I Can't Stop Laughing

This has to be the BEST FREAKING COMMERCIAL EVER!

I don't know exactly what it is about this commercial but I've watched it like 6 times and I seriously laugh harder and harder each time. I had to share:

I laugh just thinking about it.

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:

1. Knowing that my education was totally worth it and complete.

2. I got my diploma.

3. I love my teachers at BYU-Idaho. They weren't just teachers. A few were mentors, and several were friends. They're amazing people, and I miss them all SO much. Okay, not all...but the vast majority, definitely.

4. I got to brag to my dad for a bit the other night, and it was nice to see him the slightest bit impressed with some of the things I've done in college. Impressed might not be the right word, but he seemed slightly surprised, if nothing else.

5. I'm glad the Idol judges are sending home the people I like the least. Mostly just those two stupid girls I couldn't stand. Keep it up, and don't send sucky people through like Fantasia (GAG ME) anymore.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Today is Hannah's birthday!

SHE'S 3!!

That seems insane to me! I can't believe how quickly time has gone by.

She's such a sweet girl, and hilarious. I miss her oodles every day. I miss when she would come out of her room in the morning and see me on the couch and say, "UNCLE TIM!" or "Wake up Auntie Lauren!" She would read to me, and she is definitely the best dancer on the Conley side of the family. She's precious, and I love her.

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:

1. I have 2 gorgeous nieces. Do I need anything else? ...Maybe. hahaha.

2. My wonderful Momma helped me re-organize my closet and now everything fits in my room without having stuff in boxes in front of my bed. Plus, I plugged in my wall-flower, and now my room smells FABULOUS.

3. It's raining here today. I love it.

4. New music. Woo hoo.

5. I'm still plowing through the Percy Jackson books. Love them. Highly recommend them. All that jazz.

More Percy Jackson

I've made my way through the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, The Sea of Monsters. It didn't disappoint, I loved it again.

I'm now on the third installment, The Titan's Curse. Wow. Just when I thought I couldn't like the series anymore, Rick Riordan surprised me yet again. He keeps introducing new Gods in each book and in this book he's introduced Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, and her twin brother, Apollo, the God of prophecy who is also in charge of raising the Sun. (Artemis is the goddess of the moon - he got the sun...anyways...)

Apollo is my new favorite. He's hilarious. They're twins, but without getting all technical as to why, let me just say, Riordan writes Artemis to appear as a teenie-bopper somewhere between the ages of 12 and 14, and Apollo as somewhere around 17.

In classic mythology he rides a chariot painted like the sun. In Riordan's book, he drives a red convertible Maserati Spyder. Unless, of course, he's transporting 10 Hunters of Artemis, Grover, Percy and someone else I won't name (in case anyone out there is reading the series...) - then he drives a bus. Apollo also loved being in Japan, apparently, because he likes to make up his own Haiku's. For example, this one found on page 47:

"Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool."

Of course, the last line isn't 5 syllables so he changes it to, "I am so awesome."

Need I say more?

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:

1. "When My Time Comes" by Dawes. I highly recommend it. Check it out on iTunes, folks. Seriously. Do it now.

2. I got a new lap top for free thanks to American Express reward points. I LOOOOVE it. It's amazing. I'm in heaven. And the only thing that can pull me away from it is Percy. hahaha.

3. I pulled the 2 books I started writing a while ago off of my external hard drive now that I have a new lap top, and re-read all that I have of my newer-book. Yeah, bad idea because now I get woken up or can't fall asleep until I write down what the stupid people in my head are saying. And they're persistent imaginary people.

4. I got a letter from Shauna on Tuesday!

5. I'm no longer listed in the Student Directory on BYU-I's website, so I'm taking that as a sign that I did, in fact, graduate from college despite the complete lack of a diploma I have. I'm thinking it has to come this week sometime.

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

Today is Rachel's first birthday!!!

I honestly CANNOT believe that she's already ONE! It blows my mind. Of course, it's also crazy that Hannah is going to be 3 in exactly one week also, but that's a post for another day...

I don't care what you people say, I have the CUTEST nieces ever.

