SURPRISE!!!!

Best weekend. It was a dream come true really (seriously though, I have always wanted this to happen). On Friday night I was chilling in Imari and Kenzy's house working on homework (aka talking about everyone's love life and my lack thereof) when my mom called me. That was kind of weird/exciting because I am usually the one calling her. I stepped outside to talk to her and she told me that she needed me to go get my registration out of my car because she needed a number off of it. So I stepped back inside, put my shoes on, and went to my house to get my car keys. She told me I could just call her back when I got it, but I assured her it wouldn't take too long so I just kept talking to her. After I got my keys, I went out to my car and unlocked the door. As I was about to open the door, I looked up and guess what......my best friend Emily was standing there!!!!!!!!!!! I may have freaked out un poco. I was not even expecting that a little tiny bit. Like not at all. Best surprise ever! We had talked about her coming to surprise visit me but, let's be honest, I didn't think it was ever really going to happen. And if it was, I thought we had decided it would be sometime after Spring Break. But that, my friends, is the essence of a surprise. It's surprising. I was surprised. A lot. And ridiculously excited. So mostly that made for a wonderful weekend. Unfortunately I don't have a super exciting life for her to partake in, but I'm fun and she's fun so it worked out. I didn't super want her to leave this morning, but what can you do? The good news is she is now living just outside my favorite city ever, which happens to be a measly 3 hours away. We will be seeing a lot more of each other. That is rather thrilling for me. And that's my story. I'm sorry I'm not a better story teller, but it really was the greatest thing EVER! And the rest of you can go ahead and follow her example. I expect a lot more surprises to come. Okay. Thanks. The end.

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy

Watch this video. Then we'll talk....

Right?? So I'd rather not tell you how I came across this video, (lots of procrastinating/stalking random people's blogs/whatever) but I just love it! He is right on. This was kind of a slap in the face for me. I am so guilty of everything he talked about....especially the flying stuff. Pretty sure that changes right now. The things that we have and the lifestyles that we live in this century and in this country are absolutely amazing. When you really stop and think about it, we complain about THE most ridiculous things! Why? Why has complaining become the thing to do? It seems like there is always something that someone is whining about. I feel like people no longer respond with "good" to the generic "how are you?" If someone says, "Hey! How are you?" and you respond with "So good!" or "Great!" or "Magnanimous!" (that's Elder Crowther's favorite word) they either think you have a perfect life, something super amazing just happened to you, or you are a weirdo. I feel like it's become more common now to answer with, "I'm tired" or "I'm hungry" or "I'm fine I guess" or "Ugh, don't ask" or "Well, I would be doing better if...." Why do we do that? Why are we so negative all the time? What good does that do us or anyone around us? Oh, none. No good at all. Granted, sometimes complaining is completely warranted. I'm not saying the world should slap a smile on their face no matter what is going on, but it might be nice if we could cool it on complaining about things that really don't matter. Or things that we really don't have a right to complain about. You're hungry? Make yourself a sandwich. You're tired? Go to bed earlier. You're cold? Grab a blanket or turn up your heater. It's pretty simple for us, but there's a LOT of people who don't have it that easy. I forget that a lot. It's good to be reminded. Well there you go, a post complaining about complaining. Sorry. It was mostly a note to self that I decided to share. I need to be better because everything really is amazing. 

Weekend Rundown

So, yesterday morning we went for a run on the high school track. After we got done we ended up laying on the track for a long time because the sun was so bright and warm and beautiful. Today it's snowing. What the? It really is a very light snow, but it's snowing nonetheless. Silly. 

Also, we had game night #2 with Elder and Sister Crowther on Friday. Too much fun! I made enchiladas and Sister Crowther made apple crisp. Delicious! Also, I wasn't such a loser this time as I was last time. I actually won some games! During the course of the night, the Crowthers were brought up to speed on every stupid thing Cassie has ever done. Sometimes I don't know why I'm friends with the people that I'm friends with. Rude. It was so much fun though. We can't wait for next month!

Also, last night Imari and I went to the Rockbridge Symphony to listen to her flute choir teacher play. It was soo good! I don't really get excited about concerts like that, and it was really long, but I can appreciate talent. They did a great job. For one of their songs, they featured a guy on the piano. He was INCREDIBLE! We were sitting at the perfect angle to see his fingers while he played and they were out of control. He was nuts. And sooo good. Definitely motivated me to practice the piano a little more than I have been. I wish I was talented like that!

Also, pitchers and catchers reported to spring training yesterday. Do you know what that means? Baseball season is just around the corner! I am just really excited for that this year. (Because I have time to sit around and watch baseball? Um no. Not at all.) 

