What Have I Been Up To?

So the last few months have been busy. As many of you know my Honda Civic was stolen a second time, but you can read about that and my new car Elanor in a previous post.
So in August after my previous trip to Chicago my roommate Allison and I went to the Church History museum for the Boy Scout of America exhibit. They had several Norman Rockwell paintings, and that was what we really went for. After exploring the Church History Museum we decided to wander around Temple Square. It was a lot of fun, and the last big thing me and Allison got to do before she left on her mission in September. She is now in the Rancho Cucamonga, California mission, and is a great missionary.

After Allison left, I had to find a new roommate. Allison actually owns the condo that I live in, so she asked me to stay here and look after the place while she is on her mission. After two weeks of living alone I finally got a new roommate. I will say that living alone was fun but I don't know if I could handle it for longer than a few weeks. I got really depressed and mostly stayed inside, but now I have a roommate who barely talks and is more introverted than me.
In October I went to Chicago for a second time. This time I went with my cousins Anisa and Summer. I arrived Wednesday around noon and rode the train all by myself to my sister's apartment. My parents were very worried about me, but I enjoyed the independence. Later that day Summer arrived and Libby and I went and picked her up at the airport. After we picked her up we went and met with some of Libby's friends at a bar for dinner. We got some burgers and I got the best damn Sweet Potato Fries that I have ever tasted. I don't know if I was starving or if they were just that good, but damn they were yummy! The next morning Anisa arrived and we started our adventures. First we went for Pizza at Giordano's then we went up to the top of the Sears (Willis) tower. Last time I went up to the top of the Sears tower I cried because my cousin Ethan was trying to force me onto the glass box, luckily this time my cousins were nicer about it. They tried to convince me to go out on those boxes but they didn't try to force me on. Libby, Summer, and Anisa had fun on the box while I stood next to one of the windows freaking myself out. Then we went to Millennium park and saw the bean and then we walked to the Buckingham fountain. The next day we went to Navy Pier and rode the Ferris wheel and wandered around Downtown and did the Magnificent Mile. We also went to Wrigley Field and Goose Island bar and got some delicious Ginger Soda. We ate at several different restaurants and had a lot of fun together. On Saturday, Libby got called to work so Anisa, Summer, and I went to a place called Mindy's Hot Chocolate for breakfast on our way to the airport. I got this rich, thick dark hot chocolate that coated my esophagus and was too much for me to even finish. Then we headed to the airport and headed home.

As many of you know Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays. The weekend before Halloween my friends Kymn and Russ had a Psych themed Halloween party so I went as Detective Juliet O'Hara. This year my friend Shelby got married on Halloween so I got dressed up for her wedding. During work I didn't want to get my dress dirty so I gave myself a broken nose and a gash on the side of my face. For her wedding I went dressed as Merida from Brave. There were several people from work so I had to get pictures with them.

Now I need to explain this following picture. The only reason that I am posting this is because I'm so entertained by it. So several weeks ago I finally went to an Allergist because I have some pretty bad hay fever, especially this time of year and I wanted to go see what I was allergic to, and if there was anything that might help. So as you can see by the picture there are several things that I am allergic to. So what they do is take several different samples and scratch them into my skin and let them sit for about ten minutes then see what I have a reaction to. So I am allergic to several weeds, several of which are native to Utah, dust mites, Cottonwood trees, and Timothy Grass. I don't have any allergies to animals or food that we know of, so it's just lovely hay fever. My doctor said that I could get allergy shots which I would have to get twice a week but I don't have the money or time for that. He told me to just keep taking whatever allergy medicine best works for me.

