Hesitant Men

One thing that amuses me greatly is the dynamic between men and women. Last Saturday I got my hair dyed from my normal red color to a very dark brown (pics to follow, maybe). A few people knew my plan but most everyone was surprised by the sudden change in color. I was interested to see who at work would mention anything. As I expected, right when I come in the office the girls say how much they like it and complement my stylist and we chat about salon prices. The guys are a different story.

First they look at you a little longer then usual, no doubt wondering if something is different at all, then they seem like they are about to say something, but no. They are wary from the times they asked a female if they got their hair done and she says she did, two weeks ago and they just never noticed. So initially they are hesitant, and my favorite thing is I can see all this playing across their faces, wordlessly. Once they finally muster the courage to ask,"Did you do something to your hair?" and I answer yes, a look of relief washes over them and they say "looks good" or something to that effect when really they are internally celebrating for getting it right.

I'm pretty sure most of you ladies know what I'm talking about, and so do the men.

I'm sure most of you don't even know what my natural color looks like. :)

Kissing You, Baby

The difference between yesterday and today is quite drastic. Today I am all sunshine and bubbles whereas yesterday I had the hardest time even lifting my arms up I was so depressed. Even though this morning started off shakey (waking up late mixed with lingering feelings from a bad dream and stubbing my toe to top it off), there was one thing that brought my day around to full sunshine: This song.

Yes, I know it isn't even in English but I couldn't help the infectious happiness wash over me. There is something I really like about Korean Pop (or Kpop) and you can make fun of me if you want but I've got this stuff all over my iPod!

After a start like that, I bounced into work, chatting up all my coworkers and joking around the water cooler (literally). I think today is going to be a great day, and I'm sure the fact that it's Friday helps out a lot. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Is It Really That Weird?

With my usual internet perusing, I came across an article on how living alone can make you weird. I thought "let's see what funny things these weirdos do" hoping I would get a good laugh at it. Halfway through the article I realized I did over half the things mentioned (the other half included alcohol). I thought to myself. "well I don't even really live alone" but then again, I spend most of my time by myself (especially since I'm recently single :s ).

To be fair, I'd like to say that there is nothing wrong with being a little weird. If you're alone, you just learn to entertain yourself. Then I wondered, is the stuff I do really that weird? Please comment if you have ever done anything close to the following:

• Sing epic ballads in the shower
• Talk to yourself on a regular basis (sometimes in different accents)
• Examine your pores nightly in a mirror
• Coming home late at night and attempting to cook things
• Never closing the bathroom door
• Talking to your animals
• Never eating a proper meal
• Taking popsicles in the shower with you (seriously, you need to try it)
• Play dress up with stuff in your closet, take pictures, then delete them
• Take every opportunity to not wear pants
• Run and slide across the tile in your socks
• Randomly bust out with kung-foo moves
• Yell at inanimate objects when they don't behave, or if they give you a funny look
• Watch a movie, then spend the next hour fantasizing yourself as one of the characters
• etc.

I will neither confirm or deny that I have done any (or all) of these. What are some weird things you do?

Let's just hope the weirdness doesn't spill over to the times you're in public. Sadly, I'm still working on this.

Babysitting = Birth Control

You should be proud of me. I went to that Institute class last Thursday all by myself. I even sat right in the front row! I actually regretted that later because no one sits in the front row, leaving me all by my lonesome, but luckily there were some nice folks behind me that didn't mind partnering up with me for parts of the class.

This past weekend was a rough one. I went to California with my cousin Jamie to help her and her husband with their three little girls while she ran an 11 mile obstacle race. She's one tough lady! Anyway, her girls are 4, almost 2, and 5 months. A wild bunch, but very cute. After it was all over and the drool and boogers had been washed from my skin and clothes, I was completely wiped! I still am. On top of that I have to start packing up my room and looking for paint because I'm moving this weekend! I'm pretty excited but I'm just realizing how much work it's going to be. I guess it's my own fault for not starting sooner.

I'm hoping that once I move I will have some more interesting stories to tell you... who ever you are...

Much Needed Motivation

So I have 3000 page views. No big deal. I also made $50 extra dollars today for drawing and coloring a picture. Didn't even break a sweat. I also went to the doctor and got awesome news (no, not that kind of news). Basically, today is a very good day. I hope this good luck streak follows through to tonight where I will attempt to attend an LDS Institute class (I never go). I really hope my nerves don't give in and I decide to do something better (ie. watch cat videos online). These past few days have not been good since I'm am recently single. Long story, maybe later.

