Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Presidents Night On the Town

Some people that believe that when you're elected as your high school class president that must mean you are popular, right? WRONG! True I'm not lonely and lacking friends but that doesn't mean that on Friday nights my life is filled with partying. You see after spending all Friday studying and caring for the students you find yourself in an interesting place. Your email isn't packed with questions, and you no longer need to think of threats for the kid that thinks typing your cell phone number and sending it to the entire class is a joke. In fact you kind of feel lonely and then the light turns on in the attic. I could have FUN!

I start planning everything that I shouldn't but could do. I could go blow my entire pay check at Joann's and make fabric hair flowers! I could get the dairy queen frozen hot chocolate and watch a movie or I could do all of the above and end the night with a bubble bath and Josh Groban playing in the background! Well you don't have to ask me twice to get a move on fun things. I was gone!

I started the evening at Walmart getting some essential items for the flowers. Then I migrated to Joann's where I continued to frolic though the aisles in complete and utter bliss. In the middle of skipping gleefully through the button aisle I find my dear friend Weston! Unexpected to see him at a fabric store but nevertheless I'm elated to see him. After talking and all that good stuff I leave the store before they ask me to leave because of my excessive partying. Then I'm called into work....That was kind of the end of my plans.

Hours later I'm curled up on my bosses couch watching movies because what else can I do? Psych has graced me with a new episode and I "find" a twix bar in my bag. After being paid I walk out in to the cold night air. I go home and decide that a bubble bath followed by the Lake House would be perfect!

Sadly the bubbles didn't last very long. After the popping noises died it was time for my movie! I creep down the stairs with my fuzzy socks and snowflake PJ pants. Tears filled my eyes as Netflix told me all too bluntly that I couldn't watch Lake House that night! Oh well. It was probably time for me to go to bed anyways.

I curled up in my bed and had the worst nightmare! In my dream I was reminded that tomorrow was Sadie Hawkins and on Sunday I'd hear of nothing else from the girls. Ugh! I knew when I choose to go to a private school I might not have the same chances as other girls but sometimes it gets so oppressive to hear of prom for three weeks! But then I console myself with the knowledge that I don't have to suffer through an awkward day date and that my guy friends wouldn't have to ask me for a background check on my date. There is some comfort to be had in that...Very little, but a some none the less.


Friday, October 29, 2010

Fall Falls Upon Us All

Life is crazy isn't it? People make comments about how extra crazy it is to be in high school. Some times that gives a flicker of hope and then you see a mother wrestling with her kids in the store and you realize that no matter where you are in life it's going to be crazy. At least in high school you can have nap time. Dang that seems a little on the reflective side. You must understand that I have several allergic reactions to Fall. Just read on and you'll come to see the kind of life I've been suffering with the past few weeks.

Fall has a tendency to do a few things to my inner self. First it convinces of me that humans need longer sleeping hours during winter. Animals hibernate, why shouldn't we? There is much to be learned from animals. For one thing if you plan to live long you must watch your weight (I. e. Squirrels). Another piece of wisdom to be gained is that if you want something go after it (Look at bears, the get what ever they want.).

It also gives me this strange craving to wrap up in heavy, warm, fuzzy blankets and watch a movie like Lake House or North and South. Either way it isn't very good. I could sit there all day warm and cozy reviewing Mr. Thornton's finely chiseled face. Or how those white "Darcy shirts" make me squeal like I've just been given the world... Some mysteries of womanhood I don't even understand. But I enjoy them while I can.

But it doesn't stop there. I become miss crafty! Last night I made a zipper flower clip. If you are one of the unfortunate people that doesn't know what these cute hair accessories are than you living a deprived life. Sorry to be harsh but its true. Although crafting might not be surprising to some of you than you must understand that I haven't crafted with success in over two years!

On top of all of this I become majorly reflective! Not such a grand thing when you're me. When I become reflective the world becomes one big mess of a novel. In the fall the slug is no longer a bug, but a living, feeling entity that has profound aspect on the way I think of it and the trail it leaves; it all becomes symbolic for something else. I also tend to write my best works in the fall. Once I'm done editing my latest short story be prepared to see it on here. It is perhaps my favorite recent work.

Finally fall plays one last trick on my sense. It romanticists winter! Right now I can only think of powered diamonds covering the bear trees with cute little kids playing carelessly in the snow. We folks it all ends with the first snow storm and I remember exactly why I don't' believe in winter. Well I think its time for the traditional Friday afternoon "Let the week go" exercises. It usually begins with a movie and ends with sleeping in. Some times if I'm lucky it includes ice cream.