This month I was able to go home twice for Thanksgiving. Because Libby had to work Thanksgiving weekend we decided to do an early Thanksgiving two weeks early since Libby had that weekend off. So I drove down with my cousins Ethan and Libby and had an intimate dinner with my family. It was the six of us plus both of my brother's girlfriends and Ethan and Libby. It was very nice and fun. We had lots of fun and laughs playing Balderdash.
This weekend I flew home Thursday, which flying on Thanksgiving is great, I walked right through security and the flight was about half full. We had a small Thanksgiving with my aunt and uncle and cousins in Kanarraville. Soon after we finished eating we went black friday shopping at Walmart and I got a few movies. Friday we had lunch together and just sat around talking and I flew home Friday night. There were only five people on my flight home. I think I know how I'm going to get home on Thanksgiving from now on!!!
Last but not least I must tell you about an awkward date I went on last week. I went on a date with a guy I work with. Apparently he has liked me for a while and was shy, so I needed to help him out a bit. So after I encouraged him a bit he finally asked me out. I made him be the man and decide what to do, which took a while, but finally we decided on a day and time and made plans. So the night came and first of all he was a half hour late and waited for me in the parking lot. Then we went bowling and he was so boring! While bowling he showed no emotion, I thought maybe he's just being shy or having a hard time easing up. After two rounds of bowling, some minature golf, and a little time in the arcade he took me home. He did talk a little more, but for the most part I was the one doing most of the talking. Anyway when he dropped me off he just dropped me off. He pulled up and said goodbye, but I wasn't content with that, so I asked him for a hug which was an awkward side hug INSIDE the car. Then I walked to my door alone! Seriously it was so awkward and too much work, and boring! I tried to have fun and I did have fun bowling and what not but I would like someone who would actually try and talk to me. He apparently had a great time, and of course he did because I'm a fun person, but I would like the other person to be as fun as me.
I was happy to go on a date since the last date I went on was quite a while ago, but seriously will I ever be able to go on a fun date with someone who actually interests me and will actually converse with me! So if anyone knows of any single guys please set me up. I'm not getting any younger and apparently the only way I can actually get a date is to get set up.
It's been a busy and interesting couple of months and now it's time to get ready for Christmas!!!!

Chicago with the Libbys'

So I know this was a while ago, but I'm getting ready to head back to Chicago this week, so I thought I would blog about my last trip.

So back in July, I took a long weekend trip to Chicago to visit my sister the flight attendant. I flew in Saturday and my sister came and met me at the airport. After a couple of hours in the airport, Libby had a friend flying in for a layover, we finally headed downtown. After a stop at Libby's cute little apartment, we wandered around downtown. We walked the streets of Chicago, road the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, and took a water taxi up the Chicago river.
Sunday we just went to church, then met up with cousin Libby and just hung out all day.
Monday we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, ate some delicious food at Glenn's Diner (which was on Diner's, Drive-in, and Dives), went to Wrigley Field, went to a Goose Island bar and got some soda (side note, I am now addicted to their Spicy Ginger Soda! So good!), then ended in Millenium park where we saw the Bean and watched a free concert in the park.
Tuesday we ended up parting ways, and when I got home to Salt Lake I had discovered that my precious Amelia (that's my old Honda Civic if you didn't know) was stolen for the second time.
It's probably a good thing I had just had a fun, relaxing weekend or else I probably would have been much more upset about my car being stolen. Don't worry, I'm taking all the precautions I can with my new car. I'm sure she will still be safe and sound once I get back from Chicago this next time.

In Memoriam

It all began February 2006. I bought a Silver 1998 Honda Civic from my cousin. I was a senior in high school and ready to become an independent adult, I know, I was young and naive.
This lovely lady helped me get through the rest of high school, three years at Dixie State, three years at Southern Utah University, and a year in the city.
Sadly a few weeks ago my dear, sweet Amelia was stolen for the second time.
First let me go back to May. I woke up one day in May to find my car missing. Luckily my car was found a few hours later a few blocks away from my condo. That time around a few things were stolen, thank goodness I didn't have anything really valuable in my car, except for my voice recorder.
After that experience I should have learned and bought a steering wheel club, but alas I thought I would be safe.
In the middle of July I took a trip to Chicago to visit my sister. I was gone for four days and when I came back I noticed that my car was missing. I was much calmer about it this time around, but I was also resigned this time. The longer the car is missing the less chance of getting it back in one piece. Well a week after I had reported my car stolen, I was actually taking a nap when my phone woke me up and it was the police calling to say that they found my car. They said that it wasn't driveable, which led me to automatically assume that my dear Amelia was dead. My awesome roommate Allison drove me to my car.
Amelia's windshield was shattered and everything loose was stolen from inside, as well as my license plates. The only things left were a pair of snow gloves and my ice scraper. I had her towed, and after my insurance looked at it they said she was still running just fine. At which point I got the windshield fixed and had decided that I was going to keep Amelia, at least until I could afford to get a new car. The next day my brother Flint called me and asked me if he could buy my car. After some discussion with a few different people and a night of thinking, I decided to sale her to my brother.
This weekend I drove Amelia for the last time. I drove her and we had our last road trip together.
My dearest Amelia, I will miss all of our time together, and all of our deep conversations. I came up with a lot of story ideas on our drives together, and we cried a lot together. The last seven and a half years were amazing and difficult, but you helped me get through.

