I'm Back!

Hello, my affectionate readers! I have returned from the black hole I disappeared in for the last three months. I was at basic training for the US Navy since August and have now returned to civilization, reappearing in the warm and sunny world called Florida. Pensacola is a great place; it feels like summer here. I've decided there are only two seasons in Florida: summer and cool summer. It seriously feels like an Idaho summer here right now and this is their "winter." It supposedly gets cold here, but I have yet to feel it. Ok, at night it does cool down a lot and I have felt chilled, but I will take this over the frigid, frozen tundra I left in Idaho.

Basic was interesting. Not gonna lie, it was not what I was expecting. At all. Lots of folding clothes. Lots of sitting around. Lots of standing. Lots of getting yelled at for no reason. Basically 8.5 weeks of feeling like I'm worthless. I kept waiting for the "building up" period everyone told me about, but it never really came. Graduation was cool. There were some memorable moments and some moments I would love to forget.

Now I am at "A" school at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. This is a small base compared to the NAS next door, but it is nice to have a more tight-knit group. Plus, it is a little more chill over here. I have been here almost a month and my classes will start this week.

I thought I'd give an update of where I'm at. My blog will continue! I will try and do more book reviews as I read. Granted, I will not have as much time to read as I used to, but when I do finish a book, expect to see a review on here. I am always taking suggestions on books to read, so please feel free to make recommendations.

Oh! Flyleaf just released a new album and I bought it. It is fantastic! I'm listening to it right now. They don't seem to do wrong.

Until next time...

Oh and this is me, today, at the Blue Angels Homecoming airshow!

Independence Day

It has been awhile since I've posted. This will also be sort of a book review for Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell. Really just a huge lumpy post that will hopefully make sense. I've felt the urge to get some thoughts out in the universe.

I am leaving in almost 30 days to start basic training and a subsequent career in the United States Navy. I'm feeling a huge mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to nervousness to fear to worry and doubt. It's funny cuz the excitement, when it comes, usually overshadows any of the negative feelings. I'm apprehensive because of the unknown. I'm not sure what to expect with all of this even though I've had a year to prepare. It will have been literally a year since I made the decision to when I leave for basic. Probably almost to the day.

I'm worried about leaving my family and friends and all the things I will miss. My nieces and nephews will continue to grow and change while I'm away and I will miss milestones. I try not to focus on the things I will miss and rather the things I will gain from this.

For the first time in my life I am fully comprehending the sacrifice it takes for someone to serve in the military. Days like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day all take on a whole new meaning for me. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones to war.

I just recently read Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor. It was a tale of survival and the human capacity to overcome. It was a story about true fighting soldiers who gave it their all and the one man who lived to tell about them. My eyes misted over a couple times while reading as the men fought to their dying breath. I gave it a five-star rating and I think every American should read it just so they can get somewhat of an understanding of what our troops are facing.

I know I won't be on the front lines but I will be helping to gather the intel that will help those on the front lines make decisions. The US military is like a well-oiled machine especially if everyone works hard and does their part. I'm determined to be the best in my field, to be a reliable and helpful source, and to work my hardest. No time for slacking!

What if I'm not cut out for this? What if I mess this up? I want to be able to finish my service in the Navy, whether in 8 years of 20 years, and be able to say that I too gave it my all.

These are just some of the things I've been thinking about on this Independence Day. I've never been one for fireworks and, frankly, this year I've been worried about the state going up in flames with all the idiots out there playing with fire in the dry heat we've been having. So today I celebrated my independence by spending time with my family and friends and taking some time to think of my future in the military and of all those who have served valiantly before me. I hope to be able to live up to the standard they have set.

Lundyn Taylor Chacon

On March 16, 2012 my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Lundyn Taylor Chacon. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20.5 inches long.

On the day she was born with Grandma Chester. 

First picture with Uncle Jake. I was just getting over being sick for 4 weeks so I had to have a mask on. 

Kate's friend, Lennie, took newborn pictures of Pumpkin. You can visit her blog here.http://lenniemariephotography.blogspot.com

This is Lucky Lundyn in the outfit I got her. 

She is an incredibly snuggly baby. I love it!

I took this picture on my phone when I was babysitting. It has become one of my favorites of her. 

Look at her so peaceful in her elephant chair. 

