Aimee's Thoughts

A Special Place in Heaven

2009-11-12T22:14:00.002-07:00

The following is a transcript of a 911 call:

911 Dispatcher: Clark County 911, what's your emergency?

Woman: Yes, I want to report a person driving drunk.

911 Dispatcher: Are you in front of or behind them?

Woman: I am them.

911 Dispatcher: You am them?

Woman: Yes, I am them.

LOVE it!

Oh, How I Want You

2009-10-07T18:15:00.002-06:00

Hello, beautiful, very expensive, perfect, leather handbag. You will be mine one day.

Giddiness

2009-10-06T19:00:00.002-06:00

Dear Kimball, Nebraska,

2009-10-05T21:19:00.004-06:00

YOU SUCK!!!!

First of all, I don't like you because when I stopped at your one and only convenience store this morning on my way back from Crawford, one of your locals ( I know he was a local because I saw his stupid 71 county license plate) was standing right in front of the Pepsi cups. I politely said excuse me because his crotch was like, inches away from the size of cup I wanted and he said, sure, no problem but didn't freakin' move. Really?? So I grabbed my Pepsi cup and refrained from slamming it into his balls. I should've though. Prick.

And when I was using the bathroom, someone (probably Crotchman's buddy) kept turning the knob. Hello! The sign on the door says if door is locked, the bathroom is occupied. What part of this is so damn hard to understand??

Finally, let's not forget the fiasco in August. So last February I got pulled over on my way through Kimball. I paid the freakin' ticket and forgot about it. Fast forward months later to August. I'm driving in Cheyenne and I get pulled over for speeding. Sidenote--I've never been pulled over as much as I have this past year. Blow. Anyway, so I'm sitting in my car by the cemetery and the cop is taking FOR-FREAKIN'-EVER and when he finally comes back to my car, he's all, well this isn't going to make your day any better. Great. He then explained to me that my driver's license has been suspended. Huh? Jigga what? So he's standin' there flappin' his gums and then I hear February. Nebraska. Speeding. So then I start flappin' my gums telling him what I think must have happened and he's basically like, well that's a great story but I really can't do anything for you. And, by the way, this little driver's license of yours is going into my shirt pocket. Right against these firm pecs of mine--but that's another story. So there I am. Sitting in my car, crying, holding my $575 ticket trying to decide if I should A) have my Mom drive over from Laramie to pick me up, B) call Matt at work to pick me up or C) drive myself and risk being pulled over again and getting arrested or getting in an accident. The answer is B. So he comes and picks me up and I go to the library with him until he gets off work, which gives me time to figure out what the hell is going on. Turns out! Kimball never recorded that I paid the damn ticket. They sent me a letter and emailed me my receipt, but didn't do the other part. So here I am driving with a suspended license for 6 months and not even knowing it! After about 50 phone calls, I finally got everything squared away and Officer Pretty hand-delivered my unsuspended driver's license to me the next morning.

So, Kimball, Nebraska, SCREW YOU VERY MUCH! AND THANKS FOR THE $3 I WON ON MY LOTTERY TICKET THIS MORNING!

How Sad Life Would Be Without Parodies

2009-09-25T14:31:00.002-06:00

Here's a video in response to President Obama's speech to the children of the nation.

Pet Peeves of the Pisser

2009-09-22T14:41:00.002-06:00

I don't have a goat, but if I did, this would totally get it.

Why is it that new buildings install just one or two pieces of automatic equipment in their restrooms? It doesn't make sense! I mean, if you're gonna go sensored, GO ALL SENSORED! It only makes sense that a public restroom would have an automatic soap dispenser, an automatic faucet, an automatic towel dispenser AND an automatic toilet flusher, not just one or the other.

And don't even get me started on the automatic toilet flushers. Those things can be dangerous. How many times has your chapstick or keys or phone slipped out of your pocket while you're getting up off the pooper? With these newfangled automatic pooper flushers, you're screwed. You can kiss your pee-soaked belongings goodbye. Because let's be honest, who doesn't want their pee-soaked chapstick back?

I Can Feel It

2009-09-19T13:23:00.002-06:00

I'm still sad. And angry. I can feel it in my body. I can see it when I look in the mirror every morning. That happiness, that passion that I used to see in my eyes is gone. The radiance in my skin and hair is absent. How could it be there? I've lost two of the most important people in my life.

I must say I've done remarkably well going ahead with my life, even though this really isn't my style. The last breakup I went through had me in my pajamas for a month. This time I refuse to be that person. I will, under no circumstances, let the people who have hurt me have that much power over me. I'm enrolled in school. I go to class everyday and I love what I'm learning. I've made new friends. I go out on the weekends and have fabulous times. I have goals and aspirations. I just haven't quite found the inspiration to accomplish them yet. My heart hurts. It feels like it's been broken into a million pieces once and then once again.

Why did it happen like this? Was it a refining fire in my life? I grew tired of being put down all the time. My decisions are not to be taken personally. They are mine, not yours. And You, oh how I miss You. You taught me so much. You made me laugh, you made me think, you made me grateful, you brought to me tears of joy, you brought me You and most importantly, You brought me a piece of me. A piece of me I wasn't sure existed.

