Cockroaches

Becca and I jointly killed 5 or 6 cockroaches just now. Gross.
All of our other unit mates were too scared. They ran away and hid on their beds. And told us "kill it!" She killed more because I didn't have any shoes on (so I wouldn't step on them), so my only defense was Raid.
Cockroaches are el grosso. Tell me why, again, do cockroaches exist? I seriously haven't come up with a good enough reason.



(And no, I did not take that picture- I got it from a science blog.)

P.S. There were a bunch in drawers, and so Becca bleached a drawer. I washed some pans with normal dishsoap, but when I looked down a few minutes later, my shirt had bleach spots on it.
:( I hate it when that happens! Oh well...

Adventurous

Yesterday was the perfect beach day. Well, the morning was, anyway. Luckily, when Susan, Becca, and I went to the beach, there was no one there. It was super nice because we had the beach all to ourselves. It was a PERFECT way to start out the day...especially a Saturday!

We had actually planned on going to Pounders Beach, but decided to go to one a bit closer after Becca read the weather report and found out it was supposed to rain. (In fact, we ended up leaving when we thought it was about to rain...which didn't happen until about an hour later.)


I got some homework done after the beach. That wasn't too exciting, but it wasn't extremely boring, either. John called me in the middle of it, so I talked to him for a while. I just had reading...and usually the readings required for class are really unenticing to me, but this reading isn't. It was quite interesting. So far, I'm a day ahead on homework, which is nice. I hope I can keep it up. (We'll see how long it'll last.)

Becca and I got bored and wanted to do something, so we decided to go to Foodland. Except we'd already been to Foodland twice this week, so we went to Pizza Hut instead. On our way there, we got caught in the rain. Wasn't so bad at first...then it got harder, so we stood under a tree. The tree worked very well. We thought it had lightened up, so we continued our journey onward. It started pouring even harder. Eventually, we needed a spot to stand. We were outside with no jackets and were getting very wet. We ended up walking up to the side of a house and staying under its eaves. We stayed there for about 5 minutes, just laughing at our situation. It was funny, because a guy walked by from the house next door and went into the house where we were taking refuge. Then a girl did the same thing. I also saw a guy I know from my ward back home running past us with his little boy in the stroller, and so I said hi to him. When we finally left, the 2 of them were standing in the garage, talking. I wanted to thank them, so I said... "Thanks for letting us use your...house!" They said something and kind of laughed, but we started laughing so hard at what I had just said that I didn't exactly catch what they said back to me. It was kind of one of those "stupid haole" moments for me. But quite amusing. We made it to Pizza Hut safely after that. Then we ate outside, and I saw one of my friends, so I said hi to her for a minute. We also made it back to campus safely. It was quite an adventure, and an amusing one at that.
So, to sum it all up, yesterday was quite an adventurous and amusing day.

Tickets

I love to travel. I guess it's a good thing that I'm going to a school that requires me to do so. Sometimes I don't love the prices on plane tickets, but I found a really good deal with Delta- one way for $165. The deal has been going on for a few days, and I couldn't pass up the good deal, so I finally bought it. (I was hesitant because I haven't found housing yet, so I don't know when my place will opens, which means I could end up being early...and I don't necessarily know what I'd do, but I know people there and so does my brother, so something will be worked out.)
I'm going on Friday, Sept. 10. I think I'm excited.

Tribute to Tiffany

Well, today I figured out how to activate my student BYUH account! (Holy cow...I don't know why it took me so long. It wasn't even that hard.) So, that's in use now...I had 56 lovely emails/student updates awaitin' for me! They do run things differently there; there's a shuttle that you can pay $5 for to go to to the Pearl City Mall, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (which is really quite awesome), and Wal-Mart. Hahaha. I love the Wal-Mart part.
My good friend and roommate, Tiffany, got set apart as a missionary today. Off she goes to the MTC tomorrow! She's going to be an Hermana (speaking Spanish) in the Fort Worth, Texas mission. I am so doggone excited for her, it's incredible! She's going to be a great missionary- she already is. I know that she is going to bless the lives of so many people in Texas. The only bummer part? We can only correspond through letters for the next 18 months. I'm a decent letter-writer, but sometimes I get too caught up in my own life to be as good as I should be.
Well, that's all I have to say.
And if anyone happens upon this blog, you can visit www.mormon.org to see all about what Tiff's doing and her purpose.

