Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day

After much anticipation for my long awaited trip to Oklahoma City, (eight days to be exact), I find out that OKC is under extreme weather watch due to ice storms sweeping through the state. Flight cancellations and all...awesome!Perhaps I won't be going to OKC tonight. Not so awesome.

Routines

Two weekends ago I was enjoying hanging out with this fine looking man:

This weekend I got to babysit this little guy,

Who can gladly fall asleep in my arms anytime he'd like:

This coming weekend I get to see him again.
4 more days to be exact.
Weekends never come fast enough, or last long enough either.

The following weekend will be spent fussing over him some more:

As luck would have it, the next weekend I'll be with him once again.
Surprised?

And to continue on with this lovely routine,

I'll spend the week after that babysitting him again for a few days.

I'm glad I have such an adorable distraction every other weekend:

Now the real question is, to keep this routine going,
Do we think I could convince him to come spend another weekend with me again...

... Before we head here for a week?

Whoever said dating long distance is hard, was sorely mistaken.
In fact, it kind of sucks, but at least we have good excuses to travel.
You can't go wrong there!
Thank goodness at least one of us has a full-time job.
I'll leave the books to him.

Looks like I have a new routine in place, and I think I'm ok with that.

356 Days Ago...

...I stood in front of the Capitol and watched a moment of history unfold, as our 44th president was sworn into office. The first black president for the United States. People were happy, people were excited, and people believe that "change" was on it's way. A year later, I don't think America is feeling that same way they felt 365 days ago. Am I surprised? Surprisingly, no!

...I had never left the Northern America region. Never flow across the Atlantic. And never been to another continent. Heck, I didn't even own a passport. 365 days later, six countries can be checked off my list...it's not much, but it's a start.

...I was wishing one of my siblings would have a baby so I could be an aunt. 365 days later I got not one, but two adorable nephews.

...I was thinking that I'm 23 years old and wanted my own bedroom. As much fun as it can be sharing a room with my older sister, it's much more fun to have a room to myself. So, 365 days later I have my own room, in a mansion, with five other girls. It may be the coldest room in the house, but at least it's my own.

...I was probably thinking I was in need of a vacation. I'm always in need of a vacation! 356 days later I've had more vacations, more adventures, and more good times than I ever could have imagined. I love making money!

...I was reflecting on my college days, and thinking that that I was just about to finish up my last semester of college, and couldn't wait to be done with homework forever! 365 days later, I'm beginning my first post-college graduate course. It's only one class, but it's a class nonetheless.

...I was driving an American made car with an obnoxious blinker. 365 days later, I proudly sport a 4Runner, my dream car (minus the fact that it doesn't have a sunroof). And yes, a worldly possession such as this makes me happy.

...I was still thinking that the boy from my computer lab days at BYU, who had a girlfriend, and lived far far away, was cute. 365 days later, I'm now his girlfriend, yet he still lives far far away. Go figure!

...I was longing to be at the beach. 365 days later, the longing is still there.

The past 365 days have been full of change, adventure, and excitement, but also full of disappointment, hardships, and a wake up call to reality. A lot can happen in 365 days. I can only imagine what the next 365 days will bring.

Shiba Inu Temperament

A phone conversation at work today went something like this:

Me: Hi, I'm trying to find an updated Post Call Forwarding list, the current one I have is from 2006
HelpDesk: We generally get our list off of the intranet, do you want me to direct you where to go?
Me: That would be great
HelpDesk: If you, {insert all of the links to get to said list}. Actually, why don't I just send you the link, that will be easier.

The email pops up in my inbox with this link:

HelpDesk: Ok, click on that link, then scroll down to the Post Call Forwarding link
Me: Um {pure confusion going on}...sorry, but where did you say you wanted me to go?
HelpDesk: Scroll down to the bottom where it says "Post Call Forwarding"
Me: Are you sure this is the right website? There's a picture of a dog...
HelpDesk: {After a long pause, laughter breaks out} Wow, my face just turned three shades darker.
Me: {Laughing hysterically on the other end...in fact, I'm still laughing}

It's good to know I'm not alone in wasting time while at work. Unless you consider reading, "Shiba Inu Temperament- The Good and the Bad", not wasting time?

Days of the Past

12 days into the new year

19 days post Christmas

48 days since Thanksgiving

And 50 days since I've been back in the country

Which means:

50 days of feeling perplexed

48 days since I fulfilled a dream

19 days ago Christmas didn't feel like Christmas

and 12 days of realizing this year will be unlike any other

Change is in store, and that's a good thing!

Love is all you need

I'm blogging again about work,

but not to tell you all that I'm headed back to Africa in the near future.

When I see things like this,

It makes me excited about what I do.

And makes me love organizations who are equally doing their part

To help out all of those who are infected with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

So, here's to you Starbucks,

For helping out a struggling Continent.

This video is slightly cheesy,

But, for your enjoyment,

Here are some renditions of,

"All You Need is Love"

Some are definitely more entertaining than others.

