I think I have had the most fun in the time that I've lived in Missouri this past weekend. I can't think of anytime that I've had such a blast. It was like when I get together with my friends back in Utah, when we were in high school and we'd just go out and party!
Friday afternoon was spent driving. I left my house at 12:40pm and we didn't arrive in St. Louis until about 7:45pm. Yes, it was a LOT of driving. We missed the opening address by the area seventy, Brother Reall, but we felt okay about that. After that, we went to the St. Louis City Museum. That place is nothing like a museum! It's like a giant hamster cage for people! There were wire tunnels, a wheel, skate park ramps, caves, slides, a Ferris wheel, shells of school buses and airplanes on the TOP of the building, plus so much more that we didn't get to see. If I ever go back to St. Louis, I am TOTALLY hanging out there again!
After the museum, we headed to our hotels and didn't end up getting to bed until about 2:00am on Saturday. Sleeping arrangements were insane! There were 12 of us, 4 guys and 8 girls. We had two rooms. Each room had a King sized bed and a hide away bed in the couch. That night we had 3 girls on the bed, 3 on the hide away, and 2 on the floor. Crazy right? We found out the next morning that the 2 of the guys had shared the bed, while 1 slept on the hide away and another on the floor! Needless to say it had us girls laughing.
We were up at 6:30am and heading towards the next location by 8:00am. Once there, we went to our assigned tables, met some new people and got to know each other before the meeting started. Bro. and Sis. Reall made us play this weird game, after which they shared a message with us. Once they were done we got lunch (I got a Chicken Salad sandwich) and we started working on a project at our various tables. It wasn't really much, but it was fun getting to know others.
Once that was done we were given free reigns to go explore St. Louis. I went with those of my singles branch to the St. Louis Zoo. It was smaller than I had expected and it was super hot and muggy outside, but it was fun going around with the other singles. Especially as I got to know those I was hanging out with better. Especially a few of the guys who will remain unnamed. ;) When we were done with the Zoo (which was later than we had wanted), we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the dinner and dance that evening. Getting ready too much longer than we had expected. We arrived at the church for the last 10 minutes of dinner.
The dance was awesome, fun, amazing, energetic, and crazy! Symber (that's one of the girls was with) started a contest between the girls to see who could get the most slow dances. Who do you think got the least? lol That's right! I got 3 slow dances. XD Yay for winning in golf scores! But I got to dance with one of the guys that I'm beginning to really like so it was all good. I should have worn heels though. He's a good foot taller than I am, at least! A few inches would have helped!
Got back to the hotel once the dance was done and went to bed at 1:00am. Woke up at 6:00am and were headed back home by 7:30. We arrived at the church around 12:00pm and I stayed there for church. I didn't get home until 6:00pm. So that's my crazy weekend! It was super fun and I wouldn't change anything we did (except for a few of the circles we ended going around in. lol). I would love to do another one and I hope it happens soon! I can only hope the next one is as fun as this one was!
I went to the Single's Branch yesterday and was really enjoying myself. I've made a few tentative friends down there and I'm hoping that those will strengthen. I desperately need some buddies here in Missouri that are within reach so to speak.
Right before we were going to leave the church (I had stayed behind to help sing in the choir), I checked my phone to find a text message from Kimber saying that my dad was suffering from severe stomach pains and that my mom was taking him to the hospital. My dad has had a lack of an appetite and stomach pains for a while, but I guess this was just agonizing. It scared me so bad to get that message. I wasn't totally sure I'd be able to drive myself and the four others in my car home safely (I did. No worries. lol)
While on the road I was told that my dad was getting a cat scan and I was glad I had a distraction because I was tempted to break down and cry. I had already done that at the church and I really do hate crying. It makes me feel icky. I got home and I discussed things with my family and found that the doctors thought it was a kidney stone, but that's all they knew.
My mom called shortly after and told us that my dad had two kidney stones, one starting to pass through the passage, and another that was inside the passage and was making everything around it starting to swell up. The procedure couldn't be done in the local hospital, so my dad was transported by ambulance down to the Liberty Hospital, which is a good hour and a half drive from where we live. They only went by ambulance so my dad could have the pain medication as they went.