Microwaves

I know that I'm terrible about updating this thing. I forget about it when I have homework (or something else) to do.
So today...I decided to make a quesadilla in the microwave. The microwave setting was already on for 7 minutes because no one cleared it when she took her food out. So although that usually bothers me and I clear it and then redo the setting, I decided to let it go that time because I'd remember. So I stuck my tortilla with cheese in there and let it go. Then I took my computer to my room. I started to watch some youtube movies. Partway through one, I leaped from my bed and ran to the microwave, because like I told myself, I'd remember about the quesadilla. Well. I RAN to the microwave. Before I quickly opened it up, I saw the timer for less than 20 seconds. I cooked that sucker for over 6 minutes. I opened up the microwave, and had to take out the plate with an oven mitt. The tortilla was burned. The cheese, well, I think I made a new type. I took it outside and threw the tortilla in the dumpster. I then cleaned off the plate, which was easier than I thought it'd be. Nonetheless, our house smelled like smoke (although no smoke alarm went off). In fact, it still stinks.
On another note, a few weeks ago I applied to BYU-Hawaii. I didn't tell anyone. Except for my friend Lindsay, ONE of my roommates, Kelly, and my dad. That is it. And they didn't tell anyone. The admissions office received my last form on a Friday, and I found out Tuesday night that I was accepted.
I wasn't surprised, because God told me to apply, so I figured I'd get in. (That's another story I'm going to have to tell later.) I was surprised because it's BYU-Hawaii, meaning it's mainly there for people from Central Asia and the Pacific Islands. I'm a white girl from the mainland. Only 35% of people there are from the mainland. But I got in, and now I'm going. And I'm super duper excited, except for the part that my brother who is not graduating in a semester (John) is staying here and I'm leaving him and that'll be sad. And now this semester is a little bitter-sweet because it's my last one here, and I found out halfway through the semester.
It's exciting though. I'll take the beach over snow just about any day (just as long as there's nota tsunami or hurricane, or something of the like.) All in all, things are good and not how I would have ever expected them to turn out. Heavenly Father definitely has different plans for me than I do, and I'm okay with that, because they always turn out to be better for me.

