So You Think You Can Dance

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I have a slight obsession with SYTYCD. I've driven to LA to go to a show taping, watched every episode, own the workout DVDs, and gone to the concert tour. Oh, and met some of the previous contestants and Cat! Once the show starts I decide to work a little bit more or put money away because I plan on buying tickets once they go on sale. This year I took my cousins (who watched the whole season or dvr-ed it for me all summer).

It was basically the best night ever. I love me some Disneyland, but I would rather go to a SYTYCD concert than spend the day at Disneyland, yeah, that's how much I love it. I laughed, cried, and grinned like an idiot through the entire performance. Here's a little overview from my crappy phone camera/video.

Mitchell (one of the dancers this year) w/ April and I. 

 Me and cousin April

 Bollywood number

 So good...oh, there's tadd

 Really cool group number. 

 Turn me to Stone w/ Marko & Melanie. Tears, like a lot of them.

 Tadd's solo. Smitten. .

  The boys door dance. Sooo good.

And here are some videos..

Melanie's solo. April and I cried as soon as they started her video.

(Notice her first audition mixed in there.)

Here is Sasha and Melanie

And the vulture dance was one of my favorites too..

Okay, that's probably enough for everyone. It was the best birthday present I've ever given myself.

Evolution of Addition

Yesterday I went to visit one of my favorite people, my hairdresser. When most girls feel down or not well (like I did all week) they go shopping, get their nails done, or get a massage. I get my hair done. My sister refers to my hair as my "kool aid hairr" because I cut or dye it or both every month. She's convinced it will fall out. Here are a few examples of my hair over the past couple years..

And this doesn't even cover half the colors I've had.

Maybe because this is what I grew up looking like. So awkward..

Awful hair. I either had to slick it back or let the afro free. Plus the glasses and braces. 

Ugh.

After talking to my hairdresser and thinking back on past hair, I realized I have a problem. I'm a bit obsessed with change. 

Here is another pic of the new hair

 If I'm going to be addicted to anything, I think that hair is probably the safest.  

"I'm feeling fine, just a little pass-y out-y"

Yesterday I missed class because I was not feeling well, and by not feeling well, I mean faint. I thought it would be a really foolish idea for me to drive 15 minutes to campus, park 10 minutes away, and walk up and down many many sets of stairs when feeling a bit dizzy. I don't have the best track record with keeping it together when I feel faint at school, so I really didn't want to risk knocking my head on some steps. As I contemplated whether or not I should attempt going to school, I thought of my other two close calls...

Pause

These poor goats are so me

Close Call #1:

During Winter term I took a biology class and lab. The lab only had like 12 people and was actually really fun. For one of the labs I had to take my blood so that I could test what type I was. Having hypoglycemia and testing my blood before, I thought, "I can do this!" I had so much confidence in myself until my teacher gave me this little pokey thing and said we would have to push really hard to get the blood out. I was determined so I laid across the table, put my head down, and brought my hands in front of my face so I could see what I was doing. I mentally prepared and while the house of horrors (aka the rest of the class) moaned and cried I pushed the poker into my finger and squeezed out the blood. I was so proud of myself and tried to get up but everything was spinning and seemed to travel through light speed. I had to lay there for a while until I could finish up my lab and get it together. Luckily I survived and got through the rest of class totally fine. 

Close Call #2:

Earlier this year I took a human development class. The class was incredible and the teacher was even better, BUT the course included some talk (and video) of actual child birth. Anyone that knows me, knows that I don't do well with that, and earlier attempts to view such material (or even the Baby Story on TLC) usually leads me to the floor or gagging uncontrollably. 

So I am in class and the teacher announces that we will be watching an epidural, episiotomy, vagainal and Cesarean birth. My teacher also said that we could leave class, along with him, during the 15 minute video that would be broadcast on a giant screen; making it larger than life. I was all about leaving but when I went to stand up and realized that I was in the smack middle of an auditorium that holds 350+ people and it was going to take me a little while to shimmy down the row...

 The thought of a baby's head charging out of his mom incepted my mind and I started to get light-headed. *Danger* As I stood up to leave and make my way out, the room starting spinning and I envisioned my unconscious body falling onto one my classmates on the level below me. I quickly sat back down and put my head between my knees. For the next 15 minutes (also know as the longest 15 minutes of my life) I slumped over in my chair, trying to play games on my cell phone, while going in and out of tunnel vision.