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:
1. Mishi. That cat may be retarded and super skinny, but he's definitely entertaining. I seriously don't know how he gets so dirty!
2. Nicole on a sugar high. Wow. Usually Chelsea is the crazy one, but I literally have bruises on my leg in the shape of Nicole's fingers and a rather large bruise on my wrist that I'm also crediting to Nicole.
3. Going to the park with Chelsea again. Gotta love the swings.
4. Isn't it cool how much you can love someone else's baby? I mean, Hannah and Rachel aren't mine, and I love them SO much. I can't imagine loving something more.

I Adore Sheldon.

I've been watching The Big Bang Theory a lot lately, and I can't help but gush about how much I absolutely ADORE Sheldon. He's definitely my favorite. And dare I say...100% meant for me??

I wish.

Every time he talks I sit in wide-eyed rapture, practically drooling. Which is kind of ironic because honestly, I HATE super skinny guys, which he is. But I'm willing to look past his insubstantial weight. That's how much I love him.

Here's a clip from Season 3, episode 2. This clip will explain fairly clearly why I love him so much. There is another clip from later in this same episode where Raj and Sheldon debate the name of the cricket. Also definitely worth checking out. Especially because I want Sheldon's shirt.



Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:
1. Thinkgeek.com. Yet again, I was perusing last night, and found a bunch of stuff I want. One day...
2. I want to be socially awkward like Sheldon. Not like Rob (for those of you who know the story) but I think Sheldon is a humorous balance.
3. My new Singles Ward. Goodbye South Bay Singles, Hello Santa Monica!! :o) WAHOO!
4. Jereme. He's tons of fun. I'm lucky to have such a great family that is multifunctional, i.e., friends and family. (How's my Sheldon? Is it nerdy enough?)

My Latest Find

I find myself blogging about books a lot, lately. I think that comes with wanting to be an editor.

I've been hearing about Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series for a while now, and because everyone was comparing it to Harry Potter, I've been dutifully ignoring the excited voices. And then I saw the preview for the movie of the first book in the five-book series, The Lightning Thief. And I haven't been the same since.


I sat down and researched the book, and the series as a whole, and decided to give Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson a chance.

I haven't regretted it! I can't get over how imaginative the books are, even though it's dealing with one of the oldest tales of all time: Greek mythology. I won't spoil the series for anyone out there, but I find Percy's wit hilarious considering he's only 12.

Percy, Grover, Annabeth, Chiron, Ares (he's definitely my favorite God now...), Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Cerberus...all of them are GREAT. And the best part is, I found myself recognizing a lot of the mythology that Percy relates from classes eons ago.

I've only read the first book in the series and I'm trying INCREDIBLY hard to pace myself with the second since I have no book money because I'm jobless. But so far, I love it.

My favorite quote: "And play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes red rubber balls."

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:
1. All of this rain. Believe it or not, a tornado actually touched down like half an hour from my house today.
2. Running errands with Bryce today. It's great to be reminded how much you have in common with such a good friend, and why he's one of your favorite people. And somehow we managed to be running through the rain whenever it was the worst. Needless to say, we got pretty wet.
3. I have a pinched something somewhere that's making my left arm practically unusable, and my mom rubbed my back tonight. It felt AMAZING. My arm's still sore, but a little better.
4. I have a book drawer in my room because I don't have bookshelves. It's packed, and my book box is also still rather full. This could be a problem.

For Kyle and Kellie McDonald

Kyle and Kellie are getting married tomorrow!!!

KP, I'm SO, SO, SO sorry I can't be there for your wedding. I feel so bad!

You're such a great friend and I totally appreciate all of the advice you've given me over the years. You were one of my favorite roommates and made a lot of bad stuff in my life bearable. You were there for me when Gramps died and when Bryce was diagnosed with cancer, plus all of the drama before, in between and after!!

Kyle, I've only met you once, but thank you for being so welcoming and nice.

I'm so excited for you both and wish you guys a happy life and eternity together! I wish I could be with you guys, but know that I'm there in spirit. I love you guys!

Things that induce laughter/smiles/happy feelings in me today:
1. Temple marriages. Seriously, our church is so amazing, and temple marriages are one of the things that I love the most about it.
2. I miss living with a bunch of girls. I never thought I'd say it, but I really do miss having all of the girls around me all of the time. We had a lot of laughs, didn't we ladies?
3. I made some of my best friends in college - guys and girls - and I appreciate you all.
4. Playing Nintendo with Chelsea today. Wow.