See you all later!

P.S.
I'm on week eight of a clean room! Oh yeah!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Presidents Schedule

Okay I have got to say that being president should come with some immediate perks. I wouldn't be opposed to an occasional foot rub or some of those little mints that freshen your breath and leave you feeling oh so happy. Oh well. I tried. The good news is that I haven't been kicked out yet. That is good news right? Well here is the schedule that I've been living by lately:

(During the night before I begin feeling really confident that I can face the mornings and get things like excise done in the wee hours of the morning. I then set my alarm clock accordingly.)

6:00 My alarm goes off. I shut of the sound and look at the time. My first thought goes something like this, "Five more minutes and then perhaps I can face life." I then reset my alarm.

6:05 "Nope I'm not ready to be nice yet. How do I shut this fetchin' thing off!? I wake up when I feel like it, I don't care if this is going on the record! I want to sleep!

6:50 Dad proceeds to yell encouraging morning mantras down the air vent which connects to my bedroom. He ends his speech with a call that can only be compared to a moose in sever distress. I roll out of bed with heavy sighs and a fuzzy head.

6:51 I crawl up the stairs and open the door. OUCH THE LIGHT! Why is it so bright up stairs? I curl up on the couch as family life rushes past me. "Steph if you need a nap today I completely understand, in fact lets just say at two this afternoon you'll find a corner and sleep." This is a little speech that I give myself every morning.

7:00 "Dang it I have seminary!"

7:35 "Don't speed, don't speed." I get into the car and race to all of the stop signs. I drum my fingers on the steering wheel and Journey blast on the stereo. How long do red lights honestly need to be?

7:50: Just in time!

9:20: Walk to my dear little car as I think happy and holy thoughts. I get behind the wheel, roll down all the windows, jack the volume on my music and off I head. While passing my teachers office I honk three times. Life is great! "Dang you pedestrian! Learn to wait!" Yep I'm thinking happy and holy thoughts.

9:30-9:55 I quickly do my chore and gather my books.

10:00 I start class. Dang can't the president be late? And no being president doesn't mean you have all of the answers.

11:00 Same as ten except now I can relax a bit. Its my literature class. :)

12:00 With a huge sigh I exit my class room. At last class is done. Wait, why am I so hungry. On examination I realize I haven't had anything to eat at all. Well dang.

12:10 Fat and sassy I head down to my bedroom to do homework..."Maybe one day I'll be excited..."

12:30 After playing around with various ideas I settle down to a book.

1:20 I wake up. Well there was my nap.

From there on my day just gets weirder. By six I'm done. But then I remember that I now have other obligations. At 10:30 I drag my sorry little self to bed. Only to have the same things to greet me in the morning. Sigh. Soon I will play hooky.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

President Me

School has started up again. Surprises have met me around every corner; but it has been good. I wont lie the class I'm placed with this year is amazing! It could use some more older hot guys, but hey you win some and you lose some.

Speaking of winning. I won class president! Who would have guessed? I've wanted and waited to be president and now here I am! President Sheba! I bet you couldn't guess what my first action as president was? To get everyone to stop calling me president! My acceptance speech was horrible at best (I blame the shock, I didn't think I had a chance for president. I thought everyone could see the tyrant I am. Suckers!) and when I was asked about my vision for the class I couldn't think of a single thing. Well this class will now suffer for their choice. I feel so bad for them! Their so innocent! Oh well.

I now have 9.5 toe nails! I know that sounds weird, but I can't stop feeling happy about it! One day I will have all 10 again! Oh what joy I will know! I feel like I've done well for myself lately. President, 9.5 toe nails, the coolest seminary teacher and did I mention that I have been called almost pretty ever day the past week!? Its like a miracle! I've never been considered cute, but to have some guys, girls, parents and sisters comment says something! People I'm coming out of my cocoon! Sorry about all the exclamation points, its all so exciting!

I've begun Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and I have got to say after years of being an avid Pride and Prejudice fan I might have to change. I've spent a few days feeling a little lost. I kind of had the mentality that if Pride and Prejudice is no longer my number one is the sky really blue? So to end to confusion I've had to say this, "Les Miserables is my favorite book with Jane Austen as my favorite author." I've been practicing saying it so it sounds natural and confident instead of confused and a little forlorn.

