kept waking up to Laura being loud in her room, blasting her music and banging these around. I thought nothing of it. Seriously guys, nothing she does catches me off guard anymore. Or so I thought.

At about 4, I groggily walked into the kitchen to make myself a late lunch and Laura was cooking pasta, baking cookies and muffins. AKA carbs. AKA my form of heaven. She offered me a muffin and I took 3. I started talking with my mouth full of that goodness to her about the ward ski thing we were invited to and she was saying how she wanted to go but something came up where she couldn't spend money on that, even though it was only going to cost 12 dollars for a rental. Conversation topics changed, and I brought up how I don't know if I am coming back after this semester and how Utah just kind of sucks. And Laura's like "yeah, I won't be either...I'm actually leaving like...soon."
Me: "What? You're moving out?"
L: "Yeah, I didn't want to tell you! I kept putting it off, though. It's just, me and Arlando (black boyfriend) have been talking pretty seriously and I just wanna be home now instead of school. I wasn't going to come back after Christmas break, but I wanted to just try and finish out the semester, but I'd rather go back to my job and be with him."

(side note: I just sneezed so loud I probably shook the entire library. I laughed at myself because it was so loud and people just looked at me like I was a freak. No one blessed me. Jerks. Anyways, back to the conversation)

Me: "So...are you going to move in together? Oh my gosh this is crazy!"
L: "Yeah, that the plan. We just have to save up money first. But, I think we're gong to get married."
Me: "Laura this is so crazy! That'll be so awesome for you! But...I'm going to be alone..."
L: "That's why I was scared to tell you...but you get all this too yourself! All this food in the cabinets are yours! I'm making all this now so I can hurry and eat it all before I leave, but you can have the rest!"
Me: "Wait, when are you leaving?"
L: "Sometime this week. I still have things to pack. I'm going to take a Greyhound and then take a road trip with Arlando back here and get the rest of my stuff."

The conversation went on about her plans and how she felt bad about the good opportunity that she is skipping out of (being the out of state paid tuition waver that I have) but I stopped paying attention. I just kept thinking 'YES. I can walk around with no pants on. I don't have to do her dishes. No more shopping carts in my house. No more dreads. No more drug offers. No more getting locked out (hopefully). No more sharing my stuff. No more cookies in the living room.' I was so psyched. I had to hide my smile while we were talking behind my excitement for her doing what she wanted. I mean, I am actually legitimately happy for her, but more for me.

The more I thought about it, the more jealous I got of her. I would love more than anything to go home right now. Stop going to classes, get away from the cold, go home to be with my boyfriend and family. But, alas I can't quit. I never have been able to just not finish something halfway through. I have bought textbooks already anyways, so I didn't want that to be any more of a waste of money than we all know it already is.

Then I realized. My blog is going down the crapper. Now I have to pull from my own experiences of living alone.

Alone. I then realized how much I hate being alone. I went from 2 roommates to none within 3 weeks basically.

Good thing I have watched enough scary movies to really keep me entirely freaked out over every noise my apartment makes over the next couple months. Ahhh, great.

Pray for me.

This crap is bananas.

Oh my roommate. Words will never be able to accurately describe her. She is one of a kind. I've known this but I didn't think it would get weirder. But, alas, it always does. So this post will solely be about her and such weirdness.

She decided a week ago that she didn't want that random section of blonde in her hair, so she bleached her entire head, mini curled dreads and all, and dyed it a BRIGHT, shockingly vibrant, red. Since she has dreads and doesn't want to wash them too much, there is remnant of dye in her hair for the next few days. So she'll come back from a run and her sweat will be tinted red running down from her scalp.

One of her most recent things lately, also, is waiting outside the door while I'm showering so she can run into the bathroom to pee. Which, is fine, but it happens EVERYDAY. No matter what time of day. I think she'll be at class or something but as I get out BAM there she is. Like, I'm naked in my towel and right as I open the door, she about knocks me over running in to use the toilet.

Another thing I guess I didn't really notice last semester, was her weird issue with bananas. She is almost AFRAID to put things near bananas because she thinks they will start tasting like bananas. So there are secluded on out kitchen table, not in proximity to any other food that is in cupboards or on the counter tops. Now, I have never noticed things being stored by bananas starting to taste like them, but I figured it was reasonable. At first. But Laura takes it to the extreme. "My mom sent me some cookies, but I kept them in my room so they wouldn't taste like bananas. I want you to eat some though so I will leave them in here so they don't get all banana-y" as she places them on a chair in the front room about 20 feet from the kitchen. They were still in a box, and she literally stored them there for days. She also explained to me that her mom used to make her lunches and would have to put the banana is an entirely separate bag so that she wouldn't get the taste of banana on the rest of her lunch. and then this morning she was slicing bananas on a plate, and was like "Oh, Sh**!"
Me: "What!?!?!"
Laura: " I didn't want to use this plat for this! Now it's going to have that banana taste on it!"