And, so here I am. Me. A me that didn't realize the strength that was within me. A me that temporarily lost her passion but refuses to live without it again. A me that forgot who her true support system was. A me that loves myself, even though it isn't always easy to find that love. A me that is Me.

My Latest Addiction

2009-09-15T20:12:00.003-06:00

I love reading the wedding announcements in the New York Times. I'm used to seeing people with these fabulous lives and educations and careers in movies and such, but when I read these, they become real! I mean, there are actually people out there, ordinary people, who are researching cures for cancer, acting on Broadway, doctors, lawyers and living life. They have these tremendous educations from Yale, Harvard, MIT and they're looking for love, well actually they've found it already. I just think it's interesting that regardless of where we live, where we went to school or what career path we choose, we all have one thing in common: We want to find that one true love.

As a sidenote, I've also developed an interest in Judaism. I want to learn more about that religion and there are tons of Jewish people in New York.

Miracles Come with Vibrating Wands

2009-09-15T20:04:00.003-06:00

This stuff is freaking amazing! I'm not one to mess around with bases and primers and all that jazz, but this stuff makes my eyelashes look like, 6 inches long, I swear. I thought the whole vibrating mascara wand would be dangerous, but it's not bad at all. You just put it on before your regular mascara--which by-the-by can be any brand. LOVE IT!

How Grateful I am...

2009-09-11T16:28:00.002-06:00

...to have a President that understands just how important it is to let the children of America know how wonderful they are and how much each and everyone of them is capable of achieving. President Obama's speech was truly inspirational. Not every child is fortunate enough to have parents to tell them that it is their responsibility to do well in school. Not every parent is fortunate enough to be so eloquent in telling their children this, either. I personally don't understand why anyone would not want to watch this speech and especially not want their children to watch it. But that's ok. I don't need to understand that. They're the ones that are missing out on a beautiful, eloquent speech and lesson. We are an extremely fortunate country to have a President that will speak to the children, not belittle them and hold them accountable for their decisions and lives.

The President's speech was geared toward school-age children, but I think every single person can take gain from listening to his speech. We all have to take responsibility for ourselves and our future. It doesn't matter if we're still in school or not. This may seem very simple to some, but for others, this is a hard lesson to learn. My only hope is that those people watch this speech and feel inspired because of it.

Irony

2009-09-11T16:08:00.002-06:00

Isn't it ironic that Matt said, "I love you" but apparently doesn't. I never said it, but I did (or do).

Project Britney Spears to Commence

2009-09-09T13:29:00.002-06:00

I started my PE class for the fall. It's Individualized Fitness online a.k.a a PE class that I can totally fake my way through because there's no way my progress can be graded through the journals I turn in every Monday.

HOWEVER

I'm not gonna be that girl. Nope. I was thinking about Britney Spears the other day. Judge me all you want, but I like her. That's right. We're BFFs. She even sings a song about me called "If you seek Amy". Her boss made her spell my name like that though because it's easier for people to spell. Douchenozzle. Anyway, I think she has a killer body. She's also 5'3. Wait a second! So am I! This is when it dawned on me!

I HAVE THE SAME BODY AS BRITNEY FREAKIN' SPEARS!!!!

You just can't tell. But whatever. Minor detail. That's why today is the first day of Project Britney Spears.

So far, so good. I exercised. Haven't eaten any crap. I change my mind frequently. I know, I know. Everyone's thinkin', "Wait. What?" But I heard once that she worked up to doing 1500 situps three times a week to get her abs. Today is a day that I'm like, yeah, it's totally worth it. I'll work my way up to 1500! I started with 25.

So anyway, Go Miz Britney! Go Miz Aimee!

At Noon on Tuesday

2009-09-07T17:18:00.004-06:00

I'm a little confused as to why many people don't want their children to hear President Obama's message tomorrow. According to http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/, the President will be telling students across the nation that they need to work hard, earn good grades and get a good education.

Regardless of what one feels Obama is doing (or not doing) for our country, it is pertinent that millions of children hear his message tomorrow. Since when is it not a good idea for children to hear from a successful, outside source that it's important for them to stay in school and do well?

Furthermore, President Obama has only been in office for a mere nine months. People are expecting miracles. Never once were miracles promised during the campaign. Give the man a chance. No one--not a Democrat, not a Republican, not an Independent--would ever be able to bring this country out of a recession in less than a year.

Until President Obama does something that is extremely detrimental to our country and its citizens, we all need to be more patriotic, turn away from party lines and support our President.

This shiz is funny!

2009-09-07T15:47:00.002-06:00

http://bishophiggins.blogspot.com/

Past Six Month Going-Ons

2009-09-06T20:21:00.005-06:00

So much has happened in the past six months! It's been absolutely nuts. Some of it has been really good; some of it has been ... well, not so really good. I've decided to make a timeline for myself to see just how much I've overcome.