As I speak of change and miracles in my life I have another one to add to the list. I like babysitting! Don't die. I know many of you have heard my horror stories about the little trolls I've had to babysit in the past but I've put that all behind me. I figured out I love little kids! Well, let me rephrase that. I love well behaved little kids! They make me laugh, I can color caterpillars with them and at the end of the day they give my big hugs and gather around me so I can read them their favorite books. If any of you ever need a babysitter consider me the gal for the job!

Fall has brought on a lot of changes. The air is crisp. The wind sounds sad at nights. The trees are changing color. Its all great! It moves me to song. Songs of joy. I haven't been writing as much lately but as my little heart sings I've been humoring it with little stories. The last story I wrote was about a little girl fleeing a city in revolution during the fall. Its a sad and rather touching story if I do say so myself. One day when I finish editing the thing I'll post it. I also have two other ones in the works of being created. I'll give you a sneak peek at them later.

Well my 10 toes call for my fuzzy socks and my feet are asking for me to give them a foot rub which means this: the creative juices are flowing and beg to be written down! How exciting! Its almost like being given a present every time a new story comes out. Its so interesting being an authoress! I'm definitely in the right field of work. Well I've better get those fuzzy socks and make sure I'm ready to face tomorrow as "President P." Have the sweetest of dreams everyone!

Steph

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Wisdomless at Last

With puffy cheeks and a diet of liquidated foods all I can say for myself is that my wisdom teeth have been pulled. Yum, yum, pain pills for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! The really good news is that the swelling should be gone by the time school starts on wednesday! The cute boys wont have to see my puffy self.

The exciting thing is that right before I went into have my teeth pulled I sat down and edited some of my stories! (That's how I relived anxiety.) Between the nightmares that I recorded after having my deep wells of wisdom removed and the edited stories this one ranked as the lesser of the creepies and not too much of the gushy romantic stuff that I can get into. I started writing this little story in January and have finally reached the point that I felt like it could be seen by human eyes, other than myself of course. Well my cheeks need ice and my creativity is begging that I start a new story, poem, haiku. Perhaps I'll even start writing a play....Options, options.