Needless to say I am a proud uncle and she's already got me wrapped around her delicate little fingers. We were all a little surprised by her shock of dark hair because the twins had come with barely any hair and what hair they had was really blond. She looks a lot like Gigi did when she was a newborn.

Up to Date

Time for a quick update on me. I guess it's been awhile since I've posted anything about my personal goings on.

I'm less than four months away from my departure date! The reality set in when I realized that I would, originally, have been leaving this coming Tuesday, April 17th. I would definitely be a basket case right now if that were the date now. It is still on for August 9th and I'm stoked. I've been working on my memorization and I've been working hard to train physically so that basic isn't such a shock to my mind and body. I'm pretty sure, however, that no matter what I do to prepare I will not be completely prepared for basic. So I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing. I ran my best 1.5 mile yesterday with a 13:56. I will need to knock down at least a minute off that by the time I get in. However, if I don't I'm right in the good range to where I will be able to pass the final test easily. Hopefully.

I'm still doing CrossFit. It is a kick in the pants and I love it. There are days I want to curl up in a fetal position and say "No more!" But I go again the next day. This has got to be a sign of some sort of mental illness to actually crave this kind of pain.

Kate, my sister, had a beautiful baby girl on March 16. Her name is Lundyn Taylor Chacon. She's a cutie patootie and I'm glad I will get to spend a few months with her before I go. I am sure I will post a few pictures of her on here. In fact, I might do a whole post dedicated just to her.

My novel is still coming along. It has taken a back burner to all the insane preparation for the Navy, but I still have it in the back of my mind all the time. I have been itching to write lately and I'm about 75% through the 2nd draft. After this, I am going to do some edits and I might have a class at the university rip it to shreds, and then I will try to get more serious about getting it published. The timing is just terrible. I will keep you all posted on how that goes. If you are on Facebook, you can "Like" my book's page here.

I will be dj'ing my third dance this weekend. It is, again, for my friends and all their kids who are taught at home. It is quite the experience and I've also been getting ready for that. I found a new way to express my love for music and that is by dj'ing.

Gigi is turning 5 in June! She got screened for kindergarten this week and scored a 53 out of 56 so she is very ready. I can't believe she's old enough for kindergarten! She's growing like a weed and stands up to my hips.

Morgan and Wyatt are also growing. They've matured just in the past few weeks since Lundyn was born. They are still active and a little unruly but boys will be boys. They turned 3 in January. 

It doesn't seem like it, but I have been really busy. Work and exercising and Navy and all that has sucked up all my time. In my spare time I'm hanging with family and friends, soaking it all in because I'm not sure when I will have any of these moments again in my life. There are days, still, that I wonder what I'm doing as far as the Navy goes, but I know this is what I want to do with my life. Something needed to change and the Lord provided this as a way for me to improve myself and the world around me. I'm excited for these great changes coming up in the next few months.

Rereading

I am not a rereader. A book has to be damn near exceptional for me to even consider rereading. To this date there are only a handful of books that fit that category. Off the top of my head I can think of a few: The Sword of Truth series, As I Lay Dying, Unearthly and Hallowed, The Hunger Games trio, Delirium, and Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall trio.

Hawkins' final installment in her trilogy is coming out in March so I decided I would reread the first two books.

This time around was a whole new experience, and I'm actually becoming a fan of rereading. It's amazing how time and what you bring to the book can change your perception of the writing. Originally I had given Hex Hall a perfect 5 out of 5. I think it still ranks right up there, but I don't know if it was a perfect score. I still really enjoyed it and found myself remembering things I'd forgotten. The twist at the end didn't surprise me, of course, but this time I could see what Hawkins was doing to build up to it.

I still enjoyed the wit and humor all throughout it. Sophie is a really great character. Like I said in my original review of this book, she actually has a spine. And she's smart. She figures things out and takes action. And she's not whiny. Oh, how I love that she's not whiny and emotional.

I had said that Archer isn't that deep of a character. That was probably a little harsh. He isn't meant to be a deep character. Yet. Part of the draw Sophie sees in him is that he's a mystery. His relationship with Elodie is a mystery. His sometimes obvious/sometimes not so obvious interest in Sophie is a mystery. Everything about him is mysterious. It makes for a great beginning of a romance, but it does, admittedly, seem weird when Sophie admits she's in love with him. I guess I just wanted there to be more development with their relationship. 