March 14, 2009 -- I met Matt at a St. Patrick's Day party. Very good thing! :)
March 16, 2009 -- Travel to Nebraska for spring break and come home with a nasty case of tonsillitis.
March 21, 2009 -- Matt and I's first date. It went very well. :)
March 31, 2009 -- Happy Birthday to me. I'm now 28. I got my first bouquet of flowers from a guy! It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.
April 9, 2009 -- I wake up with a mind-numbing pain in my right side. I end up calling my Mom at work and have her take me to the ER. Turns out I had a gallbladder attack and it needs to be removed. My Mom and I decide it's best to wait until the end of the semester to get it removed so that I can finish classes. Not the best idea. I'm sent home with a good supply of Vicodin.
April 10, 2009 - April 30, 2009 -- Matt and I are still together. He's still treating my like a queen and things are going very well. The gallbladder pain is so frequent that I'm taking Vicodin on a daily basis. If there happens to not be any pain, it's just downright uncomfortable. It's becoming apparent that I should've just gotten the surgery right away. As it is now, my grades and work performance are affected.
May 1, 2009 -- I move out of my apartment and in with my Mom. I'm having surgery May 18, which means I can't get a new job and I can't go to school. No job and no school = No money.
May 18, 2009 -- Surgery is a success! It was complete with one hot male nurse and one removal of a gallbladder.
May 20, 2009 -- Throat is so swollen, I can't breathe. Back to the ER and two days later, back to the ER. Tonsillitis has come back.
June 5, 2009 -- After two weeks of recovery time, I'm finally feeling well enough to spend the weekend in Cheyenne with Matt. We really enjoy cooking together and watching Arrested Development and going window shopping. May not sound too exciting, but we really like it and we like being together. He keeps telling me he has "strong feelings" for me and then one night after joking around about Asian hookers saying, "I do you long time." (Inside joke) he says to me, "I love you long time." Being taken by surprise, I don't really know what to say, so when I say, "What?" he stutters, stammers and changes the subject. Hmmm...
June 8, 2009 -- Start my job search. Yeah, they say the job market is really tough, but it can't be that bad, can it? Turns out it can.
July 7, 2009 -- After sending out dozens of resumes and cover letters with no interview, I accept a job at Dillards. Ugh. Not my idea of a good time.
July 23, 2009 -- I. DO. NOT. LIKE. THIS. JOB. AT. ALL. I'm treated like an imbecile, the pay is terrible and the hours are ridiculous. I dread going to work every day and after two girls I work with walk out, it's becoming brutally apparent that I will not be able to go to school if I keep this job. Matt seems a little distant. I notice that his face doesn't light up when I walk in the room anymore and while he still treats my like a queen, it seems like more of a task for him than him just wanting to treat me well. I think he's going through a mid-life crisis. It seems like he doesn't know if he wants to be 20 or 40.
August 7, 2009 -- And I'm done with Dillards. Maybe not the best decision I've ever made, but what's done is done and now I can focus on school this fall and visiting my Grandpa before school starts. He's not doing so hot these days.
August 10-13, 2009 -- In Nebraska with my Grandpa. I love being at home with him, but I also love knowing that I have a life in Cheyenne that I'm excited to get back to. He and I go to the doctor and after a long day, feel like he can get a hold on his diabetes and blood pressure problems.
August 18, 2009 -- I get pulled over for speeding in Cheyenne. Ugh, just my luck. As it turns out, when I was on my way home from Nebraska in January, I got a speeding ticket in Kimball, paid it and forgot about it. Well, somehow Nebraska screwed up their paperwork and never recorded my payment. So when I got pulled over in Cheyenne, the cop said my driver's license had been suspended. Double ugh. After about 20 phone calls, I finally got my license back. Actually, the cop hand delivered it.
August 19-23, 2009 -- I stop at Matt's on my way to Laramie. He breaks up with me saying, "This isn't working anymore." He breaks my poor little heart. He says he can't give me what I want. He doesn't know if he wants to get married and have kids. I control my emotions as he talks. It all seems so surreal. As I walk out of his apartment, I look back at him and start crying. I thought he was "The One". As I cry, he comes over to me and holds me, rubbing my back and shoulders and keeps telling me that he's sorry. I finally leave. As I walk away, I look back. He has one hand to his cheek, wiping something away. Was it a tear? Was it just an itch? I'll never know.
August 25, 2009 -- School starts. I LOVE my classes! It feels really good to be doing something that is helping me to be a better individual. Not to mention it's nice to have something healthy to focus on.
September 6, 2009 -- Happy Labor Day! I'm in Nebraska enjoying time with my Mom and Grandpa. We're still worried about him, but his vitals seem to be better. I'm looking forward to days of happiness and contentedness. I hope they come soon.

Dangerous Mormon

2009-08-14T20:20:00.002-06:00

According to an article, the three types of people that threaten the membership of the LDS Church are:

INTELLECTUALS

HOMOSEXUALS

FEMINISTS

These people are considered to be "dangerous".
Uh oh. I'm an intellectual, a feminist and I support equal rights of homosexuals. Danger is my middle name.

Who Needs Their Gall Bladder Anyway?

2009-03-26T21:37:00.002-06:00

Today has been quite the day for me! I woke up to the most awful, hellish, stabbing, sharp, dull, cramping pain in my stomach this morning. It was so bad that I was literally screaming in pain. Poor Mae didn't know what to think. It wasn't getting any better and I was sweating buckets so I called my Mom at work so that she could come get me and take me to the ER.

Once we got there, they put me on a heavy duty Morphine-like pain killer which was really the highlight of my day. They also put a nausea medicine in my IV. After they took some blood tests and did an ultrasound, the doctor told my that I have gall stones. What I had this morning was a gall bladder attack. Apparently, these attacks are only going to get worse and more frequent and the only way to fix it is to have it removed.

