But if bad luck doesn't exist, then what is this??

It's the day before Christmas Eve and instead of blogging about the show I was in ("A Christmas Carol") or the fact I miss my family and am all alone in Washington, I am going to share with you a true story that happened this evening in an attempt for sympathy. This may also come across as me venting. Take it how you will.

I came back to my apartment from the corporate office in Tacoma this evening to find the emergency tech Oleg with a plunger in his hand standing in the middle of the parking lot hollering at me while I was still in my car,

"Hallo Maygin! You're manager, yes? Maygin, yes? Maygin! You recognize me!"

Well, apparently the unit next to mine had a toilet overflow issue and naturally they didn't turn the water off which means the carpet in the their apartment is nice and wet from the bathroom, through the carpeted hallway, all the way into the carpeted living room. Good times.

Now one of my favorite things in a situation like this is the excuse that is thought up. Why didn't they turn off the water? Or how did it overflow? For any of you who don't know, the ONLY way to make a toilet overflow is if it is clogged or there is some sort of blockage. So, sorry resident's excuse. If the "orange flappy thingie in the tank thingie" isn't working, the toilet may still run but it will not overflow. I think it has to do with gravity, but I digress. I did my due diligence and assured the resident we'll take care of it and try to be nice and calming so as to keep the resident from freaking out. I leave their apartment and call the carpet company which is naturally closed because it's a holiday weekend, but never fear - they have an emergency line. So while I'm on the phone with a very effeminate but also very nice middle-aged man, I get back to my apartment, take off my shoes, set my stuff down and walk into my bathroom so as to grab a hair-tie to pull my hair back when lo, and behold, my socks are soaked through and my feet feel awesome. And by awesome I mean gross. You see, my bathroom and the genius' bathroom next door share a wall. I have no clue how the water got through and that's quite disconcerting, but I am just grateful that the whateverness that came out of their toilet and into my apartment did not make it to my carpet. Also, there's nothing quite like an impromptu let's-clean-my-bathroom-even-though-I-just-cleaned-it bathroom cleaning to prevent my not-so-well ventilated bathroom from getting mildewy and to keep the overflow from making it to my carpet (which means I am going to miss a friend's birthday party AND my dinner is now cold). Oh, and I now need a new pair of socks. I think throwing away the wet ones is a must.

Please feel bad for me. Merry Christmas.

New Post = This (aka stuff...)

I may devote more time on a later date to some of the things mentioned below, but for now here some things that are on my mind. In no particular order. Take what you can get.

Thought #Apple: This (Schloss Neuschwanstein bedecked with snow) is what I currently have as the desktop wallpaper on my computer at work. I figured since Christmas is approaching as well as the impending weather (which as a property manager of a small property I will have to get up early to check the condition of my sloped parking lot due to said weather - snow on Friday? - and spread ice melt ... what I wouldn't give for a husband right about now), I want something pretty and nostalgious to look at. Done.

Thought #Tree: Between work, church, and rehearsal for A Christmas Carol (http://manestagetheatre.com/MS_currentshow.html), I have no life.

Thought #Green: I am going to be missing my YSA branch for the next 3 weeks which means I don't get to teach Sunday School or play the organ. However, this does not mean I'm ward-hopping. I don't believe in ward-hopping. I believe in order to magnify my calling I should be where I'm called and not galavanting around scoping for possible mate prospects. (I of course make exceptions to attending other's meetings for support and love.) I've, unfortunately, never been very good at making church a social function. But I love it. I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (http://mormon.org/me/5RM9/). I love being edified and uplifted and learning the lessons Heavenly Father needs me to learn.

Thought #Spinach: I quit the cleanse early. Yup. I did it for about 7 days but had a wedding with a dinner (which I ended up not having any) and a really bum week. So I decided to recommit after the holidays. The affects were wonderful, though. I find that whenever I have a desire to grab fast food that I immediately think of the physical consequences - my stomach on the inside, my stomach on the outside, my skin, my health. Don't get me wrong. I love a McChicken as much if not more so than the next girl. Oo. And those tacos from Jack in the Box (I WILL be writing a post on that). But I digress. Another cleanse for another year. In the meantime, I'm happy with my green smoothies every morning and my herbal tea throughout the day.

Thought #Eyes: GAHHHHHHH!

Thought #Envy: It's NEVER to early for Christmas. I have been listening to my Jazzy Schmazzy Christmas station on Pandora.com since before Halloween. I know it's no NKOTB's "Have a Funky Funky Christmas" in July, but you bet your bippy the songs of the season are playing any chance I get.