So, from now on, I guess I won't be so adamant against rereading books. I'm a fan of seeing things from a different perspective. While I did skim a little because I knew what was coming, I still read just about every word. That, right there, is a sign of a great book.

Crypto Tech

I just realized that I hadn't made this announcement on my blog. It is a little bit old news now, but this seems to make it even more official.

I've joined the Navy. That's not the news. I got the job I wanted! There were some bumps in the road to get it, but I would go through it all again in a heartbeat. My new rating in the Navy is cryptologic technology technician (crypto tech or CTT for short). Let me explain how it happened.

My recruiter has been amazing and I owe him a lot for having my back. He called me up saying he had an information systems job I could take. I was iffy about it so I told him to give me some time. Even though he was reluctant to give it time because it wouldn't last very long, he let me think about it. I did some research on IT and saw that it is very translatable to civilian life and that it is just a really good job. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that it would be settling or that I wouldn't like it. But, I figured it was better than doing the rating I was in (to avoid conflict I will not tell what that rating was). So I decided I would call my recruiter in the morning and take the IT job if that was really my only option right now.

Well, I called him and told him just that. He laughed and said "You're a big pain in the butt, you know that?" Apparently I missed my shot for the IT rating. Truth be told I was relieved. It was more a mixture of relief and despair that I would be stuck in my original rating. Then he told me there was a CTT job opening leaving in April!

That next morning I went in to answer some questions about my background and then I signed a paper and we faxed it back in. Then it was the waiting game. We didn't wait long. They called my recruiter and said that it was a typo and the job wasn't leaving til August. They did not want to push my departure date back so it looked like we were back at square one.

Discouraged and saddened, I left the recruiter's office trying to think of the positives about my original rating because it looked like I was going to be in it no matter what. I worked out some of my anguish at Crossfit, even though deep down I felt like things were still going to work out. Whether that meant I was going to be in my original rating and find out that I loved it or I was going to get the job I wanted, I was not sure at the moment.

Once I left my Crossfit gym, I saw I missed a call from my recruiter. I didn't even listen to the voicemail, I just called him right back. He said "You've been selected for the CTT rating. You can either leave in April in your original rating or you can go in August in the CTT rating."

August? Six more months of waiting? A whole year after I swore in at MEPS?

I decided to go with the CTT rating despite the wait. Really, that's the only downer in this whole predicament. I got the job I wanted and it's going to rock!

So, my official departure date has changed from April 17 to August 9. More time to prepare, get in shape, spend time with family and friends before my life changes drastically for the better. It is amazing how little stress I feel lately. I didn't realize that my job change had stressed me out so much. My recruiter is trying to get my departure moved up, but it might not happen. I will keep ya'all posted!

I Got Tagged!

My cousin tagged me in this random internet game, so I decided to play along. It's all in good fun. I'm going to struggle to come up with 11 people to tag, but that, to me, is not the fun part.

The Rules: 
 1.Post these rules 
2.You must post 11 random things about yourself 
3.Answer the questions set for you in their post 
4.Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer 
5.Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them 
You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Things about Jake Taylor:

1. I like touchy-feely things. Shirts, stuffed animals, pets...if they're nice to touch, I love it. I used to think that everyone was the same way, but I just recently met someone who is scared of stuffed animals. 

2. I love taking naps BUT I always have weird dreams when I nap. It never fails. When I sleep at night I have an occasional crazy dream, but nap dreams are, without fail, the ones that could possibly have me committed to an asylum someday.

3. I'm not a fan of nuts and/or raisins in my cookies. Whoever decided that was a good idea was smoking something.

4. I can do (just about) anything with music going in my ears: clean bathrooms/toilets, mow lawns, till gardens, you name it I can do it if there's good music playing.

5. Back in the day, I could care less about calories. Probably a big reason why I got up to 210 lbs a few years ago. Now, I feel guilty for even looking at a cinnamon roll. Tonight, I gave in and ate one. I had to stop the voice in my head that belongs to that fat guy I used to be so I could enjoy my delicious morsel.

6. I constantly surprise myself, lately, with how much more outgoing I am now than I ever thought I'd be. I used to be quiet and reserved. I tell people that now and they think I'm joking.