It's actually a very simple (but insanely expensive) procedure which is often done as an outpatient procedure with a possibility of a night's stay in the hospital. Although it's a simple laproscopic operation, the recuperation time is about a week. This means no work and no school. Unfortunately, that's not really feasible for me right now so I've elected to wait to have the operation once the semester is done. In the meantime, I have a nice supply of Vicodin in case I have another attack. Hopefully, I'll be able to hold out until May. Otherwise, things are going to be crazy stressful from having surgery and missing a week's worth of school and work.

So yeah, how's that for an eventful Thursday?

Motivation

2009-03-25T21:42:00.000-06:00

It's A Girl!

2009-03-22T17:26:00.003-06:00

For those of you that know me well, you know that I've been considering adoption for awhile now. I've had a difficult time trying to decide if I'm ready to take such a big step in my life, but the fact is, I'm going to be 28 this month and I'm tired of waiting for the perfect circumstances because in reality, things are never going to be absolutely perfect. I'm not getting any younger and I feel like I have my life in order, so I've decided to make this commitment. While I was in Crawford this past week, I unexpectedly got the chance to make this dream of mine come true. It all happened so fast, but I am so happy.

Her name is Mae and she will be three years old this summer. She has adjusted well to her new life here in Laramie and we are now a happy little family of two.

That Terri Clark Sure Knows What She's Talking About

2009-03-16T18:10:00.002-06:00

So I'm back in Nebraska for spring break and I was listening to Terri Clark's "You're Easy on the Eyes" and thought to myself, "Wow. This is exactly how I feel about Jim Bob*." Here are the lyrics. I put the most poignant lines in bold for your convenience.

Should've known it was you
Knocking on my door
At a half past a heartache, quarter to four
Were you starting to worry I was finally getting over you?

I almost forgot you looked so fine
If you told me some lies it'd be like old times
Just getting to see you is almost worth the things you do

You're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart
You look so good but the way things look ain't the way the are
Better say goodbye before we go too far
Cause now I realize you're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart

I've got to admit you've got a smile
That really reeled me in for a while
But it ain't funny, honey what you put me through
So why don't you send me your photograph?
It would hurt a lot less than taking you back
Then I could still have my favorite part of you

You're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart
You look so good but the way things look ain't the way the are
Better say goodbye before we go too far
Cause now I realize you're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart

You're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart
You look so good but the way things look ain't the way the are
Better say goodbye before we go too far
Cause now I realize you're easy on the eyes
Hard on the heart

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of certain bastards

It's About Freaking Time!

2009-03-12T15:13:00.002-06:00

According to the New York Times, Bernie Madoff was finally thrown in the slammer after he plead guilty to multiple charges. He was responsible for stealing billions of dollars from his clients. He sent them fake statements every month so that they wouldn't be suspicious of any wrongdoings. After the news leaked that Madoff had actually stolen billions of dollars from his clients, a number of them committed suicide because all of a sudden, they had nothing left. Now I'm not saying that Madoff is responsible for the decisions these people made, but it just shows how extremely screwed up our government and judicial system are when this man's punishment for months was to be on house arrest in his multi-million dollar home above Central Park in NYC even though he was solely responsible for destroying the lives of many. As far as I'm concerned, they can throw the keys to his jail cell in the Hudson.

You Know It's Time...

2009-03-11T20:15:00.001-06:00

...To do the dishes when you eat ice cream with a measuring spoon.

Rant

2009-03-08T22:42:00.003-06:00

I do not care for this time change one bit. I didn't even hear about it and then I woke up late this morning and it took me an hour to notice that my alarm clock and my phone had two different times on them. This day has gone by so fast and I only accomplished two things on my to-do list. Sad, sad situation.

3rd Week Update

2009-03-01T20:45:00.002-07:00

Welp, I'm going into my third week as a vegetarian. Definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. I feel so much better and healthier and lighter. I really haven't missed eating meat as much as I thought I would. The thought of eating meat seems more disgusting every day that I go without it. Especially poultry.

I've found that I love eggplant! I make a mean Eggplant Parmesan and I also really like curried eggplant over rice. So good! Soups are a great way to go when I don't feel like cooking. I have a great recipe for a low fat corn chowder which I try to keep in my fridge during the week and also a vegetable soup which is really good. And if I want to give it some more substance, I can add whole wheat pasta or Morningstar Veggie Crumbles. Which, by the way, I love Morningstar products! Especially their corndogs. They're soooo good! I could eat them everyday. No joke. Of course, I don't since they don't really contain any vegetables at all and they're processed, but man are they good!

So anyway, I've very happy with this lifestyle change I've made and I'm excited to keep going with it.

"Did you take my quarters, Bitch?"

2009-03-01T20:36:00.002-07:00

I love my Mom. She is my best friend. We've of course been through some rough times, but the older I get, the closer we get. Sometimes I feel embarrassed that I spend so much time with her, but the truth is that there isn't really anyone else I'd like to spend so much time with. We share the same sense of humor. For instance, I was doing my laundry at her apartment and I couldn't find my quarters so I went into the laundry room where she was and asked, "Did you take my quarters, Bitch?" We started laughing uncontrollably. In the community laundry room. We just have so much fun together.