Thought #Flower: I really miss my family. Mum and Dad are in Africa, the Cowart's (Jessica, Joseph, Samuel, Clara, Avery, Eli, Henry, Lily, Isaac) and the Worthen's (Britton, Lindsey, Aubrey, Chloe', Benton, Max, Preston) are in Arizona, the McKeown's (Anna, Gregory, Grace, Evie, Jack, Essie) are in California, and Whitney is in Washington, D.C. And I'm in Spanaway. SPANAWAY!! But this is where I'm supposed to be.

So that's it for now. Blerg. Don't be mistaken - I know who I am and am quite confident in the person that, actually, so few truly know. But for now, I'm going to close up my office and continue to listen to Christmas music.

The Next 10 Days

In case you haven't heard me mention this before, starting Monday, November 7th I will be doing The Master Cleanse. It's part of my regimen in training for a marathon (which is going abysmally by the way but I'm not giving up!). The cleanse can last anywhere from 10 to 40 days and include such fun things as salt water flushes, senna tea, lemon juice, grade B maple syrup, lots of water and herbal tea, and my favorite... cloves! (This stint, however, I will only be on the cleanse for 10 days because let's face it - it's the holidays and I want to at least taste the smells I'll be experiencing.) I've done it before so I know what to expect. Now, for those of you who are familiar with The Master Cleanse you either think I'm crazy or have your own personal testimony of it's positive effects. So let me just say the reason why I am doing it is to detox my body and get rid of bad habits (aka living off of fast food - bad... bad... bad...). It is true that weight loss is a side-effect, but it's not lasting. Changes in one's diet and exercise routine have to be made in order for any lasting effects to occur. And yes, this is the same "Lemonade Diet" that Beyonce used to prepare for her role in Dream Girls. But I digress. I will keep a log for you and post at the end of the cleanse. Till then, peace out and happy cleansing!

Zum Geburtstag...

Weil es mein Vaters geburtstag ist, habe ich die Entscheidung gemacht, um diesen Blog-Post auf Deutsch zu schreiben. Zur zeit ist er im Afrika - Tansania um genau zu sein. Also... hier gehen wir.

Gestern bekam ich eine Email von meiner Mutti. Weil heute würde Vattis Geburtstag, fragte sie uns (alle ihre Kinder), ihm eine kurze Email zu schicken. Weil ich liebe meinen Vater so sehr und denke, dass er am besten ist, möchte ich mit euch teilen, was ich ihm schickte:

***

Lieber Papa,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ich liebe und vermisse dich so sehr, bin aber so unglaublich stolz auf dich. Ich hoffe, dass für deinen Geburtstag du in der Lage zu bekommst, um etwas Spass zu tun. Wie.. ins Kino gehen oder auf Safari gehen oder schwimmen gehen... :) Oo! Oder kaufst du einen Speer...? Aber die Tatsache, dass du eine Mission mit deinem Schatz an deinem Geburtstag wahrscheinlich Feier genug ist. Auch ich vermisse dich so sehr. Ich wünschte, ich war da, um dir eine grosse Umarmung zu geben. Ich vermisse meinen Vater. Ich vermisse es, mit dir in einem persönlichen Gespräch und die Gelegenheit haben, ein Segen von dir zu bekommen. Vielen Dank für solch ein hervorragendes Beispiel, um mich über das Priestertum ehren und zu einem so starken Kraft für das Gute. Ein Teil von mir ist ein wenig verärgert (ich mag das Wort!) mit dir, dass du solche eine wunderbare Patriarchen, Ehemann und Vater bist, weil dort die Messlatte für die Jungs in meinem Leben gesetzt ist. Aber es ist ein sehr kleiner Teil, und das Wohl überwiegt den sarkastischen ,upsettedness''. ;) Vielen Dank für wie du Mutter so viel geliebt hast. Ich liebe wie viel du liebst und respektierst sie und es ist klar, dass sie deine beste Freundin ist. Vielen dank für wie du uns Kinder immer and immernoch liebst. Ich liebe dich, Papa. So so viel. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag.

Lieb,

Megan

***

Und dann schrieb er zurück...