7. I can't chew gum for more than 10 minutes before I get tired of it.Weird because I used to chew it all the time.

8. I'm left-handed. Scissors are my nemesis. I had to train myself to switch them to my right hand. It's hard to be a lefty in a right-handed world, however, I would not change it for anything in the world.

9. I'm obsessed with Ireland.

10. I take it as a compliment when people call me "sassy" or "snarky." 

11. Beware: I can memorize phone numbers really easy. Not sure why, but ever since my mission in Florida I've noticed that I just have a knack for remembering phone numbers. 

Kara's Questions for Me:

1. If you could automatically acquire the skills/academics, and you had the schedule for it, what is your dream job?

Dream job for me would be to have a doctorate in English literature and teach at a university while writing my books on the side. The professorship would be just to have something to do and the writing would bring in more money and be my fun job.

2. What is the #1 played song on your iPod (or other audio device)?

On my iTunes it's "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

On my iPod, lately it's been "Telephone Games" by Jack and White

3. If you could see, but not necessarily participate in unless you wanted to, any moment in history, what would that moment be?

Ok, so I have a top three on this question. 1. I've always been fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials. I think it would be interesting to watch how it all went down from beginning to end, but I would not want to participate. 2. The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in the Civil War. I'm not sure why I'm so intrigued, but I would pay to see those rich Northern folks running for their lives after they'd come to watch a battle and picnicked. The nerve. 3. Anything in WWII. Such a devastating time in our history, but it is also where heroes were made, and I would love to see them in action. 

4. What is your favorite drink?

Chocolate milk. Mmmm...However, that voice in my head (see #5 of Random Things about Jake Taylor) would taunt me. So I'm going to say Crystal Light to appease the voice. haha!

5. What is your least favorite chore?

Ya know...I actually don't mind cleaning or those kinds of chores. Cleaning is actually a release for me, and I find I usually do good deep cleaning when I need to clear my head. Plus, I can usually listen to music when I clean, so that's even better. If I had to choose one, I would say shoveling snow but even that is acceptable because I can listen to music. (See #4 above)

6. If you could change your name for a day, what would you change it to?

I love the name Grady. I'm not sure why. 

7. When was the last time you had an AMAZING meal? And was it the company or the food?

I had turkey chili with Anna and Alan. It was pretty dang good, and the company made it even better!

8. What is the worst gift you have ever received?

I can't say that I've ever gotten a really bad gift. Guess I'm lucky. I can say, however, that my 28th birthday was probably the worst one I've ever had.

9. What is something that you learned in the last week?

That patience is a virtue I really, really need right now.

10. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate. 

Yes. Let me show you. 

You can't tell me that this picture is not worth a thousand words. It is so priceless and perfect. Art, in any expression, is worth talking about and responding to, and that is what is so beautiful about it. 

11. You can only work on one project for the next year. What is it?

MY BOOK! I need to get this dang thing done already!!!

My Questions for You:

1. If you could be any character in any book, who it would be and why?

2. What are the top three things on your bucket list?

3. What's the best book you've read in the last 6-12 months?

4. Who do you think will win the election this fall?

5. If you could change any physical attribute about yourself, would you do it? If so, what would it be and why?

6. You're you in a different dimension. This version of you is married to a celebrity. Who is it?

7. What was the last dream you had that you remember?

8. How many children are there in your family? Where do you fit in?

9. What is your favorite physical attribute of someone of the opposite sex?

10. Do you prefer cold weather or hot weather? (Tell me why too.)

11. What's your favorite item of clothing you own?

I'm going to tag 11 people. If you decide to play along, just let me know in the comments here! Thanks!

The Rules: 
 1.Post these rules 
2.You must post 11 random things about yourself 
3.Answer the questions set for you in their post 
4.Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer 
5.Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them 
You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

My Latest Obsessions

1. Lana Del Rey

She's got this whole dark, vintage thing going on and her style is very unique. I'm definitely a fan even though she bombed her SNL performance. 

 

2. Big Bang Theory 

I just got a screaming good deal on all 4 seasons on DVD for $38!!! Yeah, ya can't beat that. I smell a BBT marathon in my future!!!

 

3. CrossFit

It's going to be an intense workout, but I've been wanting something a little more extreme lately in order to really prepare me for the Navy. So here goes nothing!

 

4. Foster the People

Their album is addictive! I listen to it all the time now. 