I'm so grateful for her and the things she has taught me. She is the most amazing woman. She's extremely intelligent, beautiful, independent, opinionated, strong, funny, spiritual, hard working, family oriented and lovable.

She means the world to me and I'm so fortunate to be her daughter. I love her with all my heart.

Proof That I'm Cool

2009-02-26T21:20:00.004-07:00

I was at Walmart the other night and I couldn't help but notice this card as I walked by.

Being the extremely cool and literate person that I am, at first glance I thought the card said, "If you stroke for a long time ..." Did I mention I'm also curious? So there I am standing in the middle of Walmart rubbing a card and nothing is happening (I keep telling myself this isn't a precursor for things in the future). Since I was getting bored, I re-read the card and realized my mistake.

I promptly put the card back, looked around to make sure no one saw me and walked off... not before I took a picture of the card though!

This Toothbrush Rocks My World

2009-02-16T21:37:00.003-07:00

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate360/US/EN/Products/Original.cvsp

No Meat for You!

2009-02-15T21:00:00.002-07:00

It's official. As of February 16, 2009, I am becoming a vegetarian.

This is something I've been contemplating for a couple years now and I've finally decided to do it. Lately, the thought of eating any kind of meat sickens me to the point I can't even bring myself to eating it.

This past week I bought a vegetarian cookbook and have been studying it. Yesterday, I spent the morning grocery shopping and today, I got ready for the week by making a couple different dishes. I made a curried eggplant dish (which I liked, but my mom -- not so much.) and corn chowder, which is so delicious I'm pretty sure I could eat it for all three meals everyday.

So I'm all ready for the week and don't have plans to eat a single ounce of meat! I'm excited! This has been a long time coming.

Seriously. Can't. Handle. It.

2009-02-07T20:01:00.002-07:00

So I know it's been a super long time since I've posted on here, but I really want to get back into posting regularly. Especially now since I'm deleting my Facebook profile. I wouldn't want all of you to not be in the know of all things Aimee related! I'm thinking I can handle blogging more often. What I can't handle is RODENTS IN MY WALLS, CEILING AND STORAGE PLACES!

What the freakin' crap?! Most of you know these two things about me. 1) I just moved into a new apartment. An apartment that I don't have to share with anyone! I'm still getting used to this. I've lived with people for so long. And 2) I HATE mice, rats, squirrels, anything rodent-ish. I am so insanely scared of them! I mean, I sometimes go out of my way to avoid squirrels if I see them on my way to campus. I think if I were ever in a face-off with a rodent of some type, I would just pass out.

I know all of you are probably laughing hysterically right now, but imagine my fright when I was laying (is it laying or lying?)in bed one night and heard something scurrying around in my wall! No joke! I've heard it just about every other night and it eventually stops and I fall asleep. Well tonight, I was sitting at my desk in my living room doing homework a.k.a looking at Facebook before I close my account tomorrow night and that scurrying noise had moved to my living room! Except it was louder and it sounded like it was coming from my ceiling AND my walls AND these storage spaces that are located in my walls!

With all of that said and the basic knowledge of my fear of rodents -- especially UNKNOWN SPECIES of rodents, I will be staying at my Mom's tonight because I Seriously. Can't. Handle. It.

Hello Lover

2008-10-01T12:39:00.002-06:00

I'm going to need these.

Me

2008-09-29T17:14:00.001-06:00

Farewell

2008-09-15T13:01:00.002-06:00

I went to church at the Cheyenne YSA Branch yesterday, for a specific reason actually. I learned earlier in the week that President Brown was going to be released from his calling as Branch President. President Brown and his wife are two of the most amazing individuals I've ever met. I've never seen anyone devote so much of their lives to a calling before. They are truly inspirational.

I spent much of last week trying to wrap my head around what this could possibly mean for the Branch. I have never felt such deep love and respect from a Bishop or Branch President before. In a church that is so completely marriage-minded, it was such a great feeling to have a leader (for once) who wasn't pressuring me to find my EC (eternal companion) because contrary to popular belief, there is more to life than marriage and what I'm doing with my life pre-marriage does matter. President and Sister Brown actually understand that concept.

The Browns were always there for us and they made sure we knew that and that their home was always open to us. President Brown always told us, "Don't worry about it. The Lord will take care of it." If I could just remember that throughout my day, I think I would much less stressed out. President also couldn't tell us enough that we would all be much happier if we would just SIMPLIFY! In a culture where nothing we do is good enough and in a society where we must always be working toward perfection, the pressure can often be too much to handle. The Browns were there to tell us that we were doing just fine and to not be too hard on ourselves.

In a world of same ol', same ol', the Browns are a refreshing breath of air.

While I had a difficult time trying to imagine the Branch functioning without the Browns, I realized on Sunday that the Branch will go on and it will keep functioning. The Branch is not the Brown's Branch, but it is the Lord's Branch and it will continue to strive with the leadership of President Gasson and the love and nurture of Sister Gasson.

Of course, this will not be the last we see of the Browns. They are truly amazing individuals and I think they and the members of the Branch will all agree that there is a deep connection and bond that cannot be broke. They will still remain an important part of our lives and of the Branch.

