Learning New Things

One of the things I love most about life is how many new things we learn all the time. Even subconciously. Here is a list of things I've learned the past few weeks:

1. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel and carpal tunnel syndrome MOST often occurs because of paralysis due to inflamed musculature of the manus which is compressed by the retinaculum. However, our anatomy teacher expects 200 students in his class to assume that it actually occurs because of nerve damage. And when 95% of the class fail that portion of the test, he still thinks we are the problem. Not him. Lesson learned: Mark Neilsen believes he is the anatomy god on campus.

2. Redeeming Target giftcards on Black Friday is not only a stupid idea, but can cause death to insects and hard plastic packaging on steak knives. Lesson learned: DO NOT SHOP ON BLACK FRIDAY WITHOUT STRESS BALL.

3. I also learned this week of three new exotic dishes completely new to my world. These were presented on Thanksgiving dinner at Justin's grandmother's house. Frozen mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (canned green beans, campbell's cream of onion soup, fried onions) and carrot casserole (horseradish sauce, baby carrots and sour cream). I still haven't decided what the lesson learned here is.

4. Our upstairs neighbor does three things all day long over and over. Shower, vacuum and smoke outside. The car really never leaves the parking lot. Our neighbor to the right I have only observed a few times. The first time she asked Justin and I if we wanted to join her at a party called "Beer for Boobs." The second time I saw her she was exercising in front of the TV with a sports bra and panties on. Lesson: Apartment complexes are a cheap and fantastic source of entertainment.

5. Recently with the holidays and wedding, Justin and I have been eating out a lot and have gotten lots of yummy chocolatey goey gifts. Needless to say we have both put on a few pounds. A few days ago I mentioned I thought we should start eating less and exercising more because we look a little chubby. He looked at me like I had shot his dog. Lesson: Guys are as sensitive about their weight as women. Maybe even more so.

6. Two days before Thanksgiving my brother-in-law and his wife had their third baby. She is adorable because she's a newborn and because she's 1/2 Hawaiian. However, the night we came to visit she told me a lot about the child birth. I learned for the first time that after giving birth the mother will bleed heavily for 4-6 weeks and that tampons aren't allowed. I think that in itself is enough to make me want to adopt. Justin was also horrified. But for different reasons I think.

7. I learned a new word in the last week. "Niglet." To clarify, I'll use it in a sentence. "Erik, get off me you niglet." These were the words of my Aunt Cathy to my cousin. I still don't know what it means but I know it rhymes with piglet and sounds like chicklet. The lesson I learned was how much more effective made-up insults are than real ones.

8. With each passing day of marriage to Justin I'm learning the 5% rule is inaccurate. The 5% rule says that men only have a 5% chance of being right. However, I have short term memory loss from all the chocolate overdosing and second hand pot smoke (riding a gondola to work everyday this last winter after a bunch of snowboarders got out really sucked) of the past year. With Justin, the 5% rule really is more like a 55% rule.

9. No matter how much I beg him to eat organic healthy food with me, Justin will always love to eat green bean casseroles, pot roasts, coke, snickers and cocoa puffs. In my perfect world our house would be filled with organic produce and exotic spices, recycled furniture and soy clothing. But it's just not attainable. Especially when Target is close and Justin grew up with all that weird food. I resign my post of food nazi.

10. The best lesson I learned this week is actually a serious one. I've spent so much time planning our wedding, trying to keep my head above water in school and trying to get our apartment in order. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. This last week I didn't do well on two tests that I studied many hours for. Sometimes I feel like I'm so wrapped up in trying to get perfect grades and have the perfect apartment I can't handle anything less than perfect. Yet this week when my new niece Rylee was born, I felt a change. Justin and I went to the hospital in our pajamas. The first time I held her tiny body in my arms it was like a light switch went on inside. I felt an inner peace like I do when I read my scriptures or have sincere prayer to God. My thought was "wow, this is what REALLY matters." Family. Justin held his new niece after me and I saw the look on his face. It was so tender and sweet. I realized I married the perfect guy for me. He is the yin to my yang. It was a really simple moment. Just us holding a newborn. After we left the room, hand in hand walking down the hall in our pajamas, I felt so peaceful.
Yeah, I want to do well in school. Yeah, getting a well paying job would be nice. Yeah, a pretty apartment with new furntiture would rock. But really, as long as I am a good person and dedicate my life to serving my family and friends and strangers, I will have lived a good life. I want to be a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, niece and grandaughter. And I think "that's what it's all about."

Married!

While Justin naps this lovely Sunday afternoon, I thought I would write a little about our marriage which happened two days ago. It was an awesome day for both of us. Justin was definitely nervous, but he managed to survive and marry me. That morning my sister Caroline and best friend Evelyn came over to help me with hair and makeup. I admit, I am not very girly so I'm grateful they could step in and take charge. While I got ready, Justin went running with his husky, Zoey, showered and got breakfast with his mom from Burger King. I think he just needed to keep his mind off of it. He gets really nervous. Earlier that week we had met with his Stake President with all our concerns. He calmed all our fears and gave us counsel to "make out every night that week." After we left his office Justin said, "Best stake president EVER!"