 

5. Justified

Crazy-good show. I'm going to have to catch up before I get into the third season which is playing on TV now. It is a pretty badass show. Love it!!!

 

Pumped Up Kicks

 

So, I kept hearing this song everywhere. All I could ever understand of what they said was "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, better run, better run...." It's a great song with a nice beat, and it gets stuck in your head really quickly. All the makings of a hit. I like to know words to songs, so I looked up the lyrics to this song by Foster the People.

Is it just me or is this song about a school shooting? This "cowboy kid" goes on a rampage with a gun he got from his dad's closet. Why is this not a big deal to anyone? I don't understand how we can mourn tragedies like Columbine and the Virginia Tech shootings and then love this song. It just boggles my mind. This could almost be akin to writing a hit song about 9/11 from the perspective of the terrorists, putting it to a snazzy beat, and then having Americans dance to it. Talk about irony.

This doesn't stop me from loving the song though! In fact, I just got the album and it is amazing. It's sincerely one of the best albums I've gotten in a long time. All the other songs are less tragic and controversial in my mind. But I can't get rid of this sense of guilt I have for liking "Pumped Up Kicks." Call me a hypocrite.

However, for the writing of this post, I did a little more research. Come to find out that Foster the People's leading man, Mark Foster, who wrote the song said he wanted to get inside the killer's mind. He was going to do it about the victim's perspective but thought that would be a copout. It's all about saying f**k you to the hipsters, yet these are the kinds of kids listening to and loving this song. He said there isn't actual violence in the song and that it's an internal dialogue in this kid's mind. So, in a sense, it is a commentary on the isolation and detachment our youth feel today. Aha! Another great ingredient for a hit.

We all love a good controversy, and maybe that is why this song is popular. It seems to reach a part of everyone, the rebel inside each of us. I'm not saying I condone the thoughts portrayed in it, but I'm finding that it was not meant to be taken literally. Foster wanted to understand another side of the story. And, as a writer, I can respect that. It's a fun song to dance to and it also has a chill aspect to it. Foster the People is not just another pop band. I tend to think they will be around awhile now because of the depth, fortitude, and genius behind their madness. There's more to them than meets the eye.  FtP, you have made a fan out of me.

Paige and I love to dance to this song so much that we've almost got a choreographed dance to it.

Me in the Navy: The Decision to Join

I decided I would document my experiences in the Navy through video. It starts with a lot of rambling because I really wasn't sure what I was going to say at first. If it doesn't work here you can see it on YouTube by clicking here. Thanks and feel free to comment! That's all for now!

New Book Review System

I will put this on the sidebar so you can refer back to it whenever, but I just want to make an official post about it. Today I had an epiphany. I've been rethinking how I rate books. My old system has been on the 5-star system only I think stars are boring because they get overused in things like this. I was using things from the books to rate the book and I'm not sure if it even made sense to anyone else but me.

So! I have come up with a new system!

It is still the 5-Star System with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the best. If you've noticed I rarely give out 5's. From now on (or at least until I tire of this system) I will be rating books as follows:

1. Woopdeedoo!
2. Boo!
3.Woohoo!
4. Woot!
5. Woot! Woot!

There you have it. Feel free to comment or fill-in better suggestions. Peace!

2011 vs 2012

This is Part 3 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. The first post focused on my best and favorite moments of 2011. The second post was my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. This final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did. 
 

2011 vs. 2012

• Read 35 books.

I didn't quite make it. However, I did beat last year's 25 books. I finished at 31 books for 2011. My next post may be a list of all the books I read. 

• Get a new job that pays awesomely.

I joined the U.S. Navy! So yeah...It may not have happened in 2011, but the ball got rolling then. Yay! I accomplished part of my resolution!

• Move out of my parents' house.

Still hasn't happened, but it will happen in April!

• Get married. (I know, I know...I say it every year. Well, I do but I don't express it apparently. Well, here I am announcing it publicly that this is the year that I, Jacob Taylor, will finally settle down and get hitched. Now to find that girl.)

Oh, please. That didn't happen. 

• Finish my novel (rough draft, revision, revision, revision, edit, send out to literary agents and publishers, revision, edit, work, work, revise more, and hopefully get the dang thing done and published!)

Yay! I am on the second draft, and I have sent it to quite about 25 agents now. Still got to finish the revision. 