Also, my reading assignment for my Parenting class is 138 pages this weekend. Um that's a lot. I have to have that read by Tuesday and then about that much more read by Thursday. I don't know if you realized, Professor, but your class is not the only one that I am taking. Not even close. Maybe you could cool it on the homework a little bit? Not likely.

Also, I have to go decide what I am going to wear to church today. I hate that part. Getting dressed is probably the most time-consuming part of my morning routine. I hate it. Wish me luck!

In Honor of Valentine's Day....

Do you know what I love?

• That my dad sent me flowers yesterday....and every Valentine's Day.
• That I got a random anonymous Valentine card from someone who can't spell my name right.
• That I get an influx of compliments on my hair on days when I am having a bad hair day.
• That my best friend is now only 7 short hours away from me, rather than 34.
• That I got to talk to my other best friend on the phone today, and that we still love each other even though I have other friends to keep me from going into depression mode while she is a million miles away. ;)
• That I got to run and do homework outside today because it was warm and sunny.
• That I don't have any Activities meetings this week.
• That I get to go home in 15 days.
• That the flowers my dad sent me also came with a little box of chocolates.
• That we have game night with the Crowthers on Friday.
• That we are already halfway through February.
• That I only have to do homework for one class tomorrow.
• That it's bedtime!!

A Story!

So earlier today I was told I was slacking on my blog. Which I was. Mostly I have just been going to school and doing homework so I haven't felt like I've had much to say. But I know that's not an acceptable excuse for not blogging. I decided I would think about what to blog about while I was running today. While I was running along trying to think of ways to make the last couple of weeks more exciting than they really have been, an exciting thing actually happened! Okay, not like extremely exciting, but you get to hear about it anyway. I was running the long route of the flood wall which is about 2 miles one way, and then you have to turn around and go back. I had gotten to the end and turned around and was probably about a mile from my car when I saw a puppy standing on the little pathway. (Please note: puppy is Cassie's word for a dog of any age....he wasn't technically a puppy) I LOVE dogs, but I got a little nervous seeing a dog right on my path without an owner anywhere around. Dogs have the potential to be scary and aggressive (those of you who know Fitz know what I am talking about). I decided I would just be confident (dogs can smell fear) and just keep running by. So that's what I did. Fortunately, the puppy didn't eat me when I ran by. Unfortunately, he didn't just sit there and let me pass. He decided to follow me. He had a long chain dragging behind him, so he obviously belonged to someone. From the end of his chain, it looked like he had broken loose from somewhere that he had been tied up. There's not really any houses super close to where we were though so I couldn't know where he came from. So I just kept running. And he kept following me. He ran along beside me, and stopped to wait for me when he got ahead of me. At one point, he stopped to be pet and loved by some girls running the opposite direction from us. I'm sure they were confused why I was letting my dog run around with his leash dragging behind him, and why I kept running when he stopped to say hi to them. Mostly I hoped he would start following them instead of me if I just kept running. No such luck. He caught right up with me. By the time I got back to my truck, I was in love. And he obviously loved me. I wanted nothing more than to put him in the back of my truck and head home, but I knew a little kid would get home from school soon and wonder where his puppy was. My conscience wouldn't let me leave him there so far from home, but I didn't know what else to do. So I called Mom. While I was talking to her, puppy wandered across the railroad tracks and the street to some factory worker men. They stood out there petting him for a while and then the Animal Control truck pulled up. That was probably the best thing to happen, but I felt like I was watching them kidnap my puppy. I wanted to run over there and tell them he was mine. But hopefully now when little Jimmy gets home he and his mom can go to the animal shelter and find their puppy. They better get him within the next 24 hours or I will go get him. I miss him so bad! Ha wow I'm super pathetic. It was just so fun to have a puppy to run alongside me and just love me unconditionally after knowing me for 30 seconds. We bonded. I love dogs. I wish I could have one here. So bad. Good news though: I get to see my puppy in 18 days! Whooo! So excited to go home for Spring Break. 

Love this little guy

On another note: Dallin is moments away from having a girlfriend. This is making his "single ladies" (that's what he calls us) resent the fact that we are single a little more than we used to. Dang happy people. Also the fact that tomorrow is Valentine's Day rubs a little more salt in that wound. I hate to be a hater, but I really don't love that holiday. Because I'm lonely and bitter and loveless? Well yeah. That's probably the biggest reason. I feel like if I was in a relationship I would probably still think it was pretty silly though. And that's all I am saying on that holiday because no one loves people who hate people who are in love. Bleh. We are trying to work out a group date for this weekend though so hopefully that goes well. I like dates.

There's probably more I could tell you about, but I think I have put off my homework for long enough. TTFN!