Mom, Kimber, and Danny followed behind them. I would have gone, but I was already so exhausted (driving to and from the single's branch amounts to more than 3 hours of driving) and I really didn't want to break down and cry in front of my dad. I had been so scared for him after all!
The doctors decided that they were going to do surgery, to slip a tube or something inside my dad's kidney to get at least one of the stones to pass through and quickly. They had to give him a double dose of morphine though as the pain was terrible. My cousin (who got the message) said that it was as close to the pain of childbirth that a man can get. I felt awful for my dad. I've had morphine and I can tell you it knocks you flat. At least it did me. For him to need two doses? Wow...
Woke up this morning and texted my mom, hoping to get more details. They were able to get one of the stones to pass through surgery and I guess they're trying to figure out how to get the second one through. My sister fainted from the lack of food while she was there, but at least she was already in a hospital. I wonder if they made her lie on a gurney...
So there's my bit of news. I hope my dad continues to get better, but let's hope it doesn't take long either.
My grandmother and grandfather are coming out to Missouri today! And they'll be here for a little under a week. Funny how a week ago, I was in Utah visiting them. There's actually a lot of family trips going on this month it seems Interesting how that works out. In fact, I'm going to tell you what's happening just so you can understand what I mean.
My mother and I went to Utah at the beginning of this month. My grandparents are coming out now. Instead of flying back, they will be traveling with my dad and brother back to Utah and they will stay there for about a week. A week after they return, my sister and a friend will be coming out here. That should roughly be in the first part of June. At the end of June, my family will be traveling to Utah again for another trip (as school will be out and everyone will be able to go). When they come back, my aunt's family might come out in July to visit us.
So in under three months there will be a total of...six trips to and from Missouri and Utah. Isn't that insane?! We're a traveling family. ;) I won't be traveling with my family in June due to the fact that several people want me to go back to Utah in August, if not later in the year. I need to save the monies! And hopefully find a job, but we're not getting into that.
Busy, busy, busy!
Well, it's good to be home again, though I still miss the mountains. I don't think I'll ever get over that. I'm glad I got a lot of pictures, even if I wasn't able to go up the canyon. That would have been nice, but beggars can't be choosers. Perhaps things will be different if/when I get the chance to go out in August.
Thursday and Friday were spent at Women's Conference, and over all, it was a wonderful experience. The speakers I listened to were very much inspired and while I may have fallen asleep towards the end of both days, I still really enjoyed it. It was nice spending time with family, as I don't get to see my aunts and grandmother often. Of course, it wasn't all good. Ah, the joys of being female.
Saturday was fun. I got to spend a good deal of time by myself at first, but I was picked up by Nick around 2:30 (if not later lol). We were going to go see a movie, but then decided to go see Alisa instead, who wasn't feeling well. We talked with her for a while before Lamoni and his wife, Nelly, joined us and then the three of us scooted off to Zupos. To be honest, I wasn't absolutely amazed, but it was rather good. Maybe I should have gotten a sandwich and soup instead of a salad. *shrugs* We'll never know.
After Zupos, we went to Wendy's for Frosties and Fries. Who doesn't love that combination? Nick apparently. He said it was gross. He's so weird. We met up with Eric at Wendy's and after a while we decided to go back to Alisa's to play a game. Lamoni and Nelly went home instead of coming with us. Eric went to pick up a couple friends, Necia and someone we hadn't met name Sueon. The six of us sat down to play Phase 10 (my first time) and it was a blast. I'm hoping I can share a video of that night with all of you somehow. :D
Sunday was spent with family, mostly at their Stake Conference. It was a relaxed day so that was nice. Nothing eventful happened though. Monday was a get ready to go home day, though we did have our fun. We went to the Training Table as a family, to Burlington Coat Factory after our meal, and then to see my sister's apartment. It was rather nice, other than the carpet. She and her roommates want to get that changed soon.
Tuesday we flew home and that ended the trip. Overall, it was really nice. And I miss my mountains, but I'm sure I'll survive. :)
Our flight got canceled this morning due to maintenance. I'm not too happy about it. We had great boarding passes all ready to go (A25 and A26) and I was ready for the long flight (over 4 hours). Then we get the call that it's canceled and they've put us on a later flight. On top of that, we have to go through all the boarding passes again. *BLAH*
Fortunately, we're still on the A boarding, but just barely. We're numbers 59 and 60, the last two. At least my mom and I will still be able to sit by each other and possibly put our bags in the same overhead cargo bin. At least I can hope.