Anyway I'm glad it's been a decent day and I'm looking forward to this next week where I will be moving out of my Aunt and Uncle's house and into a house with my sister and a few other girls. I think I'm ready to do the independent thing and I'm praying I don't crash and fall on my face when it comes to finances. I better start pumping out new pictures to sell so I can afford toilet paper.

Hmm....I'm tempted.

Starbucks Is Not Just For Coffee Drinkers

This morning I had a doctor appointment to go to at 8, and thinking it would be a half hour wait, then an hour appointment, I told the girls at work I'd be in by 10:30. In reality, I was there probably a total of 6.5 minutes, wait time included. I didn't realize it was just a blood draw so I had the next couple hours of free time. "Endless possibilities!" I said to myself. I decided on Starbucks since it was 20 yards away. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and hot chocolate and sat at a little table and read.

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful it was. It was a pleasant atmosphere smelling of coffee and sweets, music was playing in the background and I knew every song. I sat at my little table for two and read my (zombie) book. There was a pleasant looking man across from me working on his laptop and an older woman having breakfast with her husband to my right. A steady stream of people came through to get their daily fix and hurry off to work. But me? I was sitting there calm as could be, soaking in soft rays of light peeking through the glass. 

Why is it when we are in a hurry time seems to speed by and then when we have all the time in the world the seconds just tick by like molasses? If I could do that every day, I would. It relaxed me completely, I didn't have a care in the world. After my hour of reading, I slowly made my way to work, not even bothering to dart and weave through traffic like I normally do as I rush to work. If only I had the mental ability to wake up early so I had time to get ready slowly. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be rushed.

So now at work I sit here and try and evoke that same content feeling that I had at the coffee shop, but a light bulb just popped so I need to go clean up some glass shards before the clients start coming in. 

Maybe I'll read a book tonight...

Thou Shalt Not Be A Pansy

Confidence. Something that is essential to one's success, I believe. Something that I'm lacking. My goal for this year is to gain confidence, not in a smug "I'm so great" kind of way, but the "I know I can do this" way. I'm sure it would creep out to all corners of my life and help in different areas. One of my friends (who I must say, I have never met) sent me a link to this great site when I was complaining about how hard it was to write a book.  Here is the part I liked best:

1. Thou shalt think like a professional, starting now.
2. Thou shalt begin and keep going till you’re through.
3. Thou shalt take your efforts and desires seriously.
4. Thou shalt call it work.
5. Thou shalt write for yourself, not the market.
6. Thou shalt not wait for visits from the muse.
7. Thou shalt not ask whether you are good enough.
8. Thou shalt not intimidate yourself by comparing your writing with a published and polished work.
9. Thou shalt not worry whether your idea is new enough.
10. Thou shalt not talk your idea away.
11. Thou shalt not self-censor at all during the first draft.
12. Thou shalt not risk writer’s paralysis by looking for the precise word or being afraid of sounding dumb.
13. Thou shalt not believe that if writing is hard, you must be no good.
14. Thou shalt not set yourself up for failure with impossible goals.
15. Thou shalt not believe in writer’s block.

I must say I am thoroughly motivated now. If only they had one of these for self confidence. 

It's February Already??

Guess what today is? No, not just Valentine's Day, it's my Blogger Birthday! It's been a year since my first post, a little over a year since I moved here. I'm proud to say that a lot has changed since my first blog post, including myself, some ways good, some ways... not as good, but better than a year ago.

Since today is the day of love, I just wanted to say how much I love.... writing. It's true, I love it with a fiery passion that no amount of chocolate or any Valentines card can express. I've mentioned my goal to write a book, several in fact, and I'm still working hard at it. The older I get, the more determined I am since I want to be published before I get too old. I always wanted to be like Christopher Paolini or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes who both wrote books while they were still in their youth. Since I'm now closing in on my geriatric years (almost 20!) I figured I needed to step up the pace and get my butt into gear!

Here's to another year of blogging and all that mushy Valentine's Day stuff! I hope you snatch up the love of your life, if you haven't already. Huzzah!

Fancy Is Not My Forte

Since Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year, Rich and I thought it would be best to celebrate on Saturday. That morning we went to the Arizona Renaissance Fair (one of my all time favorite things) and I got to stare in awe and envy at all the amazing costumes. Someday I will have a costume of my own.