My Recent Life

Okie dokie....I have a feeling this may possibly be a long-winded entry, so prepare yourself...
I deferred fall semester because I needed more money to pay for school. I worked ALL the time and pretty much didn't have a life. I'm with the Issaquah School District as a sub Ed Assistant, so it's pretty good practice and experience for me since I'm an Elementary Ed major. It also pays very well. My nerdy job? Working at Staples. Now one would normally say that working at Staples isn't that nerdy because it's just a retail job. However, I'M WORKING WITH OFFICE SUPPLIES, HERE. As a matter of fact, on the schedule, I was under both Cashier/Customer Service AND Office Supplies... When I punched in at work, the title said "Office Supplies Expert." And it is sadly true. I know more about office supplies than the average person...a lot more. I'm not sad that I know stuff, but I have to admit, and will be the first person to do so, that first of all, office supplies are not that interesting, and secondly, it's a nerdy thing to know a lot about those particular things... Anyway...work=money, two jobs= no life, and Emily=enough money to pay for school.
While I was home, I had the awesome chance and opportunity to do a lot of missionary work with my coworkers, especially Sarah. She committed to baptism and then dropped the missionaries because she did not feel ready. That's okay, because I KNOW she felt the Spirit, and I know that she will get baptised one day. (Hahaha. I just spelled "baptised" the Canadian/English way. I'm not changing it. Just because I do stuff like that every once in a while and actually like it a little.) I also had other missionary experiences with my coworkers, and found out that one was baptized when she was 13...which was 7-8 years ago. She's less active, and I think that the gospel would really help her life and guide her, as well as answer a lot of questions. Actually, I know that. I brought her to a FHE activity with me, but unfortunately it was a combined activity in Redmond, so she didn't meet the missionaries because they weren't able to go (Redmond is in the Everett mission, and we are in the Seattle mission). We had a really great talk on the way there, and she feels the influence of the Holy Ghost everytime she hears the story of Joseph Smith. Sharing the gospel is one of my favorite things to do. It makes me so happy. I was so incredibly blessed to be able to have many chances to share the gospel while I was home!
Cassie, my friend, got married on January 2nd in the Denver temple. She married a pretty cool man, Timmy. They're great for each other. I have known Cass since I've been at school, and let's just say that from the beginning, we hit it off really well. Tiffany, my other friend, and I, flew into Denver on Wednesday, December 30, for Cassie's wedding. We all had a BLAST together. We saw "The Princess and the Frog" on New Year's Eve, which was fun. (We also did other random things, and almost got kicked out of Walgreens.) Tim is from Roseville, CA, and his family drove to Denver. On their way there, they slipped on ice and rolled their van. It ended up totalled. His sister, Megan, also ended up breaking her jaw, but that's the worst that happened. They were really blessed, and ended up getting to Denver on Thursday night instead of Wednesday afternoon. (Unfortunately, Megan had to fly straight back to California, in order to get jaw surgery, and also had to get a deferrment so her jaw can heal.)
Cassie's and Timmy's wedding was great. Since it was in the temple, Tiffany and I couldn't go in for the actual wedding and sealing part, but we were in the annex building next to the temple, and we just waited for them. (By the way, there were a lot of people getting married that day.) We also helped with pictures afterward. That was fun, minus the cold feet and frozen toes. Cassie's brother-in-law Kevin stated that he didn't think the bridesmaids were supposed to be the ones to get cold feet. Hahaha. That was funny. On the subject of Cassie's family, I love them- they are great!
Cassie's and Timmy's luncheon was fun and good. Tim's friend Keith talked about Tim a bit, and I gave a bit of a speech on Cassie. I am really not a serious person. I really am not. The reception was also good and a lot of fun. It looked really nice. Cass chose the colors eggplant purple, cranberry red, and chocolate brown for her wedding. Not everything ended up being those colors, but it still looked great anyway. And not tacky or cheesy, considering the fact that it was in a church gym, and some receptions in church gyms can be silly looking.
Tiffany, Keith, and I decorated their car- a blazer. It was actually rather lame. Post-it notes work when you have a lot more and they don't have a Peter Rabbit design on them. We were looking for a window marker, and much to our dismay, could not get ahold of one. To make matters a bit more hilarious, Tim's parents showed us a window marker they had in their car that we could have used- AFTER the reception and Cassie and Tim left...on OUR way home. That was a good night. Some drunk person started texting Tiffany almost illegible texts, but we deciphered them. Those texts brought us great amusement. Even though drinking alcohol is not a good thing, drunk people are really funny.
I am now at school. We started classes on Tuesday. It's only the first week and somehow I already feel behind. LAME. I like most of my classes though. They are really fun. For the most part. I AM taking 18 credits, so it's possible I might have some near-death experiences this semester...from homework. Just kidding. It'll be a bit hard, though. 3 more semesters after this one!!! (By the way, I seriously can't believe that- it's so close and I know I have time, but I don't feel ready yet.) I've seen a lot of people on campus who I know. I love that about coming back to school. I really love BYU-I and the atmosphere of it. Even if the "I" stands for "Iceburg." Plus, now John, Matthew, and I are all here at the same time. That's fun.
I like my new laptop. If I would have had even more money, there's a chance I would have gotten a Mac, but I went the more temporarily inexpensive route and got a Dell...it's white with yellow polka dots, adorable, and pretty much me. That makes me happy.
Remember how I said this was going to be really long? Well, it is.
I want to go to Hawaii.

Or not...

So, I decided to finish up at BYU-Idaho afterall. I think I'll move to Hawaii after school. It'd be fun and a good experience.

BYU-Hawaii? I think YES!

