confession session

Okay, confession session: I've read all the Twilight books. And I like them.

I'm so embarrassed to admit this, because the Twilight books really are bad writing, but for whatever reason, I find the concept of a vampire romance quite enthralling. I almost hesitate to recommend them to anyone because the writing is really that bad. The author uses the same trite phrases over and over (chiseled chest, tousled bronze hair, dizzying effect, marble skin, ragged edges of the heart, and the list could go on), and you're often reminded of a supernatural soap opera. It really is ridiculous. Yet, I couldn't wait to get the last book that came out on Saturday. Saturday morning, I got all ready and went to Target where I bought the last Twilight installment for a mere $14.99.

The books are great for purely entertainment reading, because they take no extra processing at all. I actually find myself skimming more than reading for large chunks because it's all the same, and I get pretty much the same effect. These books are books I daren't take with me in public (with the exception of the airport: Twilight is perfect airplane reading. And seriously, who cares what you read in the airport?) and I almost feel silly discussing them with other Twilight fans. They were great Christmas break reading last year, because my brain had been on overload from the end of the semester, and it takes zero brain cells to read and process Twilight. Over that break, I read all three books. And I finished the newest book this morning. In two days. No joke.

The writing, it really is that bad. Really. So, I say, read them. But don't. But do.

I'm continuing reading a substantive book (the one I was reading when the Breaking Dawn came out on Saturday. It took the back burner--vampires are just that captivating.) I'm hoping that finishing Reading Lolita in Tehran will renew my faith in good literature. I'm on the path to literary recovery.

But vampires are just so cool . . .

I really am a college student--promise

Unbelievably, school registration for John and Sarah is already here, and today was the day. School registration is pretty boring, because you just have to stand in line for who knows how long while the school drains your bank account to pay for computer fees. Because of the boring nature of school registration, I told Mom I'd go with her to keep her company. Little did I realize that because I accompanied Mom to the high school, people would think that I was the high school freshman she was registering.

You've got to be kidding me.

I had to establish several times that no, I am not a high school freshman, but rather I'm a college junior and graduated from high school two years ago and was a high school freshman six or seven years ago. Good grief. I felt the overwhelming need to shout, "I really am a college student!!!!! I'm almost 21 years old!!!!!!!"

I'm glad I could offer my company to Mom so registration wouldn't be so boring, but good grief, I felt ridiculous.

a summer morning

For most of the summer (with the exception of the drug den job) I've had at least my mornings free. With my lack of regular full time work, most mornings this summer have been pretty laid back and chill. I don't usually have a car to go anywhere (until I got this great-day-Sashco job), and usually John and Sarah are home. Most of my mornings are pretty much the same, and I really don't have too much to complain about.

I get to sleep in until scriptures, or if we don't read scriptures in the morning, I sleep in until about 8:30 or so. Then I get up and shower (if I need to) and leisurely get ready while listening to Harry Potter on my iPod. Usually I proceed to have a bowl of cereal while reading my book, and then I turn all the fans upstairs to blow out air out of the house and I shut the windows to keep any trace of cool air inside the house. I then head downstairs and write articles (if I have a batch to work on), watch a TV show or two on the DVR, or read. Today I mixed up some banana chip bars before I left for work. It's pretty quiet and having just me and the kids usually isn't so bad. It's a great time to read my scriptures and have quiet, meditative time--I take the mornings for me-time. When I get home, that's when I like to be around people and help out and be in the hubbub of things. The mornings are for me.

There are a couples of cons, however, to this having-the-mornings-off thing. Being in charge of Sarah is exhausting. I don't like it that Mom works in the morning and is home in the afternoon, while I am home in the morning, but work in the afternoon. Sometimes it's too quiet and lonely, and I'd really just like to have someone around. Sometimes I have a hard time being productive and motivated. When I have only a few hours in the morning to get stuff done, it's hard to find the drive to start things, because I think, "Well, I have to leave for work in an hour, anyway."

All things considered, though, my schedule isn't too bad. For money reasons, I'd love to be working full time, but I really feel like this Sashco job is a blessing and the job I should be working. It pays a lot, and I have accepted that I won't be able to save everything I need to for the next school year, so stressing out about that is pointless, since I won't be able to save it all anyway. I'm trying to just take advantage of this laid back summer schedule, because I probably won't have another summer like it (or another laid back schedule, period) for a while.

Newsflash: Turn off your music at the gas station

So I was putting some gas into the car today, and I pulled up to the pump. As I pulled up to the pump, a ghetto car pulls up next to me and this kid,who was probably only seventeen years old by the looks of him, gets out and leaves his horridly obnoxiously loud music on the entire time he's filling his tank. I felt like I was in a movie where there was this horrid rap soundtrack that played at the gas station. Good grief. Um, newsflash: no one wants to hear your overly loud, profane, tuneless music. So stop playing it ten decibels too loud and get over yourself.

Masquerade

My friend Rachelle's birthday was last week, and she had her party on Friday. Usually she does a regular barbeque and pool party, but this year she decided to shake things up a bit and have a themed party: masquerade. We came in formal clothes and wore masks for most of the night. There were hors d'oevres, a sit-down dinner, and dessert.

I got to wear my prom dress from junior year, which was so much fun! It was a good chance to get dressed up and have some fun with friends. Happy birthday, Rachelle!! Love you!!

