Halloween

I conquered The Beast...


Arguably the greatest wooden roller coaster ever built it unleashes its awesome power on the unsuspecting. This coaster sprawls across a densely-wooded, 35 acre site. It is topographical, so the rugged, natural terrain adds to the excitement. The Beast is the longest wooden coaster in the world at 7,400 feet (1-3/4 miles); travels at speeds approaching 70 mph and has a ride length of nearly four minutes. It features two incredible vertical drops (135 and 141 feet) and has three dark tunnels, plus a spectacular 540 degree helix turn at the end.



killed the Diamondback...


The tallest, fastest, and meanest roller coaster to ever strike Kings Island. Diamondback stands 230 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 215 feet at a 74 degree angle and snakes its way around 5,282 feet of track in excess of 80 miles per hour! The ride features 10 vertical drops overall including drops of 193, 131, 129, 110, and 106 feet, two helixes – one at 323 degrees and the other at 287 degrees – and a spectacular splashdown ending.






and evaded the police on the Backlot Stunt Coaster (formerly known as The Italian Job Stunt Track) in a Mini Cooper!


Plus about seven others....

all at Kings Island on Halloween!

Late Night Thoughts

I know this is two posts in once day and I probably shouldn't be writing this this late at night when I should be in bed. I don't really care if people read this or not. I just need to vent somewhere and this is as good a place as any.

Some days I hate life. I'm tired of feeling alone all the time. I'm tired of not having a job that I love that is close to my major. I'm tired of being stuck in a singles branch when I want to be married. I'm tired of messing things up with people that I love. Somedays I just want to crawl in a hole and sleep for years and not have to interact with people. I think others would be so much better off without me around messing things up.

Also, I hate my body. Did you know that? If not, then now you do. I know things could be horrible. I could be disfigured or be in a wheelchair or be missing a limb, but I still hate it. I want to be skinny and beautiful and dainty. Like, oh, I don't know...somebody other than me. Sometimes I just want to crawl under a blanket and cry. I look at other females in my branch and feel so ugly compared to them. And it's not that I haven't tried exercising and watching what I eat, I have. But then I realize that the results will never be what I want them to be and I give up.

I feel like I don't "fit in" in life. Sometimes I think that I was born in the wrong time period. I don't feel like I'm making a difference and if I were to leave people wouldn't really even notice that I'm gone.

I should just be happy with what I am and have and most of the time I am. But days like today, I just feel sad. I don't want or need advice either. I know what I need to do to be happy...giving service, reading my scriptures, praying, going to the temple. I know that...blah, blah, blah. Somedays I just feel sad and alone and need to write it down. Don't judge me.

Two Months!

Guess what?! Christmas is exactly two months from today! Whoo-hoo!



And I posted this picture because it's a great Christmas movie. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should. I try to watch it every year. Plus the little boy gets a nose warmer as a gift! (-:

Are You Happy?

If you're reading this- I'm sorry for posting every day. I do tell myself that I shouldn't but then I think of something else I want to say and I just feel like I want to post it.

*****

First of all...This little flow chart represents how I evaluate many situations in my head.



*****

Second of all...9 Ways to Know if You Have "Estrogen Issues" (sorry in advance to the men who read my blog).

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You 're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1- 800-".
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space."
8. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
9. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

I think I do.

*****

Third of all...I really like this new Dove commercial (minus the fact that it's also a half commercial for Wal-Mart).



*****

Fourth of all...I really like this quote.

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the
realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of
gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

Thomas S. Monson

Let the Wild Rumpus Start

I saw it and thought it was good. The ending was sweet but not typical of what I've (maybe most people) come to expect in movies. The movie was sad and one of the wild things had something akin to an anger management problem.


I really liked the costumes for the wild things. The scenery was beautiful and so was the music. And Max was good- very cute boy. I would recommend seeing it.

Winter Must be Cold for Those With no Warm Memories

I have been thinking about this quote (below) by President Monson a lot lately.

"If we live only for tomorrow, we’ll have a lot of empty yesterdays today."

Sometimes, I feel like I am living in the future. That I'm not making use of the time that I have here, now. I'm dreaming of some future event or great life solution rather than being happy with what I have right now. I am being acted upon rather than acting. I don't like this but I'm not exactly sure how to change.

I think part of my problem is that I procrastinate. I need to stop putting off those things that are important and do them now. I spend too much time doing things, that in the end, won't really matter that much. I need help. I feel like I'm standing in my own way of progress and it frustrates me. I mess things up despite my efforts. I'm in a rut and I hate this feeling.

Also, I've been thinking about change and impact. Am I really making an impact in the world? Am I being the change that I wish to see? I'm not so sure I am. I want to be consistant in my service to others but I think my frailities stand in the way. Those times that I wasn't quite good enough, or didn't do it exactly the right way come back and haunt me and prevent me from acting when I really should. In these cases, I do nothing since I'm afraid of messing up again and making the same mistakes. This shouldn't be the case.

"A mansion on a hill or love like in the movies, perfect little world where no one has a problem. Instead of all these things I thought I really wanted, I've been given what I need."

I have, I just need to recognize it and stop dreaming of those things I really want.

You probably think this post is about you...

but it's not. It's about her. My wonderful, talented, kind, extraordinary, beautiful sister.



And I miss her very much. She is my favorite sister of all and I hope she knows it!

Halloween Contest

Prudence Pennywise is hosting a giveaway and also included yummy recipes. Click here to enter!

Dirty Laundry

I heard about this CD "Nearer" with a new collection of beautiful hymns coming out through Deseret Book. The songs sound beautiful. Check it out.

I have a major problem with ice cream. I just can't stop eating it. I love it so much that I hate it. Does that make sense? Anyway, that's just how it is with me and ice cream and I need it to stop.

The cheap movie theater near my apartment offers "Stimulus Tuesdays." Their movies are $1.50 and they sell a small popcorn and a small pop for $1.00. So, I can get a movie, pop, and popcorn for $3.50. I can't tell you how happy this makes me!

Really?!

What has Obama done to merit the Nobel Peace Prize? Gandhi has done (did) more than Obama and yet he never received it! Crazy!

Happy Fall

I love Autumn!!

I love how the crispness in the air signals the changing of seasons.

I love watching as the trees forfeit their beautiful, colorful leaves.

I love apple picking.

I love pumpkin pie making.

I love taking walks and watching the harvest.

I love watching as nature prepares for winter.

I love giving thanks for what has been.

NATURE, XXVIII, AUTUMN.

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.


- Emily Dickinson