What a way to end a trip, right? *sigh*
I was reflecting on when my mom and I had flown into Utah last Wednesday and I remember how excited I was to be flying over the Great Salt Lake and being able to see the mountains. It was just a relief to see all of it really, because I feel at home with the mountains.
Strangely enough I feel at home in the hills and trees of Missouri too. I suppose I"ve gotten use to it, but I still find it strange. I love the mountains more, but I've grown to love the mass of green you see in the spring and summer of MIssouri. Is there somewhere I can go to get a happy medium? ;)
I'd love to move back to Utah, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. I've often thought about moving to Colorado, but I'm not totally sure on that either. :/ Talk about indecision. But just seeing the Great Salt Lake and mountains was awesome. :) Though the wet weather has kind of been a little annoying. haha Just kidding.
I'm getting out of Trenton as soon as I possibly can. Why? I just got let go from my newest part time job at the floral shop. I started there not even two weeks ago? Anyway, I'm so angry that I'm ready to just earn tons of money and get the heck out of here. I don't know where I'll go, but I'm going to start looking soon. I'm so sick and tired of this place.
The reason why I was let go? Because my ex-boss used to have another girl working for her before this chick moved away. She had told this girl that if she ever decided to move back, she had a job with the shop. Well, guess what? That girl is moving back and expressed interest in working at the shop. So what happens to me? I get cut, clean and simple. She didn't even give me a chance to fight for the job. Pretty much said "Here's what I owe you, sorry it didn't work out." ARGH!
So I'm moving out as soon as I can. I'm going to find another job when I get back from Utah, getting a car, and then finding a place of my own, whether it's close to a school I want to go to or not. Oooo, I am so angry. >:( What a great thing to happen to you before you go on a trip, huh? Fantastic...
I've decided that I'm super bad at keeping this thing updated. I really can't keep it going consistently. At least I try, right?
Okay, an update on my life. lol I've gotten a new part time job at a floral shop called the Wild Onion. So far, I'm loving what time I spend there. It's still nerve racking to take the orders as I don't know the prices yet and when Pam (my boss) isn't there, I feel stupid when I can't give them a final total. Lame, right? Oh well. I'll get better. I've only worked there two days so far. This coming week I work Monday, Tuesday, and then half of Wednesday (I work 7 hours for the Elementary school and then zip over to the floral shop after wards). Pam's SUPER flexible with the schedule and I'm really happy about that. It's nice to know that if I need a day off she's willing to give it to me. Hopefully that won't happen too much.
I've recently gotten a new laptop and a new printer/scanner. :D Both are Dell made and I'm LOVING them. I still have my old laptop and I think I'll keep it for back up purposes, in case this one suddenly explodes or something. lol The printer is very nice and the scanner does an excellent job. It'll be nice to have on hand for putting old photographs onto my computer. I know I'll be doing that with my senior pictures eventually. That way I can have a variety of pictures for user pics, etc.
Oh! I'm taking a trip to Utah at the end of this month. :D I'm going to be participating in the BYU Women's Conference with my mom, sister, grandmother, and aunts. My mom, her sisters, and mother always go every year. This is the first year that Kelli and I have been invited to join. It's going to be fun. I've already set up a date to really hang out with my friends after the Conference is over and I wish that the whole old gang was there. We'll be missing Jessica, Stephen, Brittanie, Rune, and others, but we'll keep you guys in mind, I promise. ;)
Speaking of friends, I've gotten to talk to three that I haven't spoken to in a long time this week. I won't say names due to the fact that one or two might possibly get in 'trouble', but it was fantastically awesome to get to talk to each of them. Catching up is always nice and I look forward to seeing them all down the road. It's been far too long. For now, I can deal with phone calls, e-mails, and even hand written letters. Oh, that's a fun idea! Maybe I should write some today and get them sent out on Monday. ^_^ I'll need to gather addresses again though...
Well, that's it for me. Long post I know. I'll really try to keep this thing updated from now on, especially now that I have more things going on in my life. Oh, for those of you who are curious...
No, I do not have a significant other yet, and No, I still do not have a social life. :/ Kind of sad really. Oh well. I'm happy and that's what counts. :)