***

Liebe süsse Megan,

Vielen Dank für die tolle Geburtstagsgruss. Ich weiss, Papas sollen etwas Besonderes in ihrer Tochters Augen sein, aber ich glaube, dass du deine Augen überprüft brauchst. Du bist so eine unglaubliche Tochter und ich vermisse bei dir auch zu reden! Was für ein Segen das Internet ist, und in der Lage sein skype und sehen du von Angesicht zu Angesicht. Seit meiner Kindheit, das ist ein wenig Buck Rogers. Wir werden deine Empfehlung nehmen und gehen und sehen ,Johnny English - Reborn'', albern, aber PG. Wir müssen die Ratings eng hier anschauen, damit wir nicht sehen, etwas, dass wirklich schlüpfrig ist. Ich vermisse es, dir ein Segen zu geben, aber weisst, dass du gesegnet werden zweimal täglich in meine Gebete. Ich bin so stolz auf dich für deinen Ehrgeiz zu wollen, zu verbessern und für deine Treue zum Evangelium von Jesus Christus. Ich weiss, wenn ich bete den Herrn hat spezielle Segnungen für dich auf Lager.

Ich liebe dich,

Papa

***

Da ist es. Ich habe den besten Vatti auf der Welt. Ich liebe dich, Papa. Für immer und ewig. Vergiss dass nie.

3 Things

Girls are crazy.

Boys are stupid.

Translation:

Girls over-think the past and how it affects the here and now.

Boys over-think the future and how it is affected by the here and now.

This is what I have come to find. Allow me to share my thoughts. Because - as a friend has said on more than one occasion...

"This is Megan. She KNOWS stuff."

Take it, leave it, or just read it.

I have been known to have not the best luck. And in recent times some of this non-luck has been present in matters of... well... flirtation, interest, dating, ridiculousness, the heart... call it what you will. But in all of this, I tend to keep a fairly reasonable perspective on reality - sometimes borderlining pessimism to hedge against the proverbial girl-with-the-wrong-idea. So at the behest of Princess Deanna, I am sharing my wisdom. Ladies, this one's for you.

If a guy asks you out, this indicates he is interested in getting to know you.

If a guy makes a concerted effort to talk with you for more than informative purposes, this indicates he is interested in getting to know you.

If a guy expresses that he would like to spend time with you, this indicates he is interested in getting to know you.

If ALL of these things occur, congratulations. A guy is interested in getting to know you. Yes, this may mean more than that, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If NONE of these things occur, he is NOT interested in you.

Now, I can hear some of you say, "But maybe he's just shy and needs me to make the first move." Nope. That's what flirting is for. Or how about, "Well when he does such-and-such what he actually means is such-and-such."

WRONG, LADIES.

And even if those were valid and truthful statements, is that really the type of guy you want to be with? Someone who won't pursue you because he doesn't have the guts to say hi or get your number or ask you out? What happens later in life? "So let me get this right, husband: you're not going to eat the dinner I cooked because even though it's what you asked for you might not like it?" Quality. Go for him. Or how about a guy who can't be straightforward or forthcoming and you have to "read into" - well - just about anything aka he can't communicate? "Hey husband, when you said you might have an important meeting with a potential future business associate on Saturday, what you actually meant was you want to watch the football game - right?" Yeah... Marital bliss is just around the corner. PS I love football games. Especially BYU. But I digress. (Go Cougs!)

I'm not saying these scenarios don't exist, but let me just say that exceptions to the rule are just that: EXCEPTIONS. So to keep things in perspective and to keep me from over-thinking more than I as a female already do, I have come up with these 3 things that need to happen before I will entertain the thought that a guy is pursuing and/or interested in me:

1) He has to ask me out on 2 official dates. This is not hanging out or stopping by or talking at a social function or ANYTHING that I initiate. This is him asking me to have an experience with him at a specific time (he does not need to use those exact words - but what if he did...?). Side note: money does not need to be spent.

2) He has to instigate some sort of physical contact. A hug, a kiss, a handshake, a wrestle, an unfair attack on one's ticklish self... But for this to count it can't come from me. I can absolutely reciprocate. I will even allow myself to offer my hand first. After all, the ladies in the days of Jane Austen and Shakespeare did it so why can't we? But my actions are not his actions. An important distinction that I think ladies all too often overlook. It has to come from him.

3) He has to let me know that he is interested in me. I am the last to assume a guy is interested in me and frankly it usually gets me in trouble. Shoot, even when they tell me they're interested and the feeling is mutual it gets me in trouble. But having a guy tell you how he feels (yes, "feels" - what he likes about you, a preference to you over other girls, "I like you" but in a for-rilzie way not a let's-pretend-the-word-"like"-is-completely-platonic and usually followed by a punch which is not a valid form of contact by the way) - be it in his sarcastic manner that you've gotten to know or a blatant verbal blurtation or a note or a song (that last one usually doesn't happen)... generally when you know you know and if there's a question then you don't know.