Before we were sealed in the temple the officiator came out to meet us in the waiting room. He told us we looked like we could be brother and sister. We didn't know how to feel about that. Then he proceeded to give us a brief history of the Salt Lake Temple. We both looked at each other like, "what does that have to do with getting married?" But the he was so old and sweet we couldn't help but listen.

After we came out of the temple, two awesome family friends took pictures. Gene Manookin, Justin's friend's mother was there and my sister's best friend, Erica Newel took our pictures. Here are some of the pictures Erica took... (we don't have Gene's yet).

This is us coming out of the temple. Justin and I really don't like having our pictures taken, but I have to admit that it was fun for once to feel like I had the paparazzi following us. Justin's mom picked out this tie for our wedding. It totally fits his personality. I don't know if he's named this one yet, but all his ties have funny names like "Brazillian sunset" or "Orangesicle." These are our rings. My dad commented that "with all that bling you could be the wife of a rapstar. You could be called 'Mrs. Jay-zee.'" Though we didn't have bridesmaids/groomsman, etc. Justin's brothers Zach and Josh and his best friend Tyrel came in place of groomsman and best men. Similarly, my sisters Caroline and Hilary were there and my best lifelong friends Evelyn Mather (the redhead) and Adrienne Tedjamulia (the one that's 1/2 chinese) came. Erica really did a fantastic job. Here are some really sweet/artsy pictures. I'l post more pictures when I get them from our two photographers.

Mawwage is what bwings us togethew today

Well, the big day is 12 days away. Yesterday my client at the spa mentioned, "you seem so calm for getting married in two weeks!" I just smiled. You see, she was experiencing calm, cool massage therapist Adrienne. Not normal wedding planning Adrienne. Normal wedding planning Adrienne went back to Salt Lake that evening. She went to her fiance's house to work on invitations and sleep. Later on she found out her fiance had made plans for Sunday to meet with his ecclesiastical leader. She had, without telling him, expected him to come to her parent's house instead. So, unlike any normal person who would have just thought it to be a minor inconvenience and moved on, wedding planning Adrienne flipped out. She started crying because he didn't "love her enough." Then ten minutes into the tantrum she realized she was in fact, in a tantrum. The mayhem got worse as she realized she was being overly emotional and started crying about how she felt crazy.

Poor Justin. I realize that a lot of burden is put on women when they plan weddings because it takes a lot of work. But I must say the load is shared equally when the man has to listen to a crazy, emotional woman all day long flip out when minor details turn into huge deals.

Other updates: We got an apartment! I'm currently living in it, sleeping on a mattress pad on the floor... but hey, whatev. We live in the beautiful Avenues four blocks from my sister, Caroline Hulet and her husband Jordan. We are also two blocks from Justin's grandmother, Iris. It's really a beautiful one bedroom apartment across the street from a bike shop (Justin's dream come true) and a 7-11 (also Justin's dream come true). We are three blocks from a spa, coffee shop and bakery (my dream come true). We live about K street and 3rd avenue.

Also, our engagement pictures are done! Are awesome photographers did a stellar job. I would HIGHLY reccommend them to anyone. ambphotocompany.com is their website. Some of our pictures are posted on their blog.

The other thing I'm way excited for: My Aunt Liz and her son, my cousin Mike are coming to the Open House from New Jersey and Denver! I'm so excited to see them and am so grateful they are willing to travel that far for us.


Invitations are almost done. If you don't get one, it's because you didn't give us your address. So don't be offended. :) Anyone is invited to the Open House. It will be Friday, November 21st from 6-8 pm in Millcreek at the wardhouse. About 3800 South Hillside Lane (2600 East).

Creating a pelvic Model

Well, I never thought I'd say it. But this weekend I made a paper pelvic model. Complete with female genitalia, perineal musculature and a twisty tie to secure it all.

Now really.

If we're paying $700 for a class shouldn't the professor be providing us with a cadaver model? Why do I have to make one myself out of paper and glue? This isn't an arts and craft class. I'm not taking a freaking ceramics class. I'm taking HUMAN ANATOMY.

I want to look at dead bodies to learn the structures. Not a freaking paper pelvis. This stupid project took me THREE hours to make!! Did I learn anything? NO. It was a test on following directions, not actual anatomy.

This is why I'm an ESS major and not a art major. I hate making things. I will never be crafty and never want to be crafty. My talents for arts and crafts is pretty much limited to putting photos in the album. (NOT scrapbooking.) That is why when I got done my pelvic model looked more like a crooked colonial hat than it did a female pelvis. (At least we didn't have to make a male pelvis.) Justin's looked nicer than mine.

I just needed to vent about that. Professors should really think it through when they're creating lesson plans. Does a paper pelvic model help students? Or does looking at a cadaver with the ACTUAL features help?