Amber Waves of Change

Bells whorled, crowds rushed by with ruddy faces, teary eyed good-byes were being said, but one scene was different. Anna looked over her brother and his family. Relief was visible in their appearance. They were getting rid of their biggest burden. Her. She bent down to hug the children, and gave them each a stick of peppermint. Her eyes lingered on her nieces and nephews unwilling to look up. Relenting to the constant staring of Alice she stood up straitened the bodice of her dress and faced her brother and his wife. It was easy for her to give Charlie a hug, kiss and causally slip a letter in his hand. As for Alice her sister-in-law the hug was brief. A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth as she waved to them then boarded the train. The pounding force of the crowds had fatigued her. With weary hands she assessed the damage of her hair and hat. The analysis wasn’t good. Her golden hair was falling out of its Edwardian bun. Her hat that she had bought expressly for this occasion had almost been completely trashed due to the consistent waves of beating. But this was an adventure the very thing that she had been thought she wanted. She looked around at the passengers that were sitting next to her. A young lady that wore the a very fashionable dress looked with stars in her eyes at her traveling partner that was reading the newspaper. A young man in his mid-twenties sat directly across from her. He had soft brown eyes and the expression of a gentlemen. His bag of golf clubs sat next to him. Anna realized that she had been staring when he looked up with a questioning expression. Trying desperately to soften the awkward moment she held out her hand and said in a voice hardly above a whisper “Good afternoon sir, my name is Anna…Anna Hemmington.” He looked at her hand for a second then took it, gave it a stiff shake and said in a strong voice “Nice to meet you my name is Jeffrey Black.” Their met eyes for a few seconds. With a blush she looked down at the hem of her dress and muttered “Nice to meet you too.” The stress of the past few days was enough to make her exhausted and long for a nap but it wasn’t proper for lady to sleep in public, so the laws of society kept her from a much deserved rest. To help her stay awake she looked out the window and watched the scenery change with rapid pace. Seeing the lush emerald trees for the last was harder to say goodbye to than she realized. The landscape of Vermont was her favorite thing that home had to offer. Tears came to her eyes as night came. With blurred vision her green eyes frantically searched for the first star so she could have the wish of her heart, but it was a cloudy night. After everyone was asleep she finally she fell into an anxious rest, with a paper clipping in her left ungloved hand. Jeffrey awoke when he heard a moan. Scanning the room he noticed that it was Anna who was moaning. Quickly he looked around the room to see if there was anything in it that would agitate her. Just when he was certain that she was having a nightmare and nothing more he saw the paper clipping slip through her fingers. Softly it began to float to the ground. Jeffrey gracefully leaned forwarded and caught the paper just before it hit the ground. Picking it up with great interest he began to search it for answers to the many questions that flooded his mind. It was tattered and the corners showed signs of a being rubbed. The printing was fading from being folded and re-folded. With the little light that was in the train car hallway he was able to make out what it said. “Needed: A women who isn’t afraid of work. Can teach kids, and open to marriage with a forty-five year old man living in Nebraska with three kids all under the age of eleven, and all very stubborn” He tucked the add back in her hand and studied her face. It looked young yet clouded with worry. She was beautiful to be certain; golden hair, green eyes, red soft lips. It seemed so strange that a lady with so much promise was throwing herself away, but as he began to ponder on their awkward introduction earlier in the day it wasn’t to hard to see why. A girl that so obviously needed grace wouldn’t be wanted. With one last glance of pity towards her he fell asleep. Then next morning she was the first to awake. She sleepily looked around and rubbed the kink in her neck as she looked around the room. Nothing had changed, with hope she looked out of the window to see fields of wheat passing by. Her arm slowly dropped to her lap as she stared at strange yet phenomenal surroundings. A clear voice quietly began “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.” She jumped when she heard a sound that was becoming familiar to her. The same self-assured voice spoke in low tones. She flashed a glance at Jeffry and nodded. But as he considered what he saw the night before he felt obligated to explain what he had seen. “Forgive me,” he started out, “but I saw the add in you hand last night…it slipped out of your grasp…” as he fumbled for the right words she looked directly at him for the first time. She searched his being with her green eyes then she cut his stumbling short. “Yes, I know that I should be patient. But it is easy for one to know when they are no longer wanted around. I felt like this was my only option.” Jeffry didn’t know what to do with himself during such an unguarded speech. Toward the end he found himself staring at the floor, embarrassed at her bold and unguarded words, a lady would have known not to speak so freely. He was more than a little surprised to feel ease during conversation that contained so little of the societies accepted rules. Anna soon found that she could easily talk to him. He likewise discovered that there was something about her drew his attention. Sunflowers blurred past the window as they talked. Lunch was cued by striking clock. Twelve chimes rang and lunch was brought. Everything was normal with their sandwiches except for Anna’s. She bit into it only to find a twig, on further examination she discovered that it was a sprig of rosemary. She gave what was becoming her trademark laugh, short and nervous. Quickly she waved it off as an accident, opened the window on her left and threw it out. The air was so refreshing inviting that she stuck her head out the winds noise swirled around her head. “Why has strength, poise and determination left me? Where are you?” she whispered to herself. As the day drew on a notable weight added to her countenance. Promptly at three her destination was called. She gave Jeffrey a brief glance, grabbed her hat box and carpet bag and said goodbye. Upon standing she said, “Have fun in California Jeffry, my best wishes are with you.” Without another word she turned her back on the room and walked out. A sense of poised duty followed her like a perfume. No one saw the little girl inside her mind that showed exactly how she felt. She decided then that it was now time to be strong. On the platform she waited for him, Henry Hill. The sun was falling lower in the west when a broad shouldered man appeared in a buckboard. He walked up the steps to the platform, taking two at a time, taking off his straw hat and said “Anna?” “Yes. Mr. Hill I presume.” An emphatic “NO” was her answer. “Oh” escaped her lips as her cheeks reddening “Mr. Hill is down with a broken leg I’m his hired hand James Callahan.” He took her luggage and helped her into the buckboard. James Callahan was not a conversationalist. Occasionally he’d hum a line from a song but that was it. This left her to console herself. The bumpy dirt road made her reconsider what she was doing. It felt like hours! The same scenery kept passing which convinced her that they were lost and never again see a house or children! Dying in the wilderness due to lack of provisions didn’t sound all that bad on closer consideration, until her stomach reminded her that starvation is more painful than the imagination could understand. Dusk strangely helped add to her situation,. The soft gray closing around the dusty surroundings was comforting. When she saw the white house lit up with roses in the yard she wished they had died in the wilderness. “Go ahead and go in without knocking. Mr. Hill is waiting for you.” Her stomach twisted and cramped. She grasped the pillar on the porch for assistance in order to make it up the three small steps. To her astonishment a little girl, which she had not seen from the buckboard, was waiting for her at the door and helped her to the guest room. Lily told Anna that her pa was waiting dinner for her, but to go ahead and freshen up from her long journey. This she did with great pleasure, with methodical movements she rejoiced in the familiar task. Finishing her hair she heard some thumping and a shadow appeared in the doorway. Her hands turned to stone and her face colored as her determination to stay strong was tested. A man with a leg in cast on his right leg came wobbling in. He had dark features. Big brown eyes and thick chestnut wavy hair. Smiling as he held out his arm he said, “May I escort this lady to the dance?” Her eyes lit up with joy. “Why of coarse you may!” She said. His coffee colored eyes twinkled. There was something about him that seemed familiar. She rested her small hand in the crook of his arm. She looked at him. He smiled in return. She smiled back. A new smile.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A Flower by Any Other Name....