ALL 3 things have to happen before I will allow myself to consider the possibility of possibilities. And what's even better is that these 3 things keep me from investing more than is desired by either party. That is one of my biggest failings. When I'm in, I'm in. I will give my all and love whole-heartedly. Now, you may say, "This is all very well and good but you're not married, Megan. In fact, you are very single." This is true. But my hope is to marry only once if I am so blessed to have that opportunity in this life. These 3 things aren't a recipe to find true love or a game plan to catch a guy. In fact, when it comes to love put away the games and be true and honest. Instead, I think of these 3 things more as ways to grow and learn and to keep me from over-thinking and being a crazy girl. Well, less crazy than I already am. Take these 3 things, ladies. Learn them, amend them, make them your own, and then use them.

...And if there are any gentlemen who made it to the end of this entry, here are my thoughts for you: Go on dates. A date is not a proposal. Neither is a second or third date. You can always stop dating someone but make sure it's for the right reasons. Figure out what you think love is. Ignore the big neon sign above a girl that shines FRIEND. You will be attracted to women other than your wife throughout your life. Learn to be okay with that and to laugh at it. Attraction is not love. Find someone you love to talk with. Find someone you want to be better with. Find someone who is equally yoked in your beliefs. Find someone you want to be near. Find your best friend. Finding implies searching. If you've found it, stop searching. Find your own 3 things to help guide you. I believe in you.

I Fix Things!

After rehearsal this evening, I stopped by a friend's new place of residence to say hi and bye and then drive back home. This turned into a tour of the place which turned into me looking out the back window and seeing the church where we rehearsed (yeah, it's that close) which turned into talking for a bit and then I decided to leave. But seeing that I needed to use the facilities and it would be a few minutes before I got home, my host was kind enough to let me use the clearly marked restroom. Sadly, as I went to wash my hands the water stream that came out of the faucet was dismal. Nigh unto a dribble. I think I let out some sort of exclamation because after finally deeming my hands clean I walked out and my friend acknowledged the sorry state of the water and its pressure. So what do I do? I promptly ask if he has pliers. Tuh-duh! A leatherman. Or something like it. Anyhow, I fixed the problem and taught him how to do so. But then we just went on a fixing frenzy! At one point he even got to use the skills he learned by fixing the water pressure in the kitchen faucet. Well done, sir. Well. Done. So yup. I fix things. And I love to do it.

I Make Mistakes...

It is ridiculously late at night aka early in the morning and so what else is there to do while I'm waiting for the baking soda to kick in to calm my stomach? Why, read people's blogs, of course.

I love seeing what people have to say, how they say it, their experiences, their perspectives... But tonight something interesting happened during this reading frenzy. I was reading a friend's blog that frankly I forgot existed until I saw a link posted on their Facebook wall. So of course I started reading the most recent post. And then the next one, and the next until bam! There I was in all my ugly glory. I am not used to people referencing me in, well, just about anything let alone a blog. But there I was. Not my name but my actions. The words written were stinging but not far off and vividly reminded that I make mistakes. At the time, I had felt shocked and hurt and was being told by others that I was indirectly being slandered on this friend's FB wall, and in a not-well-thought-out moment I rang out in a Facebook status a not-too-nice name which is so not like me to say. A few moments later people had already left comments on the unfortunate status, and a few moments after that I readily deleted my stupid mistake, hoping against hope that since we were not friends on the beloved book of faces that this person would be none the wiser. But sadly, as I found out during this evening's perusal of said blog, I now know that in a matter of minutes gossip ensued and my blunder did in fact get back to this person. As disappointing as this is and as much as I'm curious as to the identity of the person who threw me under the bus, the mistake remains in one person alone and that would be me. So to this person - my friend (who probably doesn't even read my blog) - I am so sorry. I still make mistakes and am still learning. Thankfully, this friend and I are beyond the mistakes of the past and have started over with a clean slate. However, not knowing I had caused this offense I felt it only right to apologize. Not just for this, but for anything I did that was out of line. I will not regret my mistakes for they have played a part in who I am today. But I absolutely will learn from them and try to be better everyday.

I will also try to be a better blog reader and blog writer. Incidentally, as I continued reading further back into this friend's blog, I came across a sweet post where they actually did name me by name and lifted me up with their kind words. Even though my passion may come across as dramatic or what some may even refer to as melodramatic, I would not trade it for complacency or boringness. And as I continue to get to know this friend once again, I look forward to the many things I will learn and to not making the same mistakes again.