So, enjoy!

Where Am I?

Which is more normal?
This:

Or this?I can't ever say I've eaten In-n-Out in 12 degree weather before,
Until last night anyway.
I'm not so sure what Utah's trying to become these days,
But I' think they've finally gone too far.

Soaring Through the Sky...

A lot of people hate Delta right about now, a lot of east coasters anyway. 

After the massive snow storm, Delta conveniently experienced delayed/cancelled flights, overbooked

 flights, or no flights at all. 

However, I some how bypassed all of the craziness and am happily sitting on the plane on my way home for the holiday's.

 And the best part of all, I get to watch this on my flight while writing this post. 

I love technology and I love BYU football!

But I'll be honest, I'll be pleasantly surprised if they actually win. 

Love, The Candrians

Thanks to my talented sister, here is another Candrian Family video.

Yes, be excited you get to view our lovely faces for the next 5 minutes. 

I like to think we're a rather enjoyable bunch. 

 

Winter Wonderland Part 2

Well, the DC weatherman predicted correctly, 

And those 8-12 inches of snow not only fell, but fell hard, and doubled in precipitation.

I may have not heeded the traffic advisories and stayed in doors yesterday,

But if you had a new car with four-wheel drive, you'd want to test it out in the snow too.

And test it out I did. 

I love making smart purchases. 

I wasn't too prideful in zooming past those small car people who were getting stuck in the snow though,

I'd just pull over to the side of the road, everyone would jump out, give a little push,

And we'd all be happily on our way once again.

Naturally, Washingtonians freaked out at yesterday's blizzard. 

Church was cancelled.

Flights were delayed.

Lines at the airport outrageous.

Abandoned vehicles adorned the roads.

And even after a beautifully sunny Sunday, 

With blue skies and not a cloud in sight,

Work, too, is cancelled for tomorrow.

Washington, I kind of love what snow does to you.

I'll gladly take being forced into a lazy state for one more day. 

Just don't interfere with my flight home on Tuesday, or things might get ugly. 

Winter Wonderland

They say a storm is making it's way to DC tonight, leaving the city covered in white.

I may be a bit skeptical about this storm. Washingtonians are a bit extreme when it comes to storms, they freak out just thinking it might snow. But secrets out, I hope the predicted 8-12 inches that will blanket the city tomorrow is true. It's just not Christmas time without feeling like "I'm walking in a winter wonderland."

Christmas Miracle

Have you ever had those moments when Friday night rolls around, you have options of festivities to choose from, and the only thing you want to do is crawl into bed, close your eyes, and go to sleep? Good, me too, and this weekend, that's all I wanted to do. Two weeks of constantly being tired is getting kind of old. So, crawling into bed, and finally getting a good nights rest, sounded like my ideal festivity. But, something told me I needed to go out and be social, even if it was against my will. So, I was good and complied.

An 11pm phone call rushed me home to the sight of this:

Thanks to our observant neighbors, we discovered our house was full of carbon dioxide. Awesome! Thanks to these studly firefighters, we learend that had we all stayed home last night, we wouldn't have woken up in the morning. Not so awesome!

Thank goodness for tender mercies and being alive! That's my kind of Christmas miracle. 

Dreams Do Come True

Jet lag,

Being back in the states for less than 24 hours,

An encouraging sister (and parents in their own way),

A need to get to Richmond, VA for Thanksgiving,

A childhood dream,

And the end result equals a big purchase.

What's a girl to do with all her money than make a childhood dream come true?

Good bye old!

Hello new!

My Thanksgiving/Christmas/Valentines/Easter/and Birthday present to myself!

I kept this big purchase from my parents until last weekend,

I wanted them to see my big purchase first hand.

My Mom's words, "Oh brother"

My Dad, he just wanted to drive it.

I think that means they approve.

One dream down, a few more in the works.

Froze

Recently everyday I feel just like this...

I decided long ago, that wherever I end up in life, sunny, warm, pleasant weather must always be present.
Bitter, cold, miserable, numbing weather, just doesn't do it for me.

How Do You Cure ADD?

Any ideas? I thought once I got back from being gone for nearly 6 weeks things would calm down, I’d revamp my life, and I’d be good to go for another 6 months or so, before I felt the need to start this crazy cycle all over again. Instead, since day one when I stepped off the plane from Africa and back onto American soil, I’ve been ON.THE.GO! No time for sleep, barely enough time to clean my room, and far too much time spent running from one place to the next. And then they tell me Christmas is a few weeks away, and my world gets all mumbled and confusing. I’m still trying to remember that Thanksgiving has come and gone, and is no longer coming, unless 11 months away is “coming”. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it wasn't too long ago that I was basking in hot, humid, sunny weather, but hot, humid, sunny weather and all, it’s still December, it’s still the Christmas season, and I’ve just been slightly thrown off from enduring my various weather extremes. This isn’t a plea to pity me please, my life is hard, my life is stressful, my life is too demanding. It’s more a plea to ask time to slow down just a little bit so I can actually breathe in, rest up, calm down, and most importantly, CONCENTRATE. But at last, I suppose that’s what Christmas break is for, because time is not permitting otherwise. I’m here one second, gone the next. It’s tough growing up, when’s retirement?