The funny think about that line is its right! A rose really wouldn't smell as good if it was named randolof or cabbage. But I have found an exception. Stephanie by any other name would still be me. The list of nick names go on and on! Ice princess, Sheba, Grace and stubby. The last two really get to me. I was given the nick name Grace because of my lack of grace. I run into door ways, step on my own feet, hit my face in the door and sometimes I'm even smart enough to look down at the bouncy ball I just threw directly underneath me. I earned that nick name but Stubby is new. Although its new it still leaves me with the crowning glory of my mistakes.

Thursday night I was roped into weeding and watering at our old house. Putting on my flip-flops we left the house. Mom took the first shift weeding with the shovel as I began the first rotation of watering. As the flowers perked up mom handed me the shovel, that was it, my fate was sealed. Five minutes had gone by successfully. I was feeling so good about my weeding job I thought about coming down and weed the entire place as a surprise to my mom. While day dreaming I tried to get a weed perilously close to my naked toes. I chopped toward myself. The shovel slipped on a rock and then a rush of pain. I dropped the shovel and began to yell for my mom to come help. I knew I couldn't look down at my toe, if I did that would be the end of me. Mom came rushing over and went pale when she saw it. Her void of confidence right then wasn't exactly what I had hoped for. She helped me hobble to our car.

I sat in the car numb for two seconds and then I started hyperventilating. I have never done that! It was annoying and it bugged mom. Once I brought my breathing back under control I realized it was the combination of losing my vision to shock and the sensation of dripping blood had started the hyperventilation. I'm not exactly sure how mom was driving but I do know some of the turns were rather sharp.

Step two in the shock process appeared on the scene. Adrenaline, but not the fun type. This time it made me nauseous and thirsty. We made it home about three minutes later. I opened my door slid off of the seat and tried to stand but my knees weakened, my vision was completely gone. Before I knew it mom was yelling "don't pass out on me!" all I remember was my calm reply "I wont pass out, I just need to lie down". Next thing I knew my nose was smashed against the pavement. I had passed out in a possession that was considerate to my injury. My knees were tucked under me and my forehead rested on my arms. I began to pick my limp body off the ground when my started laughing at me. The only thing I could think of was how much better I felt! It was a miracle! I should have passed out earlier so I could have had the relief!

We made it into the house with great speed. We put my toe to soaking. Before I knew it everything was fine. Don't get me wrong it still hurts but the worst is over. My toe has now been every color in the rainbow and I will lose my nail, but hey! its all good! Dad came home and rolled his eyes at me. It took him six hours of being sarcastic, then he started bugging me about pulling off my nail. I won that battle, he will now patiently wait for it to fall off. The dog has stepped on it twice, my little sister stepped on it and dad likes to torture me with "messaging it" all that means is that he's thinking about pulling of the nail and seeing where it hurts the worse.

I've done well for myself this summer. One car wreck, one toe job, the removal of a mole and some pretty good bruises from wading the river. Good thing they didn't let me play with the fireworks, who know what would have happened!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Signs of Life

I'm back! Wow I've let a few cobwebs gather lately... Any way, there is exciting news! I've finished with my first ever vocal recital! The end result was the glory that I thought would come from it. I did have fun but Josh Groban wasn't notified about a young girl with unsurpassed talent. But I will continue to bask in the fact that its over and I can now go back to my career as a show singer.

Life has been full of busy nothings. We will start with the fact that the flu shouldn't be allowed in the United States. Who's idea of fun is that? What type of sick person would wish that on another? Yes I got the flu! I NEVER get the flu! I am elated to report that it is now over and I can continue drawing my designs for a raft that will aide me in my attempts to make it to Hawaii.