• Learn 5 songs on the guitar.

Didn't happen. I still feel guilty about this every time I look at my guitar. 

• Lose 10 more lbs.

Done! And, in fact, today I weighed in at 168 lbs! I have not been this weight since high school! So weird. I feel so good!

• Go somewhere I have never been before. Boston would be cool. Possibly finally go on a KB Tour to Europe!

Uhhhh...I did get to go to Oakland, CA and other little places near there. All of which I'd never been to. Go me! This year I will be able to see a lot more of the world!

• Speaking of the last one: Get a passport!

Yeah. About that. Didn't happen. 

• Start writing the sequel to Befall which is probably going to be titled Beleaguer. 

That hasn't happened either although the ideas are still rolling around in my head.

• Grow out my hair. This time I am actually going to do it. Last time I got the furthest I have ever gotten but this time I am going to refuse to cut my hair even when I really, really want to.

This did happen! I loved it and sometimes I miss it.

• Grow a goatee.

What the hell was I thinking??? Yeah...No. Never will that ever happen. I didn't do it last year, and I'm not ever going to grow one. Moving on. 

• Be wiser with my money.

Yay! I'm doing that! It took me all 2011 to finally get it right, but I'm doing much better with money these days. 

I'm not doing a resolution this year. Let's face it: the last time I looked at my resolution last year was when I wrote it. I forget what's on there and I have changed so much over the course of a year that my goals change dramatically all the time. So...my only resolution this year is to continue on the path I'm on with no regrets, let my heart be the lead, and continue doing awesome things that amaze even myself.  

Worst of 2011

This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. The first post focused on my best and favorite moments of 2011. This second post will be my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. The final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

My Worst Moments of 2011

(In no particular order whatsoever.)

1. MEPS. Such a long, drawn-out process at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Salt Lake City. Probably the longest day of my life so far. And that's just the beginning. I was there from 6am to almost 6pm and most of that was waiting in lines. 

2. DLAB. I was devastated when I took the language test to get a linguistics job with the Navy. I was 2 lousy points away from the minimum. 

3. Halloween Weekend. My plans and my friend Casey's plans for the weekend were apparently very different from each other. I like the idea of Halloween but for some reason, Halloween is always the worst day for me. Examples:

               1. Senior year of High School. Injured my knee at ballroom dancing practice right
               before school. 

               2. Utah State. Made an idiot of myself by wearing this hideous mask thing to work. I think
               there were some pranks in there that, by that time, I did not find funny at all. 

               3. Mission Halloweens. I always hated talking to people on Halloween. They were always drunk
               or just a little more belligerent than normal.

 I rest my case.  

4. California trip. The wedding part, like I said, was awesome. The whole part where I spent most of my time in airports or my hotel room or waiting for a ride was super uncool. Probably my least favorite trip I've been on in a long time.

5.  Winter. It seemed like last winter clung on forever! Hence we did not get a good summer. Summer was cool and just...not summer-ish until maybe August. Bring on the heat!

Guess it's a good thing I can only come up with a few bad moments of 2011. It was definitely a year full of ups and downs but I think it will always be a memorable year for me.

Best of 2011

This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. This post will focus on my best and favorite moments of 2011. The second post will be my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. The final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

MY BEST MOMENTS OF 2011

(These are in no particular order. Just as they come to mind.)

1. Joining the Navy.  I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be in the military. It had never seemed like a possible thing until just recently. I'm excited for the adventures and experiences that await me on this new chapter in my life. 

2. Transferring stores and becoming a supervisor. At the beginning of 2011 I got promoted and changed to another Deseret Book in Ammon, ID. This has been such a great and positive change in my life! I actually get along with my boss, I love the people I work with (for the most part), and Christmas was a breeze! Would I ever go back to the Temple store? Not in a million years. 

3. Kira. This woman has been such a blessing in my life. She has taught me how to stand up for myself and to follow my dreams. I probably would have been stuck in a life I never wanted if it weren't for her. She inspired me to join the Navy among other things. 

4. Lagoon trip. I went on a Lagoon trip this summer with Mike and Lacey, Brittany, and Kira. We had a blast. Kira and I even rode on the insane ride that shoots you up while you're sitting in this little ball. That is something I never would have done. I'm a lot braver these days. 