After I went home and freshened up, Rich took me to where we had our first date: Golf-land. I'm happy to say it didn't have that first date "charm" to it. Afterwards we headed to Scottsdale/Phoenix to go to Bistro 24, a supposedly fancy restaurant, the kind you get reservations for. I was a little nervous because I don't go to fancy places on the regular. I'm more of a "Olive Garden Fancy" which is, you know, not that fancy. Before we left I told him I was okay with going somewhere else, somewhere cheaper. Maybe Cheesecake Factory or even Taco Bell. We took off for Bistro 24 anyway. When we got there we realized it was valet parking only so we parked across the street. I was starting to get nervous and then had a minor breakdown. I told him I couldn't go in there, I felt like an impostor, blah blah, not fancy enough, etc. Then we realized that right behind us in that parking lot was a Cheesecake Factory. I believe it was heaven sent.

I'd like to make note that Rich still gets all the cool points he would have gotten just because he was willing to take me to Bistro 24 and pay whatever it cost. Even though we ended up at a slightly less fancy place, at least it wasn't Olive Garden Fancy.

This Phone Will Die

My brain is fuzzy and it really hurts. It almost feels as if it is inflamed so I keep drinking water which helps for about a minute. I'm about to break this phone if it rings one more time or maybe my head will explode before I have the chance to do that. Two and a half hours of work to go and I may just go insane.

One good thing about today is I have a meeting with a landlord that I may start renting from. It would be in a house with 4 girls, one being my sister. It would be the first time I am independent seeing as I've been living with my Aunt for the past year. She is wonderful and like a mother/best friend to me, but I think it's time I get out of her hair.

On to new things I guess.

Tear-Free Friday

There must be something going on with my hormones because I have been on somewhat of an emotional wreck. I've been reading Catching Fire, the second book to The Hunger Games (I just got emotional while typing the title... I'm defective 0_o). Every time there is a mention of comrade-ery, professions of love, or even simple happy moments, I get this wave of feelings that makes me want to burst into tears. This is not normal. I do not cry often. I would watch some super manly killing/explosions movie to cure me but I've already tried that. I'm still a pansy.   |.\_/.|

For those who like Twilight, or maybe you don't like it but you've read it/watched it, here are a few parodies I have to watch over and over again. I love them! (these don't make me cry)

Twilight

New Moon

Eclipse

Breaking Dawn - Part1

Red-Shoe Rescuer

I'm so thankful that I have a convertible. Last night I was taking Sir Richard to his place when we realized that we had forgot his bike back at work. Fortunately I was able to put the top down and then wedge the bike into my tiny backseat. I'm sure we looking nothing less than ridiculous with a bike sticking way out of my car, flying down the freeway, me wearing my Russian hat and Rich wearing his baby blue helmet. Some nights are just pure fun.

This morning I had another adventure. I was just putting the finishing touches on my makeup when my Aunt Becky comes in and tells me my Uncle John ran out of gas on the freeway and she still had a couple piano lessons to teach. I quickly got dressed and headed out to fill my gas can (which I bought a while ago because I have run out of gas many times). 

I cannot tell you how good it felt to be the rescuer, not the rescue-ee. It's nice not being the damsel in distress from time to time. I pulled over on the side of the freeway and made my way over to John's car, gas can in hand, hair blowing in the wind, red high heels blazing. 

I felt so cool.

Now I'm just back to normal Haley, sitting at my desk at the office, waiting for the next distress signal so I can throw on my cape and go save the day.

Wait To Respawn

After an eventful weekend I end up, once again, with zero pictures. I'm starting to see a pattern here.

I was able to take a quick road trip down (over, up?) to Tucson, AZ to visit Richard's mother and sister who recently had a baby. The drive was super fun and surprisingly quick. I don't think Tucson is a very noteworthy place to visit but I did have fun hanging out with all the kids there. After "Uncle Richie" and I took the three older kids to the MacDonald's play place for the afternoon, I was happy, tired, and firm in my resolve to wait to have children.

To be honest, I haven't been in a writing mood for a while. Work seems to suck the creativity out of me. I need to get into school. :S

I Dream Of... Elves?

What happens when your dreams spill into reality? When you look at someone and remember something that happened earlier but then you can't remember if it was a dream or it really happened, that's what has been plaguing my mind for weeks now. I've learned it safest not to say "remember that time when..." and then get the odd look from someone when they tell me that never happened. So please pardon me if I can't remember what we did or talked about.

Unfortunately, I have not been in a writing mood, but I do feel the urge to be artistic. I'm working on a picture as we speak and I'd like to show it to all y'all. I also have clay at home so I decided this weekend will be dedicated to sculpting!

Okay, picture is finished!! Just a quick color overlay in Photoshop.