So I guess what all of this is leading to is, thanks President and Sister Brown. We love you both more than words can express. Thank you for being there for us and reminding us that we're all doing just fine with what we're doing in our lives. Thank you for reminding us of what is really important. Most of all, thanks for believing in us and not trying to change us. The world is a better place because of you.

Rude

2008-09-12T16:35:00.004-06:00

At work today we were all telling our ages (which loses its appeal after the age of about 23). Here's a snippet of conversation that took place:

Co-worker #1: So Aimee, how old are you?

Me: I'm 27.

Co-worker #1: Oh. (Semi-long pause) So what have you been doing all this time?

Co-worker #2: Ya know, Co-worker #1, that's really kind of rude to say to someone, especially in that tone of voice.

Co-worker #1: Oh. I didn't mean it that way.

I really love being a nontraditional student.

Just Switch?

2008-07-13T16:41:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to say that I think it's interesting (and annoying) that in light of Hillary Clinton suspending her campaign and Barack Obama being the Democratic candidate in the presidential election that I am supposed to magically switch my support from Clinton to Obama.

During this election there is only one person that I have faith and trust in to run our country. That person is Hillary Clinton. If I would've had that faith and trust in Obama, I would've been supporting him all along.

I understand the need for a Democratic president, but I also don't believe in voting for someone strictly because of their affiliation with a certain political party. I DO believe in voting for the best person to get the job done.

Personally, I know this person isn't John McCain, but I'm not sure if it's Barack Obama either.

Wake-up Call

2008-04-10T19:16:00.003-06:00

I was trying to find a friend from high school last night on the Internet and happened to come across an old friend of mine that I hadn't thought of in quite awhile. We weren't really good friends but I remember making fun of her because she went to school (seminary) before school everyday. So when I found myself going to school (seminary) before school everyday a few years later, I got in touch with her and we had a nice laugh about it.

As I was perusing her website, I noticed there were quite a few comments mentioning how people would miss her. I eventually came across her obituary. Turns out she was killed in a 4-wheeling accident in October. ATVs are so dangerous. My Grandpa's cousin was in an accident about a year ago and suffered extreme brain damage. People just don't think to wear helmets. I'm not sure I would ever get on one again.

Anyway, after discovering Rachel's untimely death, it really made me think. We never know when our time is up. Many think teenagers are the only ones that think they're invincible, but in reality, we all tend to think we are. Am I doing everything in my power to lead a good life and be a good person? Can I go to bed each night and be comfortable with the fact that I might not wake up in the morning? Am I making Heavenly Father proud? Am I doing the so-called "little" things everyday like studying my scriptures instead of reading them? Do I not just pray to Heavenly Father but talk with Him everyday? Do I magnify my calling? Do I attend the temple regularly?

It's so easy to get caught up with day-to-day life and forget about what's really important. I always make time to write papers and do homework assignments well, but for some reason I slack when it's time to do the spiritually important things.

Not only do I need to change, but I want to change. What if today is my last day? Did I do everything in my power to be successful--both spiritually and temporally? I spend so much time worrying about the future that I forget to live in the moment. I heard someone say (possibly in a movie) that life isn't about the number of breaths you take, it's about the number experiences that take your breath away. I think that Heavenly Father blesses us with these little experiences almost everyday, but it's up to us whether or not we take the time for them. I sincerely hope that I can take more time for my life and remember what's important and live each day to the fullest.

"Happy too cakes to me!"

2008-03-31T23:11:00.002-06:00

I stole the title from my friend's little girl. I guess she's learning different songs right now and that is her version of "Happy Birthday". So yeah, I copied a toddler. But let's face it, hers is much more creative and just makes more sense as a title.

Today was a good day. I turned 27 this year and I'm not going to lie, I feel a little older. I think it's because 27 is getting dangerously close to 20-10. It's official. I'm in my late twenties. Twenty-six can still be considered within the mid-twenties bracket, but 27...not so much.

I always feel quite a bit of anxiety around my birthday. Some of it has been caused by not really being content in where I am and some of it is caused by this horrible fear of mine that people who are important to me will forget my birthday. This year was different. I still had a little anxiety, but it wasn't too bad. I think it's partly due to the fact that I'm quite happy where I'm at right now. I really feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. Of course there are a few things missing. Like a husband. **To all my friends who know some good, single men...don't be shy. Hook me up. But other than that, I'm happy AND pretty much everyone remembered my birthday.

March has been such a crazy busy month that I actually kinda forgot about my birthday. When it finally occurred to me that my birthday was this month, I freaked out momentarily because I thought it had already passed. Lucky for me, it hadn't. I vacillated between whether I should tell my roommates and bring it up to people or if I should just keep quiet. For awhile I had decided that I wasn't going to say anything, but then something occurred to me. Why would I want to keep my birthday a secret? My birthday is a celebration of the day I was born and that was a pretty great day. Just being born makes everyone great and I've been fortunate enough to have been able to do some pretty wonderful things. That's when it hit me. It would be wrong to not celebrate my birthday.

So here I am and my birthday is almost over. It was a great day and I am so blessed to be living this life that has been given to me. I'm happy. I'm content. I'm grateful. I'm excited to see and experience what this 27th year has in store for me.

Happy too cakes to me!

March!