5. Year of Change. I think 2011 will always stand in my mind as a year of change. Not like big changes, but I know I've changed and grown a lot just in a short year. Who I was last year is completely different from who I am now.

6. Getting in Shape. I've lost a total of 35 lbs. and I'm in the best shape of my life. I never thought I'd be able to run a 5K and I did that this year with Kira and some mutual friends of ours. I feel like I can conquer the world because I was able to conquer that demon which has been my self-image. I feel comfortable in my own skin now.

7. Mike & Lacey's Wedding.  I was able to attend my friend Mike's wedding in Oakland, CA. It was a beautiful wedding and I was honored to be a part of it as the best man. The trip itself wasn't my favorite, but the wedding part was amazing. It was also the first trip where I've made all the arrangements for myself and flew down all by myself. Sad that I was 28 when I finally did this, but at least it happened, right?

8. Good Books & Good Music. I've read a lot of books and a lot of them have been really good. I can only think of a couple off the top of my head that weren't that great. There has also been a lot of really good music this year. Tori Amos, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Chevelle, Adele, and Florence + the Machine have pretty much dominated this year for me.

9. Hannah. This girl is amazing! There are some people you just connect with and it's like your souls rejoice because you've finally reunited with an old friend. That is how I feel with Hannah. We are kindred spirits.

10. Zumba! This has been the year for Zumba for me. I got addicted and now I can't get enough. Such a fun and enjoyable workout. 

That is all for Part 1. Stay Tuned for Part 2 (The Worst of 2011)!

Octavius & Christmas

It may be awhile before I do another blog. My computer, Octavius, decided he had had enough. I was actually about to do a book review for Crossed when he came up with a bunch of crazy messages and all my stuff was wiped away before my eyes. Luckily, I did not lose my book. That was my biggest worry. He is now at the doctor and they are trying to diagnose the problem. I'm hoping they can make him well enough to last until I go to basic and then I can save up some cash and buy a new one. Guess he'd had enough of my book reviews and went on strike. Haha! 

On another, much happier note:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I will have to just give you a post later about how my Christmas went and, by then, I will have more book reviews as well. So stay tuned! 

Whos Down in Whoville

I've been trying to get in the Christmas spirit. If you've worked retail during the holidays at any point in your life you probably understand how it can suck the life out of the Christmas season for you. This is my fourth Christmas with Deseret Book and my seventh in retail and I'm pretty sure Christmas has become less and less of a favorite holiday with each year.

One of my friends called me on my Grinch-ness and I realized how my negativity was affecting other people. I really don't want to spread my bah humbugs so I made a concentrated effort to get into it. It took doing some Christmas shopping, wrapping some presents while drinking hot chocolate, and watching some White Christmas and the Glee and New Girl Christmas episodes for me to finally feel like it was Christmas. However, I still felt out of it, like I was just going through the motions.

So my friend, Kira, and I went on a drive to look at Christmas lights. I haven't done that since I was a little kid. I can remember my mom taking us out in Roosevelt, UT to look at lights. Pretty sure that's the last time I've done that as the sole purpose in driving around. It helped a lot too.

Then I went to the mall...


POOF!


There went any semblance of Christmas spirit I had. It all reminded me of the Whos Down in Whoville from The Grinch who Stole Christmas. And lately I've been just thinking about the excess of Christmas and how we lose the meaning of Christmas when we focus so much on the gifts, both giving and receiving. Pretty sure it's not the end of the world if you can't get a gift for someone on Christmas.


Pretty much I'm thinking that my kids will only get one nice present each and then a few small things (if that). I may change my tune after a few years of being out of the world of retail, but as of right now that is the plan. Will my kids be spoiled? Damn right they will be. But they will probably not be spoiled on Christmas. I just hate how the commercialism of Christmas overshadows the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ and how God sent His Son to sacrifice Himself for us. That is the true gift of Christmas, and I hope that I can someday convey this to my children without seeming like the Nazi parent who will only give his kids a few presents that day.