I've had a great lazy summer, full of books and cooking. I know many of you remember the time when I cremated the muffins, but I have now over come burning muffins. In atonement of that event I spent an entire week cooking every meal! You may all call me Chief Wonderful now. The meals included things like Sweet and Sour Chicken (The families favorite of the week), Almond Rice, Farfalle and Zucchini (my new summer time favorite) and of course we couldn't have a week of me cooking with out one little binge, got a cheep little pizza for the girls so I could go hold signs for Mike Lee. I was busy! I helped my candidate win his primary, fed a family, went to my best friends 17th birthday party and I tried out night time crawdad fishing. Note: Never go nighttime crawdad fishing. You can't see the crawdads but mosquitoes can see you.

Now to the books that I've read. Sense and Sensibility was AMAZING! Pride and Prejudice will always reign supreme but Sense and Sensibility was very good! A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks was a disappointment, the movie beat by a ton! Never read it. To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper was good, I'm going to poster it one of these days...I just have to finalize my ideas on it first. I'm still waiting for that summer time read that will leave me crying. (Wuthering Heights doesn't count. I cried out in anguish and fear...That is one emo book.)

Well that is my account of my where-abouts this summer. I've been trying so hard to think of a witty little something to post earlier but it just hasn't happened. Well if you guys have any ideas on what you'd like to see me write about I'm open to suggestions. If not you can count on an Eclipse post eventually.

Love always, Steph

Monday, May 17, 2010

Check!