Now for another dose of baking soda water...

The Death of the "Big" TV

My parents generously gave me their television when they left on their mission for Africa. Yes, the same tiny television that sat in our living room cabinetry at 1206 for the past several years. Sadly, the said Akai TV started dying prior to it ever entering my abode. Once it came to live with me, I would attempt to coax it to work by unplugging it and plugging it back in. Sometimes that would work, sometimes it would take several attempts and perfectly timing halfway plugging it in whilst pressing the power button on the set itself. Some of you may wonder, "Why would you even try to keep that piece going?" I think the answers come down to 1) the fact that I did not want to spend money on a new or used television and 2) the emotional attachment I had developed to this inanimate object via my parents - I even deemed the 28 incher as "big" which my friends (two in particular - you know who you are) would not let me live down, seemingly enjoying mocking me and the "big" tv. ;) Well, Thursday evening, September 29th, 2011, the "big" TV died. And with General Conference approaching this weekend I felt at a loss. I went as far as taking it apart only to find that several of the capacitors were swollen and some leaking. So I put it back together and decided that I needed to go get myself a new television. And even though I still don't have cable or satellite, I now am happily able to watch Conference thanks to my handy dandy VGA adapter for my 5 year old Mac (that's next on the list...). Hello 40" of beautiful screenage. Even if no one else does, I very much approve.

Run, Megan! Run! (a marathon...?)

I am a dreadful runner. My lungs burn, my muscles tire, blah blah blah, I'm just bad at it. I feel like this:

But I have a goal! I want to run a marathon. So to be able to accomplish this and possibly turn into this...

...I have devised myself a plan.

1. I have 2 years to accomplish this goal.

I figured that I probably should, you know, be able to run before running the ultimate race. After doing a little research, it is recommended to be running for at least a year before running a marathon. I must have been inspired.

2. I have a training schedule.

Thanks to Hal Higdon, he's kind of done this for me. If there were five levels below "novice," that would be me. Therefore, I am starting with what is called his "Spring Training" program. Once I can tackle this effectively, I'll move onto the actual marathon training. Along the way I will also participate in other runs like 5Ks and half-marathons. Don't worry. I'll keep you posted and provide proof.

3. I have a nutrition plan.

I figure it will be easier to run if I don't have to haul around as much weight. Also, good food is good fuel and good fuel will help me be a better runner. Plus, who wouldn't mind losing a few extra pounds? (That would be me - I wouldn't mind.)

4. I am being held accountable.

I have a fitness journal I am keeping, but I am also telling people with the hope that every so often someone will say, "Hey, how's that marathon training coming?" or maybe a more accurate query of, "Have you learned to run yet?"

So there it is. Megan is going to run.

Yes, I'm Totally Venting

Ahhhhhh! Sometimes I love my job but at this moment I am a-hatin'. :( Grrrr...

I have the express pleasure of being a property manager and live on-site. But when my office is closed, MY OFFICE IS CLOSED, PEOPLE!! The doorbell is ridiculously loud and incredibly annoying, and anytime it rings I secretly hope it's a friend popping by to visit. But alas. It is not. Instead, I get people who can't use common sense. DING! DING! Inside my head: I don't care that you accepted a package from UPS and it wasn't for you. That's your fault, and it's after hours. My actual response: "Mr. So-and-so, it's after hours. This needs to wait to till tomorrow [because I work on Saturdays] during business hours. [insert him not understanding because he says he's Russian] Okay. [I take the package] Thank you. Good-bye." DING! DING! DINNNNNNG! DINGDINGDINGDINGDING! (Yeah, this one was super classy.) Inside my head: If somebody's been parking in your covered parking space for the last few nights, you should have left me a message or - I don't know - talked to me DURING BUSINESS HOURS. Not wake me up when I have a crazy-early morning tomorrow to complain about it. Leave a note on the car. Shoot, let out the air in their tires. Okay, maybe not the tire bit. My actual response: "You can't wake me up because your parking stall is taken. You could have talked to me during business hours or left me a message because it's been happening recently. [insert him giving me about 6 different and rather lame excuses - I pick up the phone...] Hello, tow company?" And proceed to get somebody towed. 5 minutes later... DINNNNNG! It's the tow company so I can kind of forgive that because I called them. Back to bed. DING! DINNNNG! Oh, bed was a joke. I see. Ugh. Get myself out of bed. DINNNNNG! Inside my head: Ahhhhh! Are you kidding me? A little patience. You're disrupting my sleep/life. You're locked out? Well then you shouldn't have left your key in your trucker boyfriend's car (they're in their 50's mind you). He doesn't even live with you! AND it clearly says in your contract that outside of business hours I don't have to let you in. So ha! My actual response: "If I go down to your building to let you in, I will have to post a $50 charge which you'll be responsible for. Do you want me to do that? Or you could call a locksmith. Would you like to use my phone? [I'm using a nice reasonable voice by the way, not the nasty you-dirty-rat voice that is going on simultaneously in my head] You can call your boyfriend. [she informs me he's on the road and can't call him but for no apparent reason - no, I didn't ask how she got home without her key if he dropped her off... - and she can't afford the $50 or a locksmith because she's on a fixed income, so she'll just sit outside of her apartment because she has a chair (whaaa?) for the next few days until her boyfriend comes back] Okay. Sorry. Have a good night, undisclosed name." Then I felt bad so I went down to her apartment to let her in - tow truck heaving up the naughty car in the background. Good times.

