Keep on Pumpin . . .

Tonight the ladies and I attended our very first polo match. Needless to say, pumping gas was the most exciting thing that night. Well, for me at least . . . Kami and Eryn said they spyed some cute boys . . . I was busy watching the stars go by!

M.C. What?

Dude, this is so cool. I totally dig!

Schupa Schaweet?

I had to document the fabulous hair day I was having. I got my locks dyed and trimmed while I was in San Antonio last week . . . I'm liking the results!

The Prettiest Thing . . .

. . . I ever did see . . . well, perhaps not THE prettiest, (is that even a word, really?) but certainly dang cute. Here it is, my new car!



It's a 2006 manual Toyota Corolla S. A nice upgrade from Corky, my 1991 automatic Toyota Corolla DX. If this thing will run for the next 15 years like Corky did, happiness will prevail.



I'm not sure what her name is quite yet . . . but I'll work on that. I need to get to know her a bit first. Preeetty, huh. I'm a fan. *drool*

MrAcus' Day

Holla holla! It's yer birthday!

Car Trauma!

So due to some unforeseen complications with my beloved '91 Corolla "Corky", I am currently on the market for a new vehicle. On the way home from New York this weekend she basically "gave up the ghost" just outside of Gettysburg, PA. (other than Corky dying, it was a great weekend though!)



I am now in need of any and all "car smarts" many of you have. Any good things you may have heard about any of the new cars out there/old cars you already have/complaints about specific models . . . I'm in need of it all.



I'm leaning toward the good reliable companies . . . Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Saturn, Nissan . . . looking for good gas mileage, manual transmission, "family friendly" aka, comfortable for multiple people and gear. I would love a Subaru wagon, but I'm having trouble finding a used one with less than 50K miles!

If you hear of any good deals, sales, low interest rates . . . I would love to hear about it! Also, if any of you would like to come test drive some cars with me, I can guarantee a great adventure!

Got Simple?

Simple minds, simple pleasures, right? Sometimes I wonder if I should really be 23 . . . I mean really, doesn't this look like a little kid at a candy store? Messy hair, a hopeful but pleased smile, intense look?

In all honesty, I'd convinced Raquel to do my makeup, and my hair was super poofy that day. Like I said, simple minds, simple pleasures!

Sadness . . .

Oh, the sadness of being a woman. In my attempt to leave the "tomboy" within me behind and become more "feminine" I've gone through a few changes in my lifestyle the last few years. I'm not talking about huge things . . . simple stuff . . . no more shopping at savers for second-hand t-shirts, wearing lip-gloss, changing my earrings to "go" with my outfit, that kinda thing.

To go along with these simple changes, since I've been in VA I've treated myself every few months or so to a pedicure. It's a nice way to relax and since I wear sandals often it helps keep my feet soft.

Tonight was an ideal time to go treat myself. I've had some long days the last few weeks, and I had just enough time to go pamper myself, then get home in time to see who got kicked off American Idol (yes, I'm not afraid to admit it, I'm an American Idol JUNKIE!).

I decided to go to a nail salon right down the road from my house for a few reasons: first, its convenient. Hence "right down the road". Second, I'd gone in there once before and lets face it, it was a nice salon. Clean instruments, comfortable pedicure chairs, good music, and good results. And third, well, something happened the first time I went there that was rather frustrating. But because of my first two points, (I had to get back for Idol!) I was giving it a second chance . . . but we'll get to that in a minute.

You see the reason that I went in the place the first time was that I was given a gift certificate. Rockin! The frustrating thing is that as the technician was filing my toes, she knocked my brand new, never been used bottle of OPI polish (aka expensive polish) off the platform it was sitting on and it shattered! Deep red polish was spattered all over the floor, pedicure chair, and my sandals. I must admit I was a little sad about the sandals, but lets face the facts here, they were just sandals (Second generation hand-me-downs from my roommate, no less).

I tried to keep it light because it looked like the technician was about to cry. She'd probably just had a really long day, and I didn't want to make it any worse. I just told her to not worry about my newly painted sandals, I basically wanted her to finish with my toes so I could make a dinner appointment. As another employee cleaned my shoes the best she could (although they are still stained red) the technician continued on the task at hand. I picked out a new color, and I thought to make up for the polish problem she gave me a paraffin wax. (for those of you who don't know what that is, basically they dip your feet in wax and it helps keep your feet super soft!) Once the pedicure was done, I had to skedaddle, so I handed over my gift certificate, and a tip for the tech. She didn't want to accept it, but I simply told her it was a simple mistake, and not to worry, I'd be back. Hence my third point, to give it a second chance.