Summer is here! The time of year that I wait for! Summer has to be one of my favorite seasons and this is why:
  1. The sunburns. To many when you resemble a crawdad rejoicing isn't the word that comes to mind, instead phrases like these haunt our minds: Pain, idiot for forgetting the sunscreen, the lizard stage (that would be code word for the peeling stage..Nasty!), skin cancer! And many more related words; but what people don't always remember is that sunburns are usually products of attempted tans. Remember the days when it important to be white? Well I like to pretend that fish-pale legs are still in. The reason why I like sunburns is because while everyone is in pain and looks like they were soaked in beet juice I walk around in comfort and act like I try to have painfully white legs! (Someone once described the color of my legs like this: "Steph the belly of a white fish has more color then your legs!" Why thank you! I mean how are you suppose to kindly respond to that? "Yes they are but at least my comments aren't like leaches, slimy, blood sucking, and irritating those who are fortunate to hear them"? I don't think that would work out too well.) Even though this doesn't always work out for me it still brings comfort that Queen Victoria had to have whiter legs, I mean did those babies ever see the light of day? I'd say no! And look at what a successful life she had! Now John Wayne on the other hand died early, and I bet he had tan legs. See! I think I have the better half of the deal.
  2. Vocal Boot Camp! I love to sing. Okay that's an understatement! I adore singing! Singing to me is peanut butter to jelly, waffle to syrup, fries to hamburger, laughter to joy! I think you get the picture. Well in my little town we happen to have one of the best vocal instructors in the state of Utah! Her students have the highest reviews in state competitions and she leads the Messiah every year at Christmas. She's amazing and still that doesn't give her talent justice. This very morning I was accepted to work with her for five weeks of intense instruction! Three classes a week and that includes private lessons! (Okay so I wasn't exactly accepted I more like signed up, but you see she didn't stop me from signing up! So for my vanity please strike up the Heavenly choir for the next few moments of silence in celebration...AHH!...Why thank you!) So now I am jumping around singing songs of joy and laughing my head off. *Sigh* Yep next time you see me I'll be singing with Josh Groban!
  3. Swimming! The public pool here is dangerous...If you were to swim in the middle of a river infested with flesh stripping Parana's you'd be safer than at the public swimming pool here. (Those that were on the swim team 20 years ago now have health issues that are traced back to our pool. Oh joy!)The reason I love swimming is because I adore the feeling of water swirling around me, rearranging my hair, brushing my legs, twisting around my fingers; but when I know there's more diseases than water atoms in the pool that's doing those sweeping, twisting, playful movements on my skin the relaxed feeling ceases and you start to race to get the heck out of that medieval death trap! My alternative to a slow painful death is to go to a lake or reservoir, yes I swim in fish poop but hey at least fish of a scale swim together (okay that little twist on the 'birds of a feather' saying didn't really work out like I thought it would...My bad!). Swimming in a reservoir is so much more fun than in a swimming pool. Try it some time!
  4. Cousins! My cousins are my best friends and allies. We've been raised together and know everything about each other. Last year I have to say some of the funniest moments came from hanging out with my cousins.
  5. Adobe ovens! My cute aunt has always loved the idea of adobe structures and this summer she has decided to build an adobe oven to bake pizza in at mind blowing temperatures. So I signed up to help her with it since everyone else is too concerned about smooth hands! (Oh please I thought that smooth hands went out with white legs!) So here is the basic way you make an adobe oven. You gather rocks to mix in with the mortar and use as a base. After you collect the rocks you build a base. Once a base has been made you mix up the adobe mortar...I don't know what's in it but you add everything in a swimming pool and then you turn on music and dance around bare foot mixing it all together! (I saw a movie once where after everyone had gathered all the grapes in the vineyard they put them into a huge wooden trough type thing then the women would put on white dresses and dance around in it pressing the grapes and dying their dresses purple. I think it sounds fun!) Once you've mastered the Tango then you grab bags of sand and pour them on to the rock base and you start molding your mortar over the sand. Yep it sounds granola enough for me!
  6. Stargazing. For all eligible young men reading this, stars are romantic! A Walk to Remember testifies to this. I plan to have several stargazing sessions this summer...I just need a telescope so I can have a better look at those amazing little strings of light.
  7. Water fights. How else do you get your eight glasses of water in a day and still have fun? Duh! Water fights! I will warn everyone right now that I dominate water fights because of my deadly aim and strong throwing arm. I fully plan to grab a turbo 300 and slaughter everyone in my way with ice cold water. Beware.
  8. Road trips! Road trips are the essence of life, they bring satisfaction to lazy afternoons, and leave you with a sense of adventure. Believe me I've experimented with them, and through my detailed study I've found what to do to make a road trip memorable. Loud music while the windows are down giving the wind a chance to run its fingers through your hair. You either have to have loud music of no music. Because when you have no music you are give a chance to connect with your thoughts on a deeper level. Instead of thinking your thoughts you feel your thoughts all the while the wind stokes your face and leaves you with this feeling of pure love and energy. You also have to dedicate 20 minutes of your time to have opera blasting at the sage brush while you try to hit those ridiculous notes. It releases negative feelings, trust me.
  9. Bubbles and sidewalk chalk. Nothing says childish better than to have a teenager laying on her stomach making car sounds and drawing pictures of flowers all over the place. Have you ever noticed how beautiful bubbles are? Perfect circles that float through the air acting as a mirror to everything lovely and novel around you while they change colors from purple, pink, green, blue; dreamy is one way to think of these little balls of joy.
  10. Fireworks. The 4 of July to the average pyromaniac is explosives day! While the rest of us think of the Declaration of Independence and think of the sacrifices made for our freedom the pyromaniacs crawl away in their cameo, so as not to be spotted, with a bag under one arm containing anything that can be lit on fire, as they gather on top of a distant hill everyone shows their new favorite finds from the past year. The waterproof match, the light stick that will last up to one million strikes! Ect. After show and tell is done everyone pulls out what they brought to blow up. Stuffed animals, freezer burnt meat, the unwanted watermelon, compressed hair spray, spray paint, and what ever else the find suitable to send to the high heavens. (I imagine that more than once someone's cat was brought along for an adventure...) After everything has been ignited, sent on to the other side of their existence and shreds of the victims have been picked up every pyromaniac now feels like they have properly expressed their independence.
Yep, all of these things end up giving you bruises, scares and potentially lose of reputation if someone see's you doing your solo for Carmen, or if you start leaping across your yard in pursuit of a bubble, don't blame me. I'm just telling you what makes for a good time. Well this is Steph signing out to go accomplish the most amazing feats recorded in water balloon throwing history.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Summer-spring Time

My brain is in a million different places right now...Finals week! That time of year that always seems so distant, when school ends and spring starts a new season which I like to call Summer-spring.

Summer-spring is when all students begin to get that lethal disease called I-hate-the-indoors! (I don't care what your age is its a valid feeling for all). This is the magical time of year when the neighborhood lawn competitions start. I've never lived in a "neighborhood" until now, so I now have a chance to observe the icicles melt and friendships freeze all over a weed that is commonly called grass.