It's Prescreening Time Again

I received a random text from the long lost days of when I would hit up movie prescreenings. I was invited to see Seven Days in Utopia. So Monday, August 29th, I ventured up to Seattle and who should accompany me but my handy-dandy brotherfromanothermother Damon! (Insert picture of us looking very important and yet waiting in a line...)

We drove up Seattle to see the film. It was rather exhilarating waiting in line, forced to talk to a woman who brought a chair to wait in line (Damon and I used our legs) about her daughter who is apparently very pretty and recently graduated from somewhere... Anyhow, I enjoyed the part where I showed them a text message which was my admittance into a free movie. So fun. My review on the movie: Maybe it was the directing, maybe it was the acting, maybe it was the fact that the movie didn't let you know how the culminating moment turned out aka the final putt to win the Texas Open!! Don't worry. They leave you this gem to "continue the journey":

www.didhemaketheputt.com

Except that we went to the blasted site and it tells us, "For the answer and to continue the journey, please return here after the opening of Seven Days in Utopia, Sept. 2nd." Gee. Thanks. I have nothing against Christian/religious films unless they are less than par (like the golf term? huh? huh?) and released nationwide. My vote? Miss it. But if it's ever on TV, use your DVR and watch it when you're catching up on your ironing.

But wait. There's more!

Basking in our disappointment, we decided to use the facilities the movie theatre so generously provided. We then decided to pop into an open theatre to catch some previews seeing as none are provided at a prescreening. We were also debating whether or not to go see Planet of the Apes (which I had already seen and thoroughly enjoyed, thus willing to see it again) when the movie we were seated in began...

FANTASTIC!! The Help was nothing short of amazing. Truly remarkable. We both were extremely pleased and I really did enjoy it to the fullest. It made me feel and it was witty and clever and made me want to read the book it was based on which happens to be sitting on my nightstand right now. I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up. It is not a typical "chick flick." In fact, I don't think I'd categorize it as a chick flick at all. Real men will love this movie and love the women who love this movie.

To top off the night, I couldn't find my parking garage ticket. When I went to the cashier to see if he could work with me on it. Yeah, no. He in his lovely Indian way told me it would be $26. I tried talking to him a couple of times but each time... "Twenty-six dollar." We tried going back up to the theatre but given the hour it was locked and there was no one in sight. So then we ventured into the garage with the hopes of procuring a new ticket that we could then pay for through the auto-pay machine thus avoiding our Indian friend but still paying for our parking. Unfortunately, Damon and I were not able to fool the sensors into believing we were a vehicle. But then Damon found an abandoned ticket. At this point we were exhausted so we decided to just try using it driving the car through the gate to see if it would let us out. What happens next?

Go to www.didtheyhavetopaytwentysixdollar.com.

Totally playing. There were two cars ahead of us and both were having issues with the machine at the gate. When we approached, we put the ticket in fearing it would say, "Yeah right, sucker. Go back upstairs and pay $26 even though you should only have to pay $6." But it just said, "Unreadable. Try again." So we tried and tried until the attendant came over, radioed up to our Indian friend, and let us on our merry way.

Prescreening of a kind of lame movie:

$0

Seeing a really awesome movie:

$0

Getting out of the parking garage at no cost:

PRICELESS

Shameless Self-Promotion

Hello everyone! Incase you didn't know or couldn't tell by my last entry, I am a singer-songwriter and guess what? I have a music blog!

http://ieatcloves.blogspot.com/

My recent entry promotes my album that is now on iTunes. It's called ALMOST.