I barely made it through the video and had to hold on to the railing to get out of class. Luckily, the fresh winter air helped and I made it home without passing out. 

Yesterday:

After reviewing my past experiences, I decided that I should go to the doctor instead. If anyone ever wants to  feel really good about themselves and their health, you should tag along to the doctor with me. The nurse asked me a lot of questions:

Nurse: "Have you ever broken a bone or had surgery?"

Me: "I would say about 11 or 12 bones..."

Nurse: "Whoa, that many? When was the last one?"

Me: "Yeah, about that many, give or take some toes. The last one was two months ago but I just cracked my ribs a little."

Me: "Oh, and I had my last surgery in 2009."

Nurse: "Oh, okay. Wow, you're pretty young for that."

Me: "Welcome to my life."

Doctor: "Well, everything you told me isn't adding up and doesn't sound normal. I'm going to need to send you to someone else too, along with some blood work."

Me: "Hmm..comforting."

Nevertheless, I made it through the two hours and getting blood work done, all without passing out! 

I was pretty stoked and gladly rewarded myself with victory lollipops while they made me wait in the lab room just to make sure I didn't go down on them. 

1 Point Me: 1,000,000 Universe. 

48 Hours in AZ

This is a couple weeks late but ya know, that's how I roll. Plus, I was waiting on my famdam to send me the pics from that weekend.
So two weekends ago I flew (thanks to Uncle Tony's buddy pass) to Arizona to see my family and be there for when my two brothers got the Priesthood. I knew everyone would be there and I don't like missing out on special occasions so I booked a flight last minute and hopped on home for two days. Anyone that knows me well knows that I don't like flying but I did it for the kids.
Usually I like spending as little time as possible away from work and not in AZ, but I really really missed Mesa. I missed the Mexican food, my family, my friends, and the good people. Luckily, my buddy Isaac was back in town and agreed to go grab some delish food at Rosa's with me. Man, Utah your food sucks. You know you're good friends with someone when they don't judge you for eating the entire basket of chips and shoving enchiladas down your gullet twice as fast as everyone else at the table. Thank you forever Rosa's.

I also spent some quality time with the family messing around, eating treats, and watching criminal television. That's how we do. The next morning we set out for our three hour journey to Snowflake for Great Grandpa Webb's 95th birthday and a visit with the rest of the Webb clan. Here we are with Great G'pa.

Isn't he precious?

We went and saw my cousin's soccer game, played with the other cousins at G'pa Webb's house, and went to see My Uncle Jason and his girls. It wouldn't be a Webb trip is something didn't go according to plan... Mom's van got hit by some pastors on our way..but it was only a minor scratch. And it also wouldn't be a Webb road trip without us jammin' out to 80s the whole way and having a note-holding contest to Pat Benetar (BTW, I won seven times). What can I say? We know how to have a good time and get down.

The next day we had stake conference and then the boys were ordained. Here is a picture of the Morris bunch with the sibs and Mahzer. 

Look at all those kids...and I'm the oldest. They're pretty great and I love em.

We went home to take our regularly scheduled sunday nap and eat some tasty yums. Of course Fahzer had to take more pictures of us..

Here's the fambam

Sheridan and I have a hard time just standing there. 

And the kids Sound of Music style

After the naps, per request, we had an epic family slide show and one of my favorite cousins/people/friends, Peter came over to visit and catch up. I love that kids and I'm glad he stayed for the ridiculous display of old family photos. I had to fly back that night to be back in time for school and work but that 48 was so worth it.

It was a good time and hopefully will hold me over until my Christmas visit...love and miss you already family. Plus, brothers, so proud of yousss!! 

Lay Off Me

Today I resurfaced a wound and complex of mine. I have a pretty addictive and loyal personality so when I like something, I really like it, and want it All.The.Time. If someone mentions my problem or points it out, it kinda bothers me though. I feel like this:

 Here's an example:
About a year ago I would order out and eat at Rice King (chinese food) pretty often. My excuse was it was summer and I was working long days and didn't want to cook. My order was cashew chicken with "clear sauce" because I'm allergic to soy sauce. Maybe I went too often, and maybe I was okay in justifying that until one night, when I called  to order for my roommate and I. Here is how it went down.

RK: "Rice king, how can I help you?"
Me: "oh hey, I wanted to place a take out order..(still planning on talking)
RK: "OH, clear sauce, clear sauce, that you?"
Me: "Yeah, it's me"
RK: (yelling to the cook) "Clear sauce on phone!"
RK: "Okay clear sauce, be ready in 10 minutes, see you then!" Click
My roommate: "Leene, did they know it was you just by your voice and call you by your order?"
Me: "I don't want to talk about it....maybe I go there too much."
I took a break and didn't go back for 2 months.