Jurassic Post

It's been a while since I posted and I'm not even sure why. I've been so tired lately but I blame that on anemia. There is nothing more I would like to do right now than to draw something. Every once in a while I get these urges and I can't contain them. That's when I bust out the sticky notes and end up with a little something like this:

He has been gracing my desk for about a week now. Someday I will have my own dinosaur. And then....then I'll be happy.

Native Duck Hunt

I am not made to work in an office. I am not made to wear pretty dresses and heels. At this very moment I am imagining throwing my shoes off and un-tucking my blouse. I would push my hair out of my face and run out of this office screaming with highlighter streaked across my face in a tribalistic way. I would jump into the shallow pool right outside my window and splash and slide and chase after that plastic duck that's always there. I would ignore anyone who walked past me or gave me weird looks, and I would be utterly happy.

Only an hour and a half of work left. I can handle that. Maybe... maybe not.

Mule Of A Girl

Rich told me something that I think is a smart idea. He likes to say "pick your battles". I know I come from a long line of stubborn people and I have developed that trait (although not as bad) so I like to "fight" over little things because I'm one of those "I like the way things are" people. Like I said, I'm not as bad as some and when I say "fighting", I mean not giving up on my position on the matter.

Rich is stubborn as well, which makes an interesting relationship. I think it's about time I stop and think "is this worth it" before I put up a big stink about it. I know it will take some time getting used to but I'm willing to make the change so I don't stress us both out.

In other news, we started going to the gym. It's my goal to be fit and trim this year (and all following years) and I'm happy to have someone to work out with; however, I am not happy that my legs are so sore that I fall if I bend my knees too far.

All The Cute Things!

On Saturday Rich and I went to the zoo and I must say, everything there was so stinkin' cute!! I guess I really really love animals because I just was loving the whole thing. I appreciate Rich for tolerating me as I freaked out about how that bunnies tail is so cute and that cheetah is so cute and that komodo dragon is so cute... etc. If I could, I would have taken home every single animal with me and pet them all day.

I may not have survived very long but I would be undeniably happy for a while. Here are a couple pictures I took (sorry, I really stink at remembering to whip out the camera).

The majestic Cheetah!

The no-as-majestic-but-still-pretty-cool Flamingos! 

Yeah, that's all the pictures I took. I will get better because I can't really get any worse. 

The mail man just drove past my window. I imagined shooting stars and fire coming out the back... its sad how excited I am.

I promise, there will be a longer post soon. There is something I want to rant about.

A Romantic Scene - A Surprise

The Setting: Monday night at the LDS Temple.
 
Rich and I were walking the grounds, chatting and being nice to each other. The air was cool but not cold. We walked past my favorite pond and sat down on a bench right in front of the temple overlooking the general splendor. We talked some more. He kissed me on the forehead and said sweet things. There was no one else on the grounds besides us and a group of visitors off in the distance. I was sitting there thinking of how nice the night was when he got nervous and started to mumble a bit as he spoke. Then he said, "I'm not very good with words, but..." and proceeded to get down on one knee in front of me. My mind went 2 billion miles per second and I think my heart stopped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out...  his phone. I'm sure the look on my face was priceless and he burst into laughter.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I beat him senseless after that.

Bringing In 2012 With Carnage

I missed midnight on New Years day....by 5 minutes. I was okay with it tho, just because I was having fun playing arcade games with my dear Richard. We played a dual-team shooter game at Dave & Busters, a very fun game place (kind of like the mature version of Chuck E Cheese). As I sat there with my feet propped up on the pegs, my hands guiding the mounted machine gun and spraying down unidentified "bad guys", I looked over at Rich and thought, this is going to be a good year. After we completed that level of carnage, we smiled and did a foot high-five.

Starting January 16, I will have been in Arizona for a full year. It really doesn't seem like it's been that long but then again, I'm pretty comfortable here. I do miss Washington, my friends and family, but moving was probably one of the best choices I've made so far. Just a few days after the new year and I start over in a new place. Kind of like a clean slate. I don't think I made any resolutions for 2011 (if I did, I don't remember) but this year I'm going to make some that are do-able. Maybe if I write them down, I'll be able to check in every once in a while to see my progress.

2011 2012 Resolutions!

• Sell at least 2 of my paintings.
• Complete my visiting teaching every month.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get into school.
• Make a music video.
• Finish The Book of Mormon again.
• Learn 3 new songs on my saxophone. 
• Remember to write 2012 instead of 2011 by February 1st.
• I at least got this one completed!!

There could be more added, but I think this is a good start. I advise all y'all to do the same and write your resolutions down!