Tuh-duh! So not to add yet another blog to your list, but check it out and tell your friends about it. Shoot. I'm on iTunes! I attribute this entry to my parents who are currently serving a mission in Africa. To quote their most recent email, "Would love your CD to go platinum so you could afford to come to visit!! How's that going, anyway???" Any pointers anyone? I'm all ears. Or eyes... Whatever!

Nothin' but love for ya,

Megan

Long Time No Blog

Well hello people.

It's been a while and all I can say is I'm sorry. But I remember what Miss Stacey from Anne of Green Gables said: "Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it yet." So here we go again: The City of Megan and my attempt at chronicling my thoughts and experiences. Well I’ve been having quite a few – let’s call them “interesting” things happen in my life recently which then caused me to reflect on similarly “interesting” things that seem to happen throughout my life no matter what my age or where I’m at. Let’s just say if there is such a thing as unluck, it has decided to befriend me. But what is it they say? Something about acting versus reacting, playing the hand you’re dealt, choosing to be happy… (Maybe it was just Pam who said it instead of the ambiguous “they.”) So to close, I’ll share with you the words to my newest song…

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THIS IS ME
Music and Lyrics by Megan Worthen

Sit me down – give me a pen
It’s time to write again
‘Cause I’m done being scared
Being afraid of what I’d say

I’m giving up keeping it in
I want to sing again
And my heart may be broke
But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe

Without a doubt there is only one me
This is me baby
I don’t care what you say
I’m loving my way
And living each day
Don’t try to stop me

With every test I learn a new way
To try and live each day
And learn to love what I got
I can’t waste anymore time being what I’m not

Without a doubt there is only one me
This is me baby
I don’t care what you say
I’m loving my way
And living each day
Don’t try to stop me

When the clouds fill with rain
When my heart is in pain
When I’m left all alone
When I’m feeling so old
When I feel like a fool
When I’m aching and bruised
When I pick myself up
When enough is enough
It’s all part of the plan
I won’t forget who I am
Stop trying to knock me down
I don’t belong on the ground
Just try and stop me

I’ll never stop running this race
But I don’t want second place
They say love is blind
But one of these days you can bet it’ll find

Without a doubt there is only one me
This is me baby
I don’t care what you say
I’m loving my way
And living each day
Don’t try to stop me!

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Shake it easy folks. Till next time…

Hope

It's April. The daffodils are up, the Spring Fair is almost upon us, my birthday happens to be this month, Easter, too... . Well, I'm going to the Puyallup Spring Fair this year. I've never been and boy do I hope that at least one roller coaster will be running. In fact, to steal a line from my sister Anna's daffodil candidate speech, I love roller coasters. And I do. I love the ups and downs, the quick turns, the anticipation of a turn or drop that I see coming up, the lurch in my stomach when something happens I wasn't ready for (or even sometimes when I was ready for it), the speed causing my hair to fly in every which way, the slow climb that means something is about to happen, even the plateaus that seem to last a little bit too long but inevitably end. Why is it then that when I feel like my life is a roller coaster that I don't think of it with such fondness? Today I finally drew the comparison on my life and roller coasters in general, and I've made the decision to love the fact that my life is a roller coaster just as much as the real deal.

I am a happy person. I'm far from perfect, but I try not to be too critical and try to enjoy life and find the good in anything I can. But every once in a while (sometimes more often than that...) stuff happens that I have absolutely no control over and I feel lambasted. Usually I can rebound pretty quickly. I pick myself up, lean on the Lord a ton, try not to let anyone know that I'm struggling, do my best to keep the waterworks under control, and then attack the world with a genuine smile on my face. Recently, however, a compilation of struggles has left me at a loss as to how I, the Lord, or anyone else for that matter could help me get back to seeing the good, being the "me" everyone recognizes, and letting the fiery darts bounce off me. My eyes have been puffy and red, sleep evades me, and people tell me that I haven't seemed myself. Not good. I even broke my rule and talked to someone - shared my load, which was hard to do. But I did it. I talked with my mother. I love my family dearly, more than anything in fact, but confiding in any of them has never been a strong suit of mine because, quite honestly, they love to fix things, and I am hard-nosed and don't like hearing the advice and/or suggestions no matter how valid. Can you say pride? Anyhow, my mother has been telling me to have hope. Hope that this or that will turn out, hope that this or that will happen, just hope. I countered with my feelings that it is pointless to hope for anything I have no control over - job, friends, school, relationships, the plot of a favorite tv show or book. It just leads to disappointment or even devastation. So I began to move on and try and heal. Then after almost a week from our "hope" conversation, my mother said this to me today,

"I have to disagree with you on one point, Megan. Hope. To not have hope is going against the doctrine. It's okay to have hope. Remember faith, hope, and charity? Let yourself hope."