I think a huge part of this desensitizing to the magical world of Christmas is that, for retailers, it starts so freaking early! I've been listening to Christmas music since November 1st. Let's just skip Thanksgiving altogether and go right for the kill. And working for Deseret Book sometimes makes me feel like I'm capitalizing on people's religion. So when people ask me why I don't like Christmas music, or why I groan when I hear it or think of the word Christmas, I tell them to work for a day at Deseret Book during the holidays and then see how cheery they are. The people are grumpy and snappy. They're extra demanding. And they think you can just pull these products out of a place where the sun don't shine. I'm sorry, but I'm not the big fat man from the North Pole. I don't have little elves who do my work for me. Hate to disappoint. (That might be a whole other post worthy topic.)


I guess I've just been feeling really detached from all of it lately and I'm not sure why. Christmas is a week away and it doesn't feel real. It's going to zoom by like the rest of the year has and before I know it I will be in basic with the Navy, seeing the world, and doing some pretty cool stuff. Ahhhh yeah!!!

In closing, I do have to say that having friends and family around has helped me keep up with the holiday spirit. Kids are so cute during Christmas, and it has been fun to watch Gigi get so excited about Santa Claus coming to give her gifts. And Kira and I have been trying to be positive and to help each other be in the mood for Christmas. I just hate that it's a battle trying to force myself to be Christmas-y every year. Someday that will not be the case. I hope. 

Christmas time is Here!

...And I'm finally in the Christmas spirit!

Attitude of Gratitude #30

For this, the final Attitude of Gratitude post, I would just like to spout off a few things.

1. I have loved this little challenge I gave myself. It kept me focused on the holiday and spirit of Thanksgiving rather than getting caught up in the preparations for Christmas in the retail world. Also, it helped me realize all the things I have to be grateful for. I am so blessed and have such a great life.

2. I am going to continue this focus throughout Christmas but in a different way. It amazes me how Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually seen as two separate and distinctly different kinds of holidays when I think it's the opposite. I think Thanksgiving is a good time for us to prepare for the Christmas season. What better way is there to show your gratitude than by serving and giving to those in need? Thanksgiving allows us to focus on the things we have and then Christmas allows us to share our blessings with others. What a beautiful relationship these two holidays share! 

3. Now I would like to just share some other things I'm incredibly grateful for:

My Family

My Friends

My Faith

My Job

A Warm Bed

A Full Stomach

A Car

A Closet that is too Full

A Cell Phone

Money

Books

Entertainment and things that make me laugh

Having a life that allows me to laugh

Memories

Water

Relationships

A Healthy Body

Electricity, Running Water, Indoor Plumbing

Having things that I can take for Granted

My Uniqueness

My Talents

Style

Good Music

Having an Opinion

Being allowed to share my opinion

Freedom

My Country

Beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets

Full Night's Sleep

Dreams Both in and Out of Sleep

4. Thank you for tuning in.

Attitude of Gratitude #29

 Today I'm grateful for:

A Voice

It's one of those things you don't realize how grateful you are you have it until you've lost it. The past few days I could feel something coming on and this morning it hit me. I opened my mouth to speak and it came out raspy and squeaky. Oh great. My throat isn't sore so that is a blessing but work was great talking to customers and getting strange looks. Reminds me of a few years ago when I went to a Terri Clark concert and had lost my voice that day so I couldn't yell or sing along. Rude. 

 

Funny Text Notification Sounds

I just got a new notification sound on my phone for when I get a text. It's from the movie Despicable Me when Gru wins a big fluffy unicorn for Agnes who then screams "It's so FLUFFY I'm gonna die!" My niece loves it when it goes off and I just giggle when it goes. I went to a store meeting tonight and forgot to silence my phone and it went off in the middle of the meeting. It was quite humorous. 

 

Christmas Decorations

I'm finally feeling in the Christmas spirit. Gigi and I put up the Christmas tree and Mom and I started putting up all the other stuff. It's going to take a couple days to finish but I'm excited. Kinda want to do things a little different this year but we'll see. Yay for Christmas!

Attitude of Gratitude #28

Oil Changes

Phoebe feels better now. Today she got an oil change and her registration has been updated with new plates and everything. She's like a new car and her daddy has been spoiling her a lot lately. 

 

 Before

After

 

Haircuts

Always so refreshing to get a new haircut. I'm back to my natural dark hair and it shocks me every time I look in the mirror. I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to the lighter hair. 

 

Catching up with Friends

I was really productive today. One of the good things about today was going to lunch with one of my best friends, Mike. This is really the latest picture of him and me at his wedding earlier this year. It was good to catch up with him even if it was just for an hour or so.