2008-03-26T21:36:00.005-06:00

March has gone by insanely fast. I can hardly believe April is next week. So many great things have happened. I had the amazing opportunity to meet both Bill and Hillary Clinton. I was impressed by their intelligence and also their ability to remain quite personable. I feel very fortunate to have met them. It's not every day that one gets to meet the woman who is going to be our next President(!!), let alone a former President of the United States!

I also had the most incredible experience of delivering the nominating speech for Senator Clinton at the Albany County Democratic Caucus. After many, many prayers, I was able give my speech without getting emotional AND without a shaky voice. It was such a great day. Once the speeches and voting were done, everyone split into groups and state delegates were voted for. We didn't get the results that day, but the next week I found out that I had been chosen as State Delegate #4! I am so excited! I'll be going to the Wyoming Democratic Convention in Jackson over Memorial Day Weekend.

I'm continually amazed at the opportunities and blessings that keep showing up in my life. They're like little reminders that I am where I'm supposed to be and doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It's a really great feeling!

Moral Conversations

2008-03-05T16:48:00.003-07:00

We just found out that Bill Clinton is coming to Laramie tomorrow evening. Under the direction of Wyoming for Hillary, I created a facebook event and invited everyone on my list. I didn't leave anyone out. I've also emailed, called and texted everyone I know. This is obviously very important to me. What I find appalling is that a few select friends of mine are leaving me rude, negative comments and taking every chance they get to let me know they think I'm an idiot for being a Hillary supporter. What kind of friendship is that? I realize we have differing opinions on politics. I don't believe this gives me the right to leave rude messages on walls that are clearly in support of a certain person or event. It is very possible to support the friend in their passions and beliefs without sharing them. It is also possible to have a moral conversation about the Clintons without using the words "satan" and "not pertinent."

First of all, Hillary is the farthest thing from satan. She won three of the four states up for grabs last night and two of them were by very large margins. Go Hillz! Second of all, any person who has an excellent chance of being in the White House this time next year is definitely and completely pertinent to our country--regardless of what one's beliefs may be.

It would just be nice to have an intelligent, moral conversation about politics once in awhile.

An Honor

2008-03-02T12:24:00.003-07:00

When I got home from work Friday night, I decided to check my email. As I opened one from the Hillary campaign, I never in a million years would have expected to see what was before me.

When I went to the grand opening of Hillary Clinton's Wyoming office in Cheyenne last week, I was able to network and meet some great people from Hillary's campaign. Well the email I received was from one of them asking me if I would be willing to deliver the nominating speech for Hillary Clinton in Saturday's Wyoming Caucus!

Of course I said yes. I am so blessed to have this opportunity and also to have such a great passion for politics and this presidential race that is upon us.

Bitch is the New Black

2008-02-24T21:44:00.004-07:00

Alright, this link will actually work. NBC kept shutting the YouTube video down due to copyright infringements, so here's a link from NBC.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/index.shtml#mea=221773

Gardenia

2008-02-21T22:56:00.002-07:00

I have a new favorite song. It's Gardenia by Mandy Moore and I can relate to the lyrics so well. It's been kind of a rough week for me. I've felt a mixture of sadness and melancholy and frustration intertwined with some gratitude.

Earlier this evening, I went to a baptism for this guy in my FHE group. As we were singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives,I was reminded of some things that I had forgotten. It was nice to remember that Heavenly Father really does know us and he knows what we're going through. Sometimes all we need is a little patience. It doesn't always take away the things we're feeling, but it does offer us some insight and perspective into what we're facing. Here are they lyrics:

Well, I put so much thought into getting ready
Now I know that was the best part
It’s so easy to get caught up in what I’m regretting
Forget what I got from a wounded heart

CHORUS
I’m the one who likes Gardenia
I’m the one who likes to make love on the floor
I don’t want to hang up the phone yet
It’s been good
Getting to know me more

I’ve been seeing all my old friends in the city
Walking alone in Central Park
Doing all the things that I’ve neglected
Traded ‘em all in
To be in your arms

CHORUS

Well, I hear my own voice
It Sounds so silly
I Keep on telling my story all around
Everything I lost ain't so different
Cause this is how everybody gets found

A Treat for the Ears!

2008-02-17T23:17:00.003-07:00

I've just discovered some great new music. The first artist is Edwina Hayes. Her voice is so beautiful and calming. You can hear some of her music at http://www.myspace.com/edwinahayes

The second artist is Mandy Moore. Now before you start laughing and shaking your head in disgust, listen to this song! It's called Gardenia and it is gorgeous.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=48028131