Since November 25th I’ve been cold, freezing in fact. Why did winter have to roll in so quickly? The only time I feel warm lately is when I’m sweating at the gym, great visual, I know.

Thanksgiving, spent in the blessed town of Richmond, VA

Lauren and I at the National Christmas Tree Lighting. Hanging out with Obama, while the First Lady read to us" 'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

John came to visit, so we took a day trip up to the Big Apple, where enduring every form of awesome weather Mother Nature decided to shower us with was in full effect. Even in horrendous weather, the crowds never dwindle.

Beauty at it's finest.

I love Christmas time!

Meet Chuck

This post is four days overdue, but with all the hustle and bustle that's been going on in my life since returning to the good ol' U. S. of A., I've barely had time to sleep, let alone blog.  

After 24 years of waiting to be an aunt, my wishes came true back in September when this little guy joined the family.

And just a few months later, Michael gets a cousin, and I get to be an aunt once again! 

I met this little guy a few hours after he was born, and I have to say he's rather adorable.

 

When I left the hospital Monday night, a name had not yet been decided, and while I know a name has finally been chosen, my sister has yet to officially inform ME of that!

So, until I hear otherwise, I'll just continue to call him Chuck, the nickname he was given the day we found out she was pregnant. 

Congrats Britt and Brian, Chuck is one lucky little boy to have you two as parents.  

Africa, Nike, Soccer, AIDS

After my first trip to Africa in May, and my second just last month, I've fallen in love with Africa. With the people. With their culture.

From my ugly Nike shirt days as a teenager, to my passion for browsing through any Nike store, and vowing to myself (and myself only) that the only running shoes I will ever own will be Nike's, I've always considered myself to be a Nike girl through and through. I even felt guilty when I bought my first pair of asics just a few months ago...which gave me blisters. Nike's have NEVER done that to me.

Soccer and I were friends when I was little. I played intramural in college. I love watching a good soccer match. And I love the passion that the Africans have for the game.

I don't normally blog about my job, unless I'm blogging to inform all of you (whomever all of you may be) about an upcoming trip, or the cool things I get to experience when I'm in Africa for work. But seeing that yesterday was World AIDS Day, and I work for the office of HIV/AIDS, I thought this was simply fitting.

Combine Africa, Nike, Soccer, and HIV/AIDS, and I give you why I love Africa, Nike, Soccer, and working for an organization that's dedicated to educating, treating, and preventing HIV/AIDS throughout the world.

USAID is funding part of Nike's grassroots soccer approach during next years World Cup in South Africa. I wonder if "working" with Nike will enable me to have an employee discount?

Home for the Holidays

It's cold here.

I can't sleep past 4am.
I'm improving, yesterday it was 3am.
I miss the beach.
No more room service? Sad.
I miss paradise.

But...
Today, I'm grateful to be back on American soil,
Hanging out with my sisters,
Just in time for the holiday!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

"When we understand that God offers us opportunities for blessings, and blesses us through our own adversities, and the adversities of others, we can understand why He has commanded us again and again, to thank the Lord they God in all things" - Elder Oaks

In the spirit of thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It simply makes life worth living.

I love the holiday season, even if hot, humid, sunny weather has tricked me from believing it really is just around the corner.

Wishes

I wish we used military time - then I wouldn't have to quickly do the math when someone shouts from across the room, "It's at 15 hundred". Got it, 3 o' clock, right? Well, that's easy. What about 21 hundred? See, then it gets more complicated. And yes, I have to use my fingers.  

I wish we used the metric system. 

Then I'd understand when someone says it's 27 degrees outside, 

what that actually means. 

Then, when I'd ask someone how much farther to go, 

and they respond with "90 kilometers",

 I'd know that it meant another hour. 

Then, when I ever so proudly ran 3.5 kilometers in 20 minutes, 

I would have known that it didn't actually mean 3.5 miles.

 I'm a genius, not super fast!

Then, when I'm using a 5 kilogram weight, 

I would know I've been lifting 11 pounds. 

Boy, I must be so strong! 

The metric system, it seriously throws me off. 

If listening to people speak kiswahili wasn't enough to confuse me, 

try adding in numbers whose meanings are not what I've always known. 

Did you know we (as in America) are only one of three countries who think we're too cool for school?

Come on America, let's be like everyone else for a change.

Teach me the metric system!

Better yet, teach me the metric system, and then let's convert!

It would sure make being in every other country, 

besides Burma, Liberia, and America a whole lot easier. 

Just one more wish,

I wish the sun rising over the ocean would arouse me from my sleep every morning.

.