"How Aims Became Bald"

Long ago and far away in the land of "The Muddy" there lived a girl, let's call her Aims. Well, Aims was bored (not board mind you) and she really wanted something to do. It's not that she didn't have many lovely friends to do things with, she just needed something to occupy her mind so she wouldn't think too much about other things (I think they call it suppression). She looked all around her for something to do and she complained a lot about not having anything to do.
Finally Aims decided to call upon The God of the Sky to give her something to do so she wouldn't be bored anymore. She called and she called but there was no answer from The God in the sky. Aims became frustrated and decided to take matters into her own hands. So Aims began to play the guitar, she began to create art, and she even began to read a lot, even so much that her head was always stuck in a book.
Her friends would stand at her window and call out "Aims, we are going to get ice cream. Come with us!" and Aims would reply with a flick of her wrist and say "Pooh pooh, I am staying here with my book." They were very disappointed.
Then finally The God of the sky decided to grant Aims her request. You see the God of the Sky knows best and He knew that the time had not yet been ripe for Aims to learn her lesson, but that day did come.
Suddenly Aims was very busy with many things to do. She had things to do almost every night, and they were fun things too. But Aims found that she missed the old days of reading and lounging around, "Waiting for the money" so to speak, and she began to complain about not having enough time. She complained that she was going out with all the wrong guys, she complained about her job, she complained about The Muddy, and she especially complained about her banking class she had wanted to take, but suddenly didn't want to take anymore.
The God of the Sky was angry with Aims. "You are ungrateful, just like The Children of the Desert who complained about the food I provided for them and when I finally gave them something else, they complained about that too. Because you are so ungrateful, I will not make you wonder in The Muddy for 30 years, but I will make a more permanent mark upon you so that every day, you will wake up and remember that you need to be grateful."
And with that, Aims found that she no longer had any hair! She was bald, completely!!! Aims cried and cried, but there was nothing she could do. Her sentence had been determined. She would never complain again. (Until it really hit her that she had no hair)

*Moral of the story: Don't complain, it might come back to bit you in the... well you fill in the blank.

California Here We Come

Body Boarding rules!!! I am determined to learn how to surf now that I've caught the sickness. Okay, so I'm really not that good, but it was so fun!! We spent this last long weekend in San Diego (So Cal. Ha ha ha, I am such a wanna be!) I learned how to body board and now I am hooked. We spent all day at the beach body boarding and then we spent the next day observing the guys who really know how to do it on the bigger waves. Okay so maybe I wasn't so mezmarized by their skill as I was other things...but we won't go there (Mom are you reading this?) Anyway, I read up on how to surf and I think all I need now is a board and I am on my way to Hawaii! (I wish!) I find such a thrill in these things.

While we were out in the ocean waiting to catch the next good wave, I looked up to see something big, jumping through the waves. Panick ran through me as I remembered the, ever so looming, fear of sharks I'd had when I was younger. That fear was quickly replaced by amazement, however, when I realized the sharks were really dolphins. Sharks dont jump like that. Silly Amy.

Anyway, so I have decided to quit my job, trade my car in for a surf board, and live on Lagoona Beach. It is so beautiful. No wonder everyone wants to live there. Actually it's a good thing I don't live there, I'd really become irresponsable. It would be a bad thing.

Last week I went to Seattle on a business trip. Seattle is really green too and it's by the ocean. Maybe I'll move to Seattle, then I can work durring the week and freeze in the ocean on the weekends, as I struggle to teach myself how to surf. Wow, there are so many places to go, so many things to see, and so little time and money to do it with.

RUNNING

I run everywhere
But mostly away.

Muscles charged,
Blood pumping,

I am strong.

And through my weakness,
I determine to conquer,

To overcome,
What’s inside.

I run to stay alive.

It's a Beautiful Day!

So I just wanted to explain the title of my blog a bit. "Beautiful Day" by U2 inspired me to see the better side of life. It helped me come out on top of some tough times and I think I could say that it really changed me. I had this brilliant idea that I was going to write to Bono and tell him how his song has influenced me, but then I decided that he probably gets millions of the same sort of letters from obsessed fans. I didnt want my sentimental scribble to get lost in the abyss of crazed fan letters so, one day, when I am famous (for something really great, though I don't know what that is at this moment or I'd already be famous) Bono will look on my blog and be flattered. (ha ha ha)

So here is the sound track of my life:

1. "Bohemian Rapsody" by: Queen - My cousin and I used to love this song when we were little.

