"Roommate Reunion"

It be dark outside, and there be just a few of us in the apartment. I sit here with me roommate Taylor, listening to her "Princess Playlist" and blogging. I truly couldn't be of much more contentment. :)

This school year, I've been blessed to live an apartment with five of the most wonderful girls on the planet. They make me happy and keep me smiling all day long. We have a quote wall, share the chores, talk and compliment each other, crack jokes, and eat lots of food. Without them around, it's easy to find yourself stuck in a super boring rut. Now imagine a month long break without those kind of people around....sad day.

So to fix that problem, we planned a "Roommate Reunion" over the Winter Break. It was spectacular!

We talked about all the different things we should do together over the break. We came up with idea after idea over the weeks prefacing our vacation. Here are the things I noted to self:
     - Kelsie had never seen the lights at Temple Square.
     - Mallory mentioned that we should go skating at the Gallivan
       Center.
     - Most of us had never seen "White Christmas." Rachel was
       aghast.
     - We went to Firehouse Pizza with our home teachers one
       night...and Rachel told us we needed to try FH'zzookies. Go
       figure- she had the pans to do that back home!
     - We all have a passion for good Italian food, and a few of the
       roomies had never had Olive Garden before!
    - We needed to have a sleepover.

Soooooooo....after much texting and planning between us, a plan was configured!

On December 18 -a crisp winter day- we met up at an Olive Garden in downtown Salt Lake City. It was so good to see each other and catch up with what had been going on in everybody's life over the past couple of weeks. We all ordered endless soup, salad, and breadsticks....and then rip-off expensive Raspberry frosty drinks (Boo - I'm bitter) that the poor waitress managed to dump all down her front.

Taylor, Mallory, and Rachel

Me, Kelsie, and Michelle

After a fabulous meal, we all went to re-park our cars so we wouldn't get ticketed, and we met up at the Gallivan Center. "Moly Hoke!" Did you know that there was an outdoor skating rink in SLC? I had no idea! It was such a super exciting moment, and only continued to become more exciting when they turned on all the Christmas lights and blasted the Christmas music as we skated. Christmas was in the air!

Taylor

Skates!

Rachel, Kelsie, and Mallory skating - AIRPLANES!!!

We walked a couple blocks more and reached Temple Square where we wandered among bazillions of bundled families and couples also admiring the lights. We took pictures and tried to stay warm. It was splendidly beautiful.

Salt Lake Temple

Michelle, Kelsie, Taylor, Rachel, Mallory, and Me at Temple Square

Alas, Taylor and Kelsie were not able to sleepover, so we said our good-byes and exchanged Christmas gifts near our cars. I assure you, they were missed as Me, Michelle, Mallory, and Rachel continued on in the adventures of the evening.

The task of getting to Mallory's house? Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right.... :) We hauled all our sleepover gear inside and decided to start making our FH'zzookies and watch "White Christmas." Rachel pulled out her VHS edition and Mallory's jaw dropped, "Uh...we don't have a VCR player." Oh heavens! It was hilarious! We also realized that we didn't have all the ingredients to make the FH'zzookies. So we ran to the store and picked up a few things. We then drove around Rachel's neck of the woods and recieved a tour of her neighborhood while listening to Michael Buble (an apartment favorite). We passed by the house of the man supposedly in charge of the lights on Temple Square...

...no wonder...

...And passed the homes of "boyfriends" past. :)

We eventually made it to Rachel's and made our FH'zzookies. I'm sure by this point you have asked yourself several times: What in the heck is a FH'zzookie? I will tell you. It's a gianormous chocolate chip cookie with ice cream placed on top as the cookie comes out of the oven. Divine goodness, I assure you. They were big - and we were so completely full...it wasn't right. :)

Fingers of joy for FH'zzookies!

Me and Michelle - Oh YUM!!!!

So...full...

I loved "White Christmas." It's my most favorite Christmas movie from here on out!

After our movie was over, we went back to Mal's and crashed downstairs. But of course, before we crashed, we had to chit-chat until 2:00 in the morning. It was just like being back home in Logan! We slept on mattresses on the floor and laughed until our eyelids were heavy.

Mallory sporting her socks that Taylor gave her as her Christmas present.

The sun rose, and we ignored it for a few hours and eventually chose to get up. Mallory made us delicious cinnamon french toast (my favorite breakfast!). But alas, this breakfast was the commencment of our "Roommate Reunion." We now had to be on our separate ways and continue living our lives like we did before any of us knew each other....hello Winter Break!

I love my roommies. They're one-of-a-kind good people.

Stranded and Fancy Parlors

And thus I saved the world!...well maybe that's a lie.

But I was able to rescue a stranded aunt and uncle today!

Alicia and Jeff were out and about in the Logan area, and their car battery died, so putting two and two together: Jessica = Logan, they called me up to give them a jump start. They called at the most opportune time, the point just before I hit absolute boredom. I was obliged to drive out and save them.

My auntie and uncle-y are some of the most wonderful people I know, besides the fact that they fed me ice cream before jumping their car. ;) We went to Casper's, which is the poshest ice cream shop I have ever stepped foot in. Jeff concluded that it would be an excellent place to have a wedding reception, and Alicia and I agreed. I will have to lock that thought away in my memory for very far future reference.

After thoroughly enjoying our ice cream, we jumped the car with perfect ease, and all was restored to it's originality. And there was much rejoicing throughout the land. *yay.

Then I ran to Wal-mart and bought a bottle-brush, oranges, baby carrots, and a can of cream of chicken soup.

Now here I sit - back to the point just before I hit absolute boredom. School needs to start!