This last weekend after I dropped off my car, I went and bought me a new car. I got me a 2011 silver Nissan Versa hatchback. She is so cute!!! My sister Libby calls it a Hobbit Mobile, which is why I have named her Elanor. Because I'm a nerd, I named her after Samwise Gamgee and Rosie Cotton's daughter Elanor from Lord of the Rings.
Everyone meet my new friend Elanor.

Farewell Amelia, I hope Flint treats you well. I will never forget you!!!

Fun at the Scottish Festival

Today I went to the Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point. It was a ton of fun and I may have gotten a little bit sunburnt on my neck and arms, but it was so worth it.
I went with my friend Tricia and we met up with my cousins. I also ran into my friend Shelby, who is actually the person who told me about the Scottish Festival. We got to wander through the booths and see lots of men in kilts. Plus we got to hear a lot of beautiful bagpipes being played all throughout the day.

Yes Sam is biting me, but it's only because she is missing her four front teeth, so she looks like a little vampire.

 We spent most of the day together. Amazingly enough I made it out of there with only a giant bottle of root beer and a bunch of Shortbread cookies.

I hope you enjoy this video. It's a little long but you need to at least watch the last minute of it because that's the funny part. It's me doing the Caber Toss, a Highland sport. Go ahead and laugh, I did.

A Bumpy, Exciting Rollercoast of a Ride

So it has been several months since I last wrote. For the most part it was just work, work, and more work, but lately some interesting things have happened.
I had a male texting buddy for a while, and about two months after we had started texting we finally met in person. The fact that we even met was my idea, and I set up the whole "date." Let's just say that it didn't work out, but I'm over it now.
Allison and I went to the Leonardo Museum and played around a bit. They have this awesome technology exhibit where we made this awesome marble track. It took us about a half hour but it was fun and we got it to work.

A few weeks ago my friend Kelli asked me to go to Prom with her. I know what you're thinking, why is Jessie going to a prom when she's been out of High School for seven years now. Well it wasn't a real prom, it was a birthday party for one of Kelli's friends.

A few weeks ago I got to be there to see Libby get her wings at her SkyWest Graduation. I also got to see Libby graduate from SUU a week and a half later.
Last Friday, May 3rd, was my 25th Birthday. I spent most of the day at Libby's SUU graduation but when I came home my awesome roommate, Allison, had made a TARDIS out of crape paper on the wall, and when I walked into my bedroom it was covered in pink and ballons that my friends Kymn and Russ had done while I was down south for the weekend. There were so many balloons, it took me a good ten minutes to pop them all.

So yesterday when I woke up to go to work, I went to get into my car then realized that my car wasn't where I had parked it. Now I don't have a designated parking spot so I thought maybe I didn't park where I had thought. So I spent the next five minutes walking around the parking lot and not finding my car. At this point I called the cops and reported that my car had been stolen. I went to work and a few hours later, at precisely 1:30 I got a phone call saying that my car had been found. I went and picked up my car a few blocks from my house. Luckily the car was left in one piece, other than a few unimportant things missing. God was definitely watching out for me. I must include that I think the real reason my car was found so quickly and with very little missing was thanks to my friend Ben's two youngest kids praying that I would find my car. Ben told me that they prayed as soon as they got home from school which was 1:20, and ten minutes later I got the call that my car had been found! There is something to be said for the faith of children. They need to pray for me to find a husband ;)
The last few months have definitely had ups and downs but one thing I've learned is that even with the trials and hardships there is still a chance to be happy. I thought, and I guess I sometimes still do slip into this way of thinking, that the only way for me to be happy would be to get married and have a family, but since that won't be for a while, I've been trying to find happiness in other ways. Hopefully I will have many more happy adventures to share with you soon.