So I go back to this same place. There were a couple of people already in the middle of getting pedicures, so the tech working filled up a pedicure basin for me, and I sat in the chair soaking my feet until it was my turn. I read my book and enjoyed just being able to chill for a few minutes as the chair massaged my back. Once the process was underway, the tech asked if I wanted the basic pedicure, I told him yes. He also tried to sell me a manicure, but I declined since I'd just clipped my cuticles yesterday and my nails looked fine. As I thought the time had come for the polish, he told me to swing my feet around and dip them in the paraffin wax . . . now I thought the wax was extra . . . but he explained it was included with the normal service. *sha-wing!* I was stoked. For a $20 pedicure to include a paraffin wax is an amazing thing. I thought I was getting a deal for sure! The nail salon was officially redeemed from my first frustrating experience. I thought all was well when I left, and that I would be able to enjoy Idol in peace.

Well, I did enjoy Idol in peace. Aside from Chase's occasional outbursts, and the fact that I would have liked to see Taylor Hicks go home tonight instead of Elliot Yamin . . . that is a whole other story though!

The problem wasn't discovered until I was chatting it up with my little sister on MSN Messenger. I was telling her how nice and soft my feet were, and how when she comes out here we'll have to go have a grrrly day. As I looked down at my feet to admire my perfectly polished posies, I noticed that my polish was no longer on my toenails, but smeared all over my feet and ankles! *WHAT THE???* Apparently the guy doing my pedicure didn't get all the wax off my toenails. You see, when you paint someone's toenails, that still have wax on them, THE NAILS NEVER DRY!! I of course just realized this as I looked down to see how cute my feet should have looked!



Sadly, I'm going to have to take off all my toenail polish and paint them myself again! I may have well sat home and painted my own darned toes, you know! Perhaps it's about time to go back to being au natural.



ARGGHHHHH!!!!!



Man, this salon is just killing my faith in them. I went back hoping that I could have a better experience, AND WHAT REWARDS DO I REAP?

Perhaps only the knowledge that being a tomboy isn't so bad . . . but in all honesty, I've known that all along!

Up[to]date . . .

I figured it about time I get back on top of my blog . . . I knew it was getting bad when not only Celeste, but my Father started hounding me about getting some new pictures on here. So I may as welll start with today, right? I spent part of the afternoon today taking pictures of a couple of new buddies, Bill and Brad so they could have some hot picts of themselves on MySpace. We also went to Arlington Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard. It was pretty cool.



Here is Bill with his " . . . baby, my very own Subaru WRX" (not to mention my own car, Corky). I took this one from the roof of Brad's apartment. It's been too long since I've been on the roof of a building . . . heh . . . the roof was not my only favorite part of the day though, Brad's apartment is pretty much awesome.



For example, off of Brad's room he's got an awesome porch with a killer hammock just waiting for me to nap in it. As you can see, Bill is kickin' back.



Another perk of the place is all the wood panelling, aside from Brad himself, that is. No really, nothing brings it all home like wood panelling. I do have one suggestion though Brad, can we start calling you Ted? I'll bring along the adventure . . . It'd be like Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures! I just think I'm so funny sometimes!

The Faux-Hawk

Some might call it a thing of beauty, some might call it pure rebellion, but I think it was kinda fun. Jake and I decided it was once again official "faux-hawk" day at church, so we did it. Mine was definately the most punk RAWK . . . but, I also have the longest hair. Nothing like half a can of hair spray on your coif, eh!?!

For Everything Else . . .

Today Kami and I learned a valuble lesson . . . BUY CONCERT TICKETS EARLY!! I've never had the problem of not getting into shows by buying my tickets a couple of weeks before the show . . . until now.

We have been looking forward to seeing a show coming to DC next week, and when we went to actually get the tickets last week, they were sold out! SADNESS PREVAILED! We thought all hope was lost, right? Well there is the land of e-bay, right?

So Monday night she's over at my house, and I suggested looking on e-bay . . . we found some, and were totally excited! Yesterday afternoon we spent sprawled out on my living room floor attached to the laptop! At five minutes to the end of the auction we put in our bid. We had them! and then with a minute and a half to go, NO! We lost 'em! I bid twice more, and we came away with nothing to show. Lost. Lost, lost, lost . . . SADNESS AGAIN! "Lets try the next round in 19 hours . . . " we did, and failed again. *insert crying actions*

So we ended up getting tickets in the end . . . from a "buy it now" option, for four times the original cost. How sad is that!

So what do we all learn from this?

Original ticket to sold out show: $10
Jacked up e-bay "buy it now" ticket: $40
Total for two tickets and shipping:$100
Buying your tickets to concerts early: PRICELESS!

For everything else there's that jerk in New Jersey via e-bay.

The New World

Tonight Kami, Raquel, Andy, and Dave and I went and got some super hot rockin' awesome sushi, then met up with Jessica and saw the new flick "The New World".