2. "The Sign" by: Ace of Base - I thought this was the coolest song in Jr. High. (I was sooo cool!)

3. "It's a Beautiful Day" by: U2 - My senior year of High School my best friend Myra and I went to their concert. It was amazing!

4. "Spiderweb" by: No Doubt - High School, want to be bitter, girl song.

5. "Take It or Leave It" by: The Strokes - Singing at the top of our lungs while driving down Canyon Road on our regular date of dinner and a movie with Helene West.

6. "Yellow" by: Cold Play - First experience moving away from home after High School.

7. "Amber" by: 311 - My "I want to lie in a hammock on a deserted island and just chill" song.

8. "Bubbly Toes" by: Jack Johnson - To Shauna, because she has bubbly toes.

8. "We are going to be Friends" by: White Stripes - Backpacking Europe trip.

9. "Starlight" by: The Muse - To Stella, my speedy partner in crime!!!

10. "Stolen" by: Dashboard Confessional - Because it's just a really good song.

11. "Read My Mind" by: The Killers - Because I am so easy to read, dispite the fact that I don't want people to know what I'm thinking.

12. "Annie Are You Okay?" by: Alien Ant Farm - Because Myra, you are OK!!

13. "Glycerine" by: Bush - Cuz I love the title and the song too.

14. "The Sweater Song" by: Weezer - because it reminds me of Daniel and Ammon and makes me laugh.

15. "Single" by: Nitosha Beddingfield - To the "Fabulous Five"

*I dedicate this entry to my poor stolen CD collection. May Mr. 5 finger discount enjoy them as much as I have.

On Top of the World

I have traveled to a lot of different places in the world and every time I come home, someone asks, "Where is the most beautiful place you have been?" I have to hesitate. Each destination has it's highlights whether it's the Coliseum in Rome, the beach in Chinque Terre, or the flashy lights of Vegas. It all comes down to one point in the end, however, there's is no place like home.

I am a mountain girl through and through. I love the mountains and having grown up in Provo, they are kind of a symbol of home to me. There is something secure about them, almost like a blockade, they are protection. They symbolize both power and serenity. Power because of their magnificence, and serenity because of the feeling you get when you have just reached the top. It's liberating to stand there and look down on the world, and realize that your problems really aren't as big as you make them out to be. You can conquer them, just like you conquered that mountain, one step at a time. It is, in fact, a spiritual experience.
Now I know you're thinking, "This is an interesting entry. Next I'll bet she is going to quote some cheesy poem, start singing some sentimental ballad or, heaven forbid, cry! Well reader, put your mind at ease because I am not going to quote a poem (although Emily Dickinson would be appropriate), or sing a sentimental ballad (although Dashboard Confessional has come out with an excellent new CD) and, no, you will not have the privilege, or satisfaction (which ever you would like) of seeing me cry (especially because, even if I were to cry, you wouldn't see it now would you?).
So last weekend my room mate, Erika, and I, met some friends in Zion National Park. We decided that we wanted a challenge and so we headed up one of the most awe inspiring peaks in Zion called Angel's Landing. Now if you haven't hiked this one yet, I would highly recommend it but if you are afraid of heights, you'd probably be better off going up The Narrows.
At one point of the hike, you are scaling a narrow ledge that connects two parts of the mountain. The ledge is about 5 feet across and on either side there is about a 1500 ft drop off. My advice: "just concentrate on your next move and don't look down!"
So there I was in the thrill of the hike, stuck behind this lady who was shaking so bad I spent my time worrying she'd lose her balance and fall off the edge. Despite that minor detail, she had to be at least 50 years old AND she was wearing a skirt, but not just any old lady skirt, it was a mini skirt! Who does that? Talk about varicose veins, I never want to be 50! I do have to hand it to her for her brave ambition however, especially because I believe the risk factor increases with age, due to lack of balance of coarse.
Anyway, the top was so triumphant! You look over an amazing display of green and red under an untainted sky of blue and it just takes your breath away! All the sweat and anxiety of getting there is worth while when you reach the top of the world, and hey, if Grandma can do it, so can you!