A friend of mine once said that he tries not to have any expectations so that he's not disappointed. It's a true concept: expectations not met equals disappointment. I started aligning myself to that way of thinking. But no more. Complacency is for the weak. It takes strength of character to hope. To anyone who shies away from letting yourself hope in fear of being hurt, disappointed, or whatever reason there may be, you're not alone. But I attest that there is more joy and happiness in having hope. Thank you, Mum, for saying the right thing at the right time. I am committing to anyone reading, but more importantly to myself... I will hope.

Hi. My name's Chubby...

Do you remember pretending to be "Chubby" and telling those stories? You know, maybe one like this... You squish your face together and say,

Hi! My name's Chubby! My mama's chubby, my daddy's chubby, even my baby sister's chubby. Anyway, the other day my cousin took me on a motorcycle ride. He asked how fast I wanted to go. I said, "Faster, cousin, faster!"

"This fast?" he asked.

"No. Faster, cousin, faster!"

He went faster and asked, "This fast?!"

"No! Faster, cousin, faster!!"

So he went even faster and asked, "This fast?!?!"

(Here's where you un-squish your face and pull it back instead...)

"TOO FAST, COUSIN! TOO FAST!!"

The end.

We're talking Pulitzer Prize winning, folks. Well, I hardly need to even squish my face together anymore. I'm there. I've grown into the stories I used to tell aka chubby. And now I need to grow back out and fast! Unfortunately, there are no long-lasting shortcuts so I'm going to do this the old fashioned way. But you know what? I've already started and am already a believer. I've challenged myself and a few friends to a "Healthy Lifestyle Challenge." (Original title, I know. But it gets the point across so I am completely kosher with it.) Here are the rules:

1) Weigh yourself on Monday and again on Saturday. Report weight loss.

2) Exercise (aka cardio) for at least 20 minutes at least 5 days during the week. Report successfully completed workouts.

3) Participate in a weekly challenge. Report "grade" earned. (Flawless execution receives an "A" and so on.)

4) Rest on Sunday and start over on Monday.

There is no penalty (other than being disappointed in one's self) and no reward (other than the natural side effects). The main goal is to enter into a healthy lifestyle. My friends and I are doing this for four weeks starting this week, but I went ahead and started last week and am very excited. It has been hard to workout almost everyday, but it's worth it. I can feel the difference. And I'm doing this for me. No one else. I'm pretty convinced of that fact considering that I've been fighting being sick, been extremely alone this week, and haven't once succumbed to old habits. So I may be lonely, but at least I'm healthy and happy and on my way to bidding adieu to Chubby.

It has been far, far, FAR too long...

Hello world. I would say that I am back, but that would imply that I went somewhere whereas the truth is that I've simply been doing other things and haven't put my blog anywhere near the top of my priorities list. So after a verbal slap on the wrist from a dear friend who says she checks my blog every week to see if it's updated (you know who you are), here I am. Very much alive and as apologetic as ever.

I'll bring you up to date with the main going-ons in my life in a later post, but right now I just want to address the near year and the goals I am making.

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Post to my blog at least once a month.

The world will be a better place, right?

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Write a new song every month.

I am more than at liberty to write more than one a month, but if I write 2 in February I still have to write one in March.

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Read every issue of the 2011 Ensign cover to cover.

I did this two years ago but not last year and I could definitely tell a difference. This is modern day scripture folks. Words from the prophet and apostles. Why would I NOT make this a goal? However, sometimes time management is an issue. So I am taking up a trick I learned from an old roommate: keep a copy in the bathroom. 'Nuff said.

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Get my album on iTunes.

Check. Yup. I'm on iTunes!

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Lose the weight I've never been able to.

When a friend, not a parent or a sibling, tells you they think you're great the way you are but they know you want to be more fit and they tell you they think you could drop 5 to 10 pounds easy if you just did at least 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week... and this friend is a guy... Let's just say something snapped and I am on it.

Rest assured this list will be amended, but for now... it will do. Nothin' but love for ya!