I felt like I did in elementary school. I was never good at coloring or cutting or pasting. This time I even cut my finger and got blood all over the iliac crest and pubic symphysis.

Engaged.

Well, my friends, the time has come. I have foresaken my sworn oath to hate men and live as a free woman, shunning all domestic endeavors. I will no longer spend my money carelessly on makeup, clothing, outdoor gear (well... maybe I'll still buy outdoor gear) and dark chocolate. My selfish whims are going out the window to be replaced with "partnership." Mine and Evelyn's dream of growing old together with millions of cats has been left behind. I will no longer spend hours at night popping zits, eating peanut butter and crackers in bed or taking up my queen sized bed with fourteen pillows and a fuzzy green body pillow. Why?

I'm engaged. Yay!

Justin and I finally reached the conclusion that we like each other enough to start paying bills, clean house and do taxes together. Ahh, the bliss of marriage. I would just like to take the time to answer some commonly asked questions.

Q: How did he propose?
A: It was a beautiful Friday night. He took me to Thaifoon for dinner and then the U of U Homecoming Dance. We danced (and sweat) the night away. Afterward he took a different turn that led us to temple square. We were in front of the Salt Lake Temple when he asked me if I would marry him. Well... being the smart blonde girl I am, I thought he was kidding. So I replied "okay!" When he showed me the "ring" (a ring pop) I freaked out. Eventually I said yes for real.

Q: Where will you live?
A: Somewhere cheap, near the university, with a dishwasher.

Q: When are you getting married?
A: Friday afternoon, November 14th.

Q: Where's your engagement ring?
A: Sigh.... well, you can't really buy a size 3 so it's being custom made at the moment. In two weeks I get a size 5 ring to wear for a while with a plastic sizer so it won't fall off.

Q: How long have you been dating?
A: About 11 months.

Q: How does your family feel about it?
A: My parents couldn't be happier. Hilary doesn't really care. Caroline is way excited and has already begun some of the wedding planning.

Q: Why are you getting married during the semester?
A: Evelyn leaves Nov. 21st. It's really important to me that she be there. Besides, I hate long engagements. It never worked for Pam from the Office. So it wouldn't work for me.

Q: What's his last name?
A: Henderson. I'll be Adrienne Christine McAvoy Henderson. Or maybe McAvoy-Henderson. Haha.

Q: Where is the honeymoon?
A: We're thinking Jackson Hole for the weekend. But come December we're going to Brazil!

Q: What are your colors?
A: I'm not that far into it yet. I think we'll do our favorite colors. Green and orange. It could be like a throw-up motif.

Well, I think that covers it. It'll be a small wedding. But if you would like an invitation to the Open House, feel free to leave me your address and it would really help me.

Favorites of the Week

Favorite things of the week:

Breakfast- sliced farmer's market peaches, plain yogurt, squirt of agave nectar, organic granola and a lot of saigon cinnamon. Yum!!!

Music- "Times Like These" by the Foo Fighters.

Clothing- Chacos! New Prana jacket from www.backcountry.com

Water source- filtered water cooler at work

Deal- tons of organic body products HALF OFF from Smith's Marketplace. (Jason, Alba, Avalon). Best find? Kiss My Face mint shave cream. Best stuff EVER!

Saying- "Taking notes is for suckers" (Jordan Hulet, my brother-in-law)

Political- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's skit on Palin and Clinton. Definitely a must see.

TV- Jim proposed to Pam!!

School- Referencing Christ in my paper about Greek literature in a very secular class.

Smell- Orange and Cinnamon essential oils mixed and diffused. Also, the smell of deteriorating leaves up Millcreek Canyon.

Anatomy- holding lungs in anatomy lab. I've held them before, but never truly comprehended their density and complexity.

Social- chatting with Evelyn. I'm gonna miss her when she's in Manchester. Also, going to CPK after a LONG day of studying with Justin.

Possession- Bed! Speaking of... GOODNIGHT!

I'm totally heterosexual

If you read the entry below this, you'll find that I'm happily dating a great guy. So I just want to clarify that before I write this entry. I'm very heterosexual and love men. (Some more than others. Some not at all. Some I'm trying really hard to love.) Anyway!

But I would just like to announce that I am totally in love with ALICIA KEYS. Tonight I saw her in concert at Abravanel Hall. Holy crap. That woman has SOUL! She is amazing on the piano and could totally hold her own in any classical or jazz setting. She write her OWN music. She was friendly, unassuming and HOT. She was totally comfortable in her own body and had AWESOME stage presence.

Sometimes I have dreams where I can sing like a black woman-Aretha Franklin/Mary J. Blige-style. Those dreams are freaking sweet and when I wake up I only wish it were true. Tonight after hearing her belt out "Fallin'" and "No One" on stage I was completely blown away. I want to follow her around and worship her. This isn't possible, obviously, because I have a life. But I just wanted to make it clear that I LOVE ALICIA KEYS!!