I liked it. I thought it was a beautiful film . . . but I must admit I thought it was going to be more warish. Does that sound weird or what? More warish? Anyway, the grrrls and I thought it was pretty good, but the boys HATED it! Which is funny, being that I picked that movie because I thought it was a more boy movie than documentary. Oh well, I guess we'll be seeing Hoodwinked next weekend to make up for it.

That is Some Kinda Sassy Hair!

That's right . . . today I was having an incredibly sassy hair day. I had to document it for all of you that didn't have the pleasure of witnessing it firsthand!

Our Latest Adventure . . .

Tonight Kami and I decided that we were sick of our boring suburban lives, and needed an adventure. I felt kinda bad cuz it was Kami's first day of freedom for a few days and all we were doing was looking up hotties on MySpace.com . . . that is, until I remembered I had the attic door is in my room . . . that is where the fun began!



After Kami climed upon my carryon suitcase to reach the pull string, I lowered the extending ladder into my room . . .



Kami did a FINE job in unfolding the stairs . . .



But we must admit, we were a little weary at first . . . but Kami volenteered to scope it out! With flashlight in hand she gave me the green light to come join her!



Giggling all the way, I mounted the stairs and followed suit . . .



Kami was definately the most adventureous, as she climed all the way across the house on the rafters! If I had attemped, I bet I would have ended up falling to my death!



Hard work, and hours later, Kami made it back to safety at the top of the stairs! Thank goodness for her killer abs and tone physique, no one ended up through the ceiling!



I just chilled in the open space where there was solid plyboard beneath my sandaled feet.



Here is Kami with her safe decent back into my warm bedroom. This experience was the epidemy of good clean fun entertainment! No pun intended!

Avoiding Packing? I AM!

I probably have the shortest attention span for a 23 year old. Tonight I came home from chillin with Kami, Kristina, and Amilkar in DC and was determined to pack for my trak to SLC later on this afternoon . . . So what do I do? Take silly Napoleon Dynamite quizzes instead, and check e-mail. Well, at least it was informative!


You are Napoleon Dyanamite and a buttload of gangs
are trying to recruit you.


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

So there I am. Napoleon Dynamite, apparently . . . cool. Now I REALLY have to pack, so I can sleep tonight!

playin w chase

THE TREE

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in December than putting up a Christmas Tree? I don't know, because that's what I did this morning.



Here I am hidin' in the branches. Aren't I cute?



Unfortunately this is only as far as I got. We ran out of Christmas lights. Oh well. I guess I'll finish later.

Dancing the Night Away!

After the Christmas Party Kami, Brindy, and I went to Maryland to dance the night away and meet up with our Latin Lovers.



First though, we stopped off at the DC Temple and Visitors Center to see the lights. Here is Kami and Brindy freezing in front of the beautiful lights!



And here is the Majestic Temple it'self! Wow, what a beauty!



Once we got to the dance, we all did a fine job of shakin' what our Momma's gave us. Here is Brindy demonstrating the goods.



Here's Juan, Brindy, and Kami posing for a cute cheeser!



After the dance, we headed off to IHOP for some grub and socializing. Here is Kami and Lenny . . .



. . . And Amilkar and myself. Kristina, eat your heart out!

White Elephants Anyone?

Tonight we had our Stake Young Single Adult Christmas Party. We had a fantastic dinner, excellent company, and a halarious white elephant exchange! I took some half used hand soap, body wash, and lotion from Yankee Candle that smelt like boy (not like "locker room" boy, more "old spice" boy) as my white elephant. I was impressed that it actually got fought over a bit before someone ended up with it. I ended up getting to pick my gift fourth out of 35, and ended up with a couple of real gems . . .



This lovely jumper for example, was first mine. Then Michelle stole it. Then Andy stole it. Eventually Linda ended up with it in the end. Jerks. I was going to give it to my Father for Christmas so he could use it when he works on his cars, but no. I also got a machete which was promptly stolen by Dave and Robert. Jerks. I could have used that when I go swashbuckling through the forest in my backyard! Anyway, here are a few of the other delights that was had that night . . .



As you can see, Galin ended up with a fantastic array of decorative pins from Avon.



Michelle got some super-cute gloves with monkeys on them. SWEET!



And Andy was wanted by all as Miss Alaska. Fitting, seeing as he is from Alaska. Grrrrrrr! At the end of the night I ended up with three candles from IKEA. Not a bad gift I admit, at least I now have some long burning candles for my seventy-two hour kit!

Mmmmm, Water . . .

Everyone needs a good picture of themself drinking the finest beverage around, don't they? Okay, okay . . . I just really liked it of myself. Thank heavens for Kami and I going to Ruby Tuesday tonight for some grand grub after catchin' the fine chick flick, Pride and Prejudice so that I could have such a kodak moment.