Hillary's my homegirl

2008-02-15T21:13:00.002-07:00

I can't...I'm Mormon

2008-01-30T19:57:00.001-07:00

I recently saw a t-shirt that said, "I can't...I'm Mormon." I'm not going to lie. At first I thought it was funny, but as I contemplated the true meaning behind this, the questions started rolling in. Shouldn't we want to do the right thing? Isn't the point behind living the standards in which we live that it's what we want to do? Does it take more faith to not watch a rated R movie even though we want to or does it take more faith to make our own decisions? Last week, hip-hop poet Saul Williams visited the UW campus. As I was listening to his remarks, one of them really intrigued me. He said that we don't need a preacher to talk to God. What beautiful sense this makes! I'm guessing that this statement means something completely different to me than it does to him, but that's what makes poetry and art so amazing. Most of society tends to look down on organized religion and I must admit there have been times when I have too. I think people tend to look down on organized religion mainly because they think weekly church-goers depend on their preacher to get them to heaven. Not to mention, there's the thought that people who don't go to church every week are going to hell. I think religion is what you make of it. My mom is a very spiritual person. Does she go to church every week? No. Is she going to hell because of it? Of course not. I'm not saying that if we wonder what alcohol tastes like we should go to our local saloon and get wasted, but I am saying that we should make our decisions for ourselves. We should live certain standards because we know they will bring us eternal joy and we know the difference between right and wrong. Most of all, we should do what is right because we love Heavenly Father. For me personally, there are certain standards that are more difficult to live than others. I'm sure we're all like this. Hopefully, one day we will all be able to live each commandment because we love our Father in Heaven more than anything. That's what this life is for. We should take what we know to be true and good and figure out for ourselves why we live or don't live each commandment. When we do this, I think our testimonies will flourish.
Well, that's my soapbox for the...I'd like to say week, but it'll probably be for the month.

Another Shot

2008-01-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

I started this blog over a year ago when I was going through a really difficult time in my life and I pretty much haven't written since then. I got my wake up call when my friend Stina was apparently reading this a couple months ago and read that we had gone to lunch a couple days earlier, which confused her because we hadn't. Then she looked at the date and discovered that particular post was about a year old.

So here I am, a little over a year later, ready to give this blog thing another shot.

Fortunately for all of us, I don't plan to write about how "I hate my horrible life!" Mainly because I don't and also, who wants to read about that? I'm at a really great place in my life right now and am so excited to see what lies ahead of me in this new year. I've also developed a sincere interest in political issues and current events, so I'd like to blog about that too. It would be really great if we could get some discussion going on!

Here's to 2008!

Taking Each Day As It Comes

2006-11-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

It seems like I tend to have one good day and then the next is bad. Tuesday day was awful. Probably one of the worst I've had. Thankfully, that night I went out with Beth and she really helped me to get things in order. Wednesday was a good day. I accomplished quite a bit and actually felt like things were starting to look up. Wednesday evening though, I discovered that I still had quite a few issues. Wednesday night was awful. I realized that there are certain ways I deal with my stress or my depression. None of which are healthy. I went back to my old habits and once again, couldn't fall asleep. At 2 I finally decided to get up and take a hot shower in hopes that it would relax me and I'd be able to fall asleep. I think I finally fell asleep around 3 or so.
Today wasn't too bad of a day. I woke up late and just kind of messed around and then Stina called and wanted me to meet her and Aiko for lunch at the mall. By the time we ate lunch and looked around, it was nearly 4 by the time I got home. I was so tired and felt so disgusting that I took a nap. I really need to start eating healthier. I don't feel like what I put into my body gives me the energy to complete my day. I don't like that.
So now it's the end of my day. I have a plan for tomorrow. I'm excited for tomorrow. Not because anything exciting is happening, but because I'm looking forward to accomplishing tasks on my little list.

**I hope I'm not jinxing myself or my day.**

A New Start

2006-11-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

So this is my first time blogging. I didn't even know what a blog was for quite awhile. Then I ran into dooce.com. I seriously love her blog. She's a terrific writer and I admire her for that.
I decided to start my blog for a number of reasons. First of all, I love writing. I always have. I just haven't done it in awhile. I also think journal writing is very important. I know that it helps me to sort out my feelings and also to look at things from a different perspective. Here's the main reason: I feel like I've been through hell during the past 3 months and am currently working my way back. I want to document this time in my life. I want to be able to look back at this time and remember what I went through and what it took to get back to myself again. Actually, I don't want to be my old self again. I want to be better. I want to be able to look back on this time in my life and see how I've grown and how I've learned and have become a better person.
3 months ago, I was laid off from my job. I know it probably sounds stupid, but when I was laid off, it broke my heart. I had never loved a job so much. I had never loved what I did for a living so much that I could work a 16 hour day and not get tired. It was passion. For the first time in my life I had passion. Looking back over the past 3 months, I didn't realize it at first, but I wasn't dealing with my life. I wasn't dealing with all the crap that would soon explode. It just exploded last week. Everything that I refused to deal with, everything that I kept putting off, hoping it would all just go away, came crashing down on me. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to surrender and ask for help, so I kept trying to do what I thought was best. Not a good idea. It sent me into such a deep depression that I physically couldn't get out of bed. I liked the dark more than the light. I felt like my bed was the only safe place to be. As long as I was asleep in my bed, I didn't have to face the world. Somehow, my problems weren't real as long as I was in bed.
Today, I couldn't take anymore. With the help of a couple different special people, I came to terms with the fact that I couldn't ignore things anymore. If I kept doing what I was doing, things weren't going to get any better. In fact, they would just get worse.
I know I have to get out of this funk. I know if I don't, it will destroy me. Literally. I'm scared though. I don't know how to deal with the problems that I've been ignoring for years. It's terrifying, really. I have a plan though. A schedule. I started it tonight and will continue with it tomorrow. It sure seems much easier to continue on as I was, but I know doing that won't make me the person that I want to become, the person I know I can be.