Redemption

Now I don't want to leave you all with the impression that I am a very filthy, cluttersome person...well, perhaps I am. BUT! I have gone through extreme efforts to help you all realize that there is still hope for me.

Nevermind, that I picked it all up from off the ground to vacuum the floor. Now my collection resides on my bed. At least it's packed and makes for an easy move. :)

I gave myself the impression that I was leaving today. Well, I was going to leave today, but I couldn't convince myself that I was truly ready to do so. So I looked for an excuse not to go.

How does one do this? She texts her roommates to find out when they plan on returning and realizes that she would be on her lonesome for a few days if she were to leave now. Excuse claimed and pocketed! So I'll leave tomorrow. :)

The Process of Packing

So I started packing for Logan today, like I had planned. Oh heavens - save me!

It all began by folding my laundry. Then I began trying on all the clothes that Mindy gave me...again...to decide what could stay and what should go. An hour later I had come to the conclusion that I liked most of it and wanted to keep most of it. This meant I must go through all my old things and decide what to let go of. My heart broke a little. But I managed to part with a few things...I should part with more....but I don't like dwelling on that thought.

Thus, all the clothes were removed from my "collection of the floor." But I still had a boat load keeping me from walking into my room properly. What the heck? I just spent hours picking up what I thought was the majority of the mess!

I eyed a large box that was taking up a significant amount of room. My Lightning McQueen headboard - just waiting for me to open it up and put it together.

Oh my heart! What a beast. I managed to piece this much-bigger-than-expected headboard together after a lot of sweat....and sweat. (Note to self: do not wear long sleeved micro-fiber pajamas when working, may cause loss of sweat). I was proud of my work though and was excited to attach it to my bed! I looked over the instructions and understood what needed to be done complete this task.

I moved my nightstand and pulled my bed out from against the wall. I dragged the McQueen headboard over and realized that I have arranged my bed backwards for 10+ years. Do you realize what this means?!?!?! I had to flip my bed around, which also meant moving all my crud to one side of the room and manuevering this old bed frame! I continued to sweat...and sweat.

When I pulled my bed out from against the wall, I realized that what lies beneath had not seen daylight for nearly six years. The carpet was caked with dust and there were feathers everywhere from my old feather pillow. I bet that a mouse could have lived there contently. Out of utter disgust, I ran upstairs to retrieve the vacuum. Sweat...and sweat.

At last, I was able to flip my bed around so that the headboard could be attached to where my head would rest! I attached Lightning McQueen to my bed and was so excited! It looks grand! Mind you, I take pride in the fact that any five-year-old boy would be jealous of my room. :)

Since the bed had been switched around, it occurred to me that everything else on my bed must be flipped around too...including my bed skirt....underneath the mattress...ugh...

I took off my comforter and discovered a decapitated spider amongst my sheets. Oh ho ho!!!! o_O Off went the sheets and into the washer they instantly went. I didn't even want to think about how long it had been there...and if this itsy bitsy headless spider had friends.

I figured at this point in the game, it would be a good time to shower. After my shower, I came down to my room once again and spied some Christmas candy. I sat on my sheetless bed and harfed while thoroughly enjoying my favorite magazine, The Smithsonian. When I stood up, I realized that I had dropped some chocolate and melted it onto my mattress. BLAST!

Once I cleaned that up, I stared at my room. It looked as if I hadn't touched a thing. In fact, it looked worse than when I had started! *sigh...

My sheets were now clean and dry, but now my bed skirt was very wrinkley. I considered just putting it back on the bed, but I knew it would drive me crazy if I didn't do something about those wrinkles. So I went to iron it. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong, but for some reason the iron liked leaving burn marks all over my nice white bed skirt! I was so mad, as Marie could assure you. Eventually I had everything on the iron adjusted correctly and figured out a few tricks so as to avoid more burn marks. This was taking forever!!!

At last, I was able to piece my bed back together, and vacuum a little more. One half of my room looks stellar! The other half terrifies me. So although my bed is cleared off and has clean sheets, I don't think I can bear to sleep in my room tonight. Couch here I come!

Oh tomorrow...

My Collection

My room is a disaster and it has been since the day I returned home from Logan for the winter break. I dumped my stuff out all over the floor and didn't touch a thing. Then Mindy was so kind as to donate a boat load of clothes to the Jessica Fund...practically doubling my wardrobe. Oh how appreciated it was, for I love Mindy's taste of clothes! But dang...closet and dresser space I lack. So it also joined in with the beginnings of my "collections on the floor."

Then Christmas came and I recieved gifts, which further enlarged my collection. I don't have the foggiest idea of where to stash it all.

Laundry days are entertaining. I have a tendency to care for my clothes as the tag suggests, which means a lot of "Hang Dry"s and "Lay Flat to Dry"s draped around my room where ever I can find a space. My room is rather dark and gloomy at the moment due to the fact that I have a dress and a sweater hanging from my fan, which blocks out the light in this corner of my room.

Every horizontal surface in my room is being encroached upon by my lavish junk.

Every night I have to clear off my bed to make room for my body - which immediately infers the junk hits the floor. I lack the will to find a place for everything. In fact, I'm so lazy that on limited occasions, I have walked into my room, thrown up a little bit in my mouth, and have chosen to sleep on the downstairs couch instead of clearing off my bed, or spending one more moment among the mounds of my collection.

How excited I am for the moment in which I decide to pack up my room and haul it back off to Logan...oh wait, that adventure SHOULD begin tomorrow.

Thought: It took me three trips to get it all to my car in the first place, this is going to take a few more I'm afraid. Ugh...the stairs I will have to climb to reach my apartment!

I need a Mary Poppin's bag. Does anyone know where I may be able to pick one up?