Guess what???????
I'm going to transfer to BYU-Hawaii, that's what!!!!! That is, if I get in. But I really think I can. My grades are good enough. (By the way, I checked my grades today and the lowest was a B! Woot woot!) I started the transfer process today. Now all I need is another Ecclesiastical Endorsement! I'm really excited, and I hope I get in!!!! I feel so happy!! :) See? There is happiness right there, displayed for all to see! Hahaha. I know, I'm a dork.

Poly boys, humidity, squawking peacocks...all of these are awesome!

Yessirree, I'm in Hawaii! Where else?
I'm actually enjoying myself quite a bit! I love love love love LOVE this place! I want to move here! Seriously. Which brings me to another life plan I have made...this one seems better! Hahaha...maybe that's because it happens to be what I'm thinking of at the moment. Hehehe. Here goes:
Me transfer to BYU-Hawaii. Then I marry a polynesian (attractive polynesian), and then I stay here. And teach school. And a few years down the road I have cute little poly kids. I like that idea! A LOT! I LOOOOOOOOOVE Hawaii! It's fabulous and awesome! I seriously do want to move here. There's hardly anything about it that I DON'T like (or love, for that matter). Yes, that means I love the humidity, the ocean everywhere, the gecko that lives in this house that chirps, the wild chickens, the sun, the rain, the fact that the time here is 3 hours behind Seattle and 4 behind Idaho, the people, the culture, the palm trees, the fruit. You name it, I probably like it, love it, or at least don't mind it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DID YOU KNOW: that if you crash a car here and you DON'T have insurance that you must stay here? Now I don't know all the stipulations, but that sounds like a good idea, no? That way, I can stay here. Then I won't have to leave. AHHHH! It's amazing! I know why everyone loves coming here! I DON'T know why not everyone lives here! (Plus, most Polynesians are attractive people!)
Today we went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. FUN FUN FUN, I tell you!!!! Snorkeling rocks!!! A LOT! A WHOLE LOT! It isn't very difficult, either! If you ever get the chance, I suggest that you try it! Maybe one day I'll learn to SCUBA. Also, I would like to learn how to surf (but that won't happen on this trip...perhaps when I move here). Snorkeling is fun, though. Except if you inhale salt water. That ISN'T fun...and it burns your throat. Now, I'm a little bit burned. From the sun. But it could be a lot worse. And some of it is turning brown, which means I will be more tan. That is probably a good thing.
This is a fun and great life! I wish every person got the opportunity to visit Hawaii (or a place like unto it)!!! It's just such a fabulous experience and it makes me so so so so happy! I just want to dance! And I don't want to leave for a very long time!

Halleluja! Halleluja!

I feel excited. I've been waiting for this day to come allllllllll week long. And partly all semester long. And partly only the latter half of the semester. You see, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it gets better than that. Today it means tomorrow is tomorrow. And by one of those tomorrows (I'm not sure which one), I mean Friday. And by Friday, I mean that I get to go to Hawaii for a week!! Now that's what I call ending with a bang!
So, my finals all went well. I did okay with grades, although I didn't get all A's. However, I don't really care about that, and I do get some. That's what matters. Oooh. I just popped my neck. That felt good. Sorry. School was good and not good this semester. Very long. Very fun. Very tiring. Very annoying. Probably most adjectives could describe this semester in one way or another.
Our White Glove was Tuesday night, so I don't have to worry about that. :) Matthew and I leave for Utah tonight at 7 p.m. and leave Utah at 7 a.m. Funny. I just noticed that it's 7 for both. How odd.... We have a layover in LA and then arrive in Honolulu at 11:26 or something like that, where we will meet our family who already got there yesterday. Long flight, for which I'm prepared, by the way (I happen to have some sticks of Maui Melon Mint gum, which I feel is fitting). 2 hours to California and almost 6 to Hawaii (time difference is a wee bit different in Hawaii...) But I'm excited. It'll be fun. :D
I have no more packing to do and I'm rather bored. Maybe I should read. Or watch a movie. OR both. Oh goody...just what I get to do tomorrow all day long. Except for it won't be all day long, although it should be. I gain 4 hours, so I will have a 28 hour day tomorrow. No lie- it's the truth. Trust me, I don't think you want four extra hours in your day. Even if you ask for it.