In my head, I am just like, 'you've got to be kidding me' but I just took a bite of my eggs and kept to myself. Apparently this plate is tarnished forever, no matter how many times you wash it. Curse you, dang bananas.

And, for the grand finale: the events of last night. Laura had gone to the grocery store at like 6, and since we both don"t have cars, she took the bus. I really didn't think anything of it, even though it was almost 9 and she wasn't back yet. So, I'm just sitting in my room and I hear the door open and cold from outside flood the house. Laura is literally PANTING. She is always making weird noises, so although I thought it was strange, I didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. Then she comes around the corner. still panting, covered in sweat. "Cortney, I did something bad. There's something in our living room right now that's kind of weird." I give her a weird look and instantly get up, to check it out. It was a shopping cart that she stole from Smith's. I immediately just start cracking up. I thought it was something worse, I don't even know what, but you never really do know with this girl. Apparently, she went shopping while hungry and forgot she was riding the bus, so she loaded up her shopping cart to the brim. After checkout, she realized she couldn't carry it all with her on the bus, so the only next logical thing she could do was to take the shopping cart home.

Yes, I am aware of how ugly my apartment is. There is nothing I can do.

Now, Smith's is not too far from campus, maybe a mile or two, but campus is at the top of a relatively steep hill. So she chugged along up that hill, with her stolen shopping cart, and she even passed by a few cops (or so she says).

As she is unloading her cart and I'm sneaking a couple pictures, she is saying, "Cortney, I don't know why I do such weird things". I just laughed because I had more criteria for my blog.

And on to the new semester.

Winter break was exactly what I needed. I won't go into detail since this blog is directed towards my strange college life rather than my averageish home life. But! It was really, exceptionally fantastic. I didn't want it to end or come back to Utah. I even cried when I had to say goodbye to Chase for another 2 months. But, it had to happen so I could have more strange experiences to write about

After a break of pure bliss of being with my favorite people and the warmth of Arizona heat, I was forced to return to my Utah apartment. Back to the ice, small bathroom, twin bed, and my roommate. Christine was gone with the semester (my Korean roommate) and we shared the longest conversation we ever had the day before I left for the holidays. I found out then that she was actually really freaking awesome and that I could actually understand her English now. She wrote me a cute note even, in English with semi-poor grammar, with the first sentence reading "Hello, Cortney. This is Christine." That made me chuckle. Attached to this note, she gave me a baggie of Korean candies and a Korean bookmark. As I gave her a hug and thanked her, she started crying and said "If I elope in America, I want you to come to my wedding!" I said I would, but I still to this day have no idea whether or not she was kidding about any of it. I just tend to find myself in interesting social situations.

So, I got back yesterday from my 15 hour journey, to my dark apartment. I figured no one was there, even though there was pizza remnants on the counter. I figured my roommates just left a mess because, well, that's the type of people they are. The random chairs were even still there from the two times Laura had to break into our locked apartment. Did I ever write about that? On a few occasions, me and Laura had gotten locked out due to Christine locking the door ALL THE TIME. Laura and I never did, because we live in Logan, Utah, in the crappiest apartment that people are constantly surprised actually is still being rented out. There is little to no chance of someone breaking in. And what would they steal? We didn't have anything high-tech in the slightest. Maybe Laura's laptop, but even that's iffy since going in her room would be a nightmare in itself and rummaging through all her crap to find her laptop would be quite the quest. ANYWAYS, on two occasions, Laura got locked out while I was out of town, so she went downstairs into the sketchy laundry room supply closet to get a chair that could boost her up high enough to get in through her window. The second time, the supply closet was locked so she actually went upstairs into our neighbors unlocked apartment and grabbed an extra chair. After this, I stopped asking where she got things.

 These pictures took place in September (hence the pre-dreads) after Laura and I had gotten back from church to find that Christine had locked us out.  The only way Laura actually got in way after I gave her a boost, before I took the first picture.

So I started the microwave to make myself hot cocoa and threw in a DVD. As I'm nearing the end of my movie, my roommate, who I didn't even realize was home, came into the kitchen and my jaw about dropped. My hard work, time and gagging was wasted because she had taken out her extensions. Her dreads were still intact (kind of) but her long hair was now in little curly-fry-looking ringlets. I'm talking the straight up spiral ones from Arby's. She permed her short little dreads. Or something. Now, I thought the dreads were interesting but....I'll let this picture speak for itself. I had to hold in my laughter and my "what in the world did you do to your hair" comments. I am at a loss and trying to understand this girl. This is a problem I do not have very often. And I usually would try harder to do so,  but I think part of it is more fun to sit back and watch what this girl will do next.

It's a bit dark, and it was a paparazzi shot, but you get the idea. 

This is my view just outside my apartment. Notice the huge, un-melted piles of snow and the ice on the ground. 'Tis very treacherous.

My excitement level of talking "long cuts" to get to class going through each building on my way to class just to get warmth is through the roof.