Example: Today

I went to The Sweet Tooth Fairy. This seems to be a pretty common occurrence lately since they opened a new shop right by work and decided to carry many delicious Gluten free treats. Sometimes a girl just needs a cupcake and sometimes that girl needs to hide and eat it in her car so people don't think they a sweets problem. Today I walked in and the girl said,

 "Oh hi! Guess what, you're in luck, we just put out all the gluten free stuff." The new employee she was training smiled and said, "You must come in often, huh?" I just gave a nervous/embarrassed laugh and told her I did come in pretty regularly and that it was near work..blah blah blah...sometimes I buy things for other people so I'm not a complete manatee.

In my mind she really said, "Oh hey fatty, guess what we put out all the gf stuff just for you, because you are in here every day." Thanks cupcake counter girl. 

Usually when this happens I need to take a break or fast from a particular place or food. I think it's time. What can I say? I'm loyal and people love me to spend my monies there. I think I'll have to eat one more cupcake before I take a break though...lay off me I'm starving :)

You Did What Now?

So about a year ago I was preparing my Halloween costume for work. The zipper on my skirt broke less than an hour before I had to be to work so in a panic to fix it and without a sewing kit or safety pins, I headed to Walgreens. It turns out Walgreens didn't have a sewing kit or safety pins either, BUT they had super glue. Super glue that claimed to attach any type of plastic for eternity in less than 30 seconds. Golden! I bought two tubes of super glue and tried to speed home as soon as possible.
While in the car and waiting at a red light, I had a brilliant idea...

This is how it went down in my head:

"I'm at a red light...I should open this package of glue to give myself a head start on fixing this zipper"

"This light is really long...while I have the package open, I should just go ahead and take off the cap..."

"Welp, off with the cap, oh, now I have to puncture the top of the bottle to open it. I should do that too!"

(Puncture) "Oh *@&%! Something is wrong with the pressure in this bottle, it exploded glue everywhere!"

"OH @*&%! This is SUPER glue! Ahh!" " OH %*&#! The light just turned green!" "Oh &*#@! my fingers are glued together!"  (can you tell I don't deal with stress well? oops)

"Okay, calm down, you can drive with your wrists...you should probably put the cap somewhere though...hmmm...in my mouth! I'll hold the opposite end of the lid in my mouth!"

(Muffled) "Oh #@*&! There is glue all over this cap. IT'S IN MY MOUTH! It's on my tongue! It's on my teeth. I just glued my tongue to my teeth!" "Drive, I have to drive, stay in the lines, get home"

So I made it home with my fingers all fused together, my tongue attached my the back of my front teeth, my bottom lip stuck to my bottom teeth, and my permanent retainer completely immersed in a pool of everlasting super glue. 

(Can we pause for a moment and try to imagine how hilarious this would be to witness another driving suffering through? I wish there was a camera.) 

Anyways, I stumble out of my car and into my condo to try and strip myself of the adhesive and fix my skirt. I successfully disconnected my ten appendages from each other and removed my bottom lip from my teeth. At this point I had ripped my tongue from my teeth but had a huge mass of glue still clinging to the back of my chompers. If there is one thing I care never to break or ruin, it's my teeth. I started to freak out and shove any kind of instrument in my mouth to try and extract the glue from my mouth. After ten minutes all the flakes and chunks were off my lips but the glue on my teeth seemed like it was there for good. Wanting to cry, I decided to fix my skirt zipper (which didn't work). All that work for nothing. I eventually thought of something else and arrived at work on time. 

When I got there, my coworker asked how I was doing.

Me: "Pretty good, except for I just glued my tongue to the back of my teeth."

Coworker: "You did what now??"

Me: "Oh, I accidentally got super glue in my mouth and glued my tongue to my teeth. It's still there, look!"

So..the following few days, I still was unable to remove the glue and I had ingested a lot of flakes from my attempts. One of my friends googled it and we came to the conclusion that I would either die from eating that much toxic super glue, or I would have to wait about a month for it to come off on its own. After about a month, google proved to be right, and the glue wore off and my teeth were back to normal. I'm really glad I didn't die from eating all that glue, and my teeth seem to be stronger than ever, so maybe it wasn't that bad after all.