It's a great day at Sashco! This is Charlotte,

And that is how I answer the phone at my new, non-terrorist holding cell job. $14 an hour, part time, professional, not in the least bit scary! It might last through the summer, and it will last for at least a couple of weeks. I wish it were full time, but I'll take what I can get. The people are all really nice (one of them is out on a Dairy Queen run for everyone--score!) and I feel very welcome. It's farther away than I would typically like, but it's totally do-able.

I think I'm getting the hang of things pretty quick: I've been answering the phones on my own for a while, and if anything goes wrong, the full time receptionist is around. The reason they need a part time receptionist is simply to let the full time receptionist work on other projects and fulfill other responsibilities. It's really laid back: I wore a skirt today, but can get away with wearing jeans if I want.

(It's Thursday now: I didn't get to finish my post yesterday) Today is their company picnic during work hours, so while they're outside picnic-ing it up, I'll be in here answering phones and whatnot. It really won't be that bad though--maybe I'll be able to get some reading in and I get to stay until 5 today. (I say "get to stay" because that's an extra $14 for me!) Any extra hours I can get, I will take! And even though it's far away, I am a-okay with that, because it's a job and I need a job!

dedicated to Brooke: my newish computer

So, I was talking to Brooke yesterday, and she whined that I haven't been posting lately. Brooke, this post is dedicated to you.

As mentioned in previous posts, my computer was so on the fritz. It was ridiculous. Once nothing started showing up on the screen, I took it in to the BYU computer shop, and they supposedly fixed it. It took almost four weeks for me to get my computer back, they sent it back, and then two or three days later, it started doing the same thing again. Dad was able to hook up my lame-o computer to our huge old monitor. It was pretty ridiculous.

Feeling at a loss for what to do about my computer, I was ready to give up. Mom was talking to her boss about my computer woes, and then he said that he just happened to have an extra computer lying around. It was a pretty great answer to prayer, for sure. It has all the new Microsoft programs, and he is letting me work out a payment plan for it. I'm so glad that this came through--I was really upset and frustrated. Hopefully, this one won't completely spazz out.

So, Brooke, that was a post just for you. It's nothing exciting--just the mundane happenings of my summer life.

getting behind throws me off

I can't remember the last time I didn't post for a week and a half . . . . When I get out of a groove, it's sometimes hard to get back into the groove. Fortunately, I have been taking pictures of my happening over the summer, so I'll post those as a recap of my summer antics.

Nick, Mom, and Dad getting breakfast ready up in the mountains on the Fourth.

Our new dog, Moosey--thanks Jess :)

We love her lots!


Mom, Em, and me up in the mountains


John and Emily goofing off with the festive Fourth of July straws


Sarah playing ball with Melissa and Jacquelyn (not pictured)


Emily and me on her 18th birthday

Emily and I had a Mary Kate and Ashley night: "The Challenge" and "Holiday in the Sun"=quality movies (hahahaha)

Emily, our friend Michael, and I went ice blocking (definition: sliding down a hill on a block of ice--it's like sledding for summer)

We then went to McDonald's to get some dollar ice cream sundaes. There was a really creepy, somewhat emaciated Ronald McDonald sitting on one of the tables--we sat there to be daring.

I went to a party at Rachelle's to say farewell to our friend Mikayla, who is going to study abroad in Germany for a year.

So, it's been busy, but I've been having a good time. I can't believe it's already been almost four weeks since I came home and before I know it, I'll be back at school for fall semester. I'll do a real post about other happenings soon--I just couldn't face doing real posts about all of these events: getting behind really throws me off.

SOS

I got a call from the temp agency last week with a job that started today, and I thought, "Great! I can work for the rest of the summer and earn money!" All I can say is SOS. This is the break room:

And no, I did not find this on Google Image under "terrorist holding cells."

I'm looking into other employment options.

P.S. More on the Fourth and Em's birthday to come when I'm not in a mild state of panic.

Operation Santa Fe--Days 4, 5, and 6

The last half of Operation Santa Fe went pretty well, considering:

• Church on Sunday. This was Emily's first day back.
• I made Parmesan chicken, white rice, and carrots for dinner. Emily made the biscuits. Jacquelyn came over for dinner.
• Sunday night we watched "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."
• Monday morning, Jacquelyn and I went up to Crown Hill to go running, and Sarah rode her bike alongside.
• Sarah went to Marilyn Fowler's house in the evening and spent the night--score
• Monday was cleaning day. Sarah had a fit because I wouldn't let her eat ice cream for breakfast . . . figure that one out.
• Monday, we discovered who the peeing culprit was. All throughout OSF, one of the dogs (we also were watching Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Tyrone) kept peeing everywhere. Because we never were able to catch them in the act, I didn't know which dog to scold, so I didn't scold any dog. We had our suspicions, but no confirmations. Monday night, I was watching TV and I heard a whizzing sound behind me. I turned around to see my suspicions confirmed: Tyrone. He was the whizzer. I was so mad. And he did it again on Tuesday. I was not sad to see Tyrone go . . . .
  
• My friend Cheyne came over on Monday night, and he, Emily, and I went out to ice cream, and then came back to our house and watched "Stranger Than Fiction," (which I loved by the way--I'd never seen it before).
  
• Tuesday I basically just hung out. Sarah was still at Marilyn's all day, I vacuumed, I scrapbooked, I waited anxiously for Mom and Dad to get home.

They've been back for a couple days now, and I've decided I'm perfectly okay not being the mom. Mom can have that job back. :)