According to the "How to be a good neighbor" handbook there are three types of neighbors, thanks to this handbook all competition is mapped out; and I have an advantage I know the Achilles heal of each neighbor! (If you haven't guessed I have plans to slaughter everyone on this block over this "cold war"!)

There are three types of neighbors in this world. Honeymooners (aka the retired couple that posses a RV) These can be the single most devastating enemy. They give you cookies (This is a war tactic, its used to take your guard off. Little did you know that they poisoned those cookies and while your sick they're on an Amazon safari killing all of their dandelions!) and have an entire militia of grandchildren that have been breed for the single purpose of winning this war. While these pieces of ancient history can be devastating they also can be completely harmless. You might have the active ones but there are also the senior home escapees that can't really do any thing except continue to strangle you with the velvet glove of love and poisoned cookies. Whats the blind spot for the Honeymooners? Easy. Fruit cake! Yes, the one thing they can't resist but its so dense that our Honeymooners will be feeling sluggish for days after the first fatal bite. With the grandchildren nursing their disabled grandparents you begin to make up for lost time (Dang those cookies! I think more than that recipe survived WWI). This ends the Honeymooner. (Oh and its best if you shovel their snow during the winter so they don't suspect a thing.)

The second type of neighbor is called the Centipede. The average Mormon family have kids, a bunch of them. The centipede has millions of legs while it has only one head, such is the average Utah family when it comes to the war. The head is usually the Dad who takes pride in his mowed lawn. Having such a fine lawn makes their hearts swell with pride, so much pride that they start having a say that in the flower arrangements and the kids are up early on their Saturday to weed. The Centipede isn't easy to disable you have to know how they think, their schedule, their hobbies and most importantly what their allergic too. (heh heh) One of the easiest ways to disarm the Centipede is to distract its legs (aka the children), if something doesn't have legs or wings than they can't go anywhere; likewise the head of the Centipede. I highly suggest that you have a slip n slid set up every weekend that the kids can visit. The head of the Centipede will still press forward but it wont make as much progress.

The third and final type is the hardest to paralyze. I like to call them "Big buck" buck stands for bucks and lots of it. These are those loaded people that hire everything out. So when the latest mower shows up every villager comes out to look at the competition. The Honeymooners make remarks that really time their memories, the Centipede is memorizing every part of that diamond in the ruff. He's measuring it in his mind, when the operator is gone he even goes and licks it so he can have a real taste of perfection. And the "Big buck" is watching from his window with a smirk on his face and than he returns to his theater where he's spent the day watching the latest movies. To hit Achilles in his heal you have to have a team effort. The Honeymooners offer their "famous" cookies. The Centipede goes to talk machinery with the operator has his legs/children play mechanics with the Lord of mowers. With any luck you can distract, disable, discourage and disengage the "Big bucks" help.

Well that sums up what can be expected this summer. Friendliness is a fake, the idea of every man your brother is sprayed with weed poison. It isn't until the fall when we're all sunburned, have bug bites, almost been annihilated with cookies and lemonade is the Olive branch offered and we all return to our houses still believing that we were better than our neighbor. Snow brings us back together and than it all starts over again.

P. S.
I will win this year! Oh and I fit into the Centipede category....little minds are easy to convince that a perfect lawn is a must.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Birds of a Feather





Spring! One of my favorite times of the year! Out of the four seasons there are three that I love, Spring, Summer, Fall. Spring is perhaps the best out of them all because it gives people hope that one day snow will melt and we will be able to find those Easter eggs that were hidden twice. (Once by the Easter Bunny and then old man winter comes to make sure no one will find those little colored eggs until the smell leads us to them...That can't be good. That is unless it's for a senior home...then they might need the extra help.)

Spring a time of hope and sunshine. Filled with random snow storms and crazy wind. Bugs begin to show up and people don't shake your hand anymore because of there allergies (Which I see as a blessing. I wasn't ever really big with shaking hands). But most importantly you actually get to wear flip-flops!

There is just one painful part of Spring that I don't think can be avoided. What is worse then colored sugar, gooeyness? Yes I am talking about Peeps. Little marshmallows covered with crunchy sugar that has been colored according to the mood of the manager. I mean who's heard of blue chicks? I don't know about you, but where I come from a blue chicken covered in crusties is probably diseased and shouldn't be consumed.

Or what about a green peep. I can't help but think of the imagery commonly found about someone being a green color when they are really sick. I don't want to stick the avian flu in my mouth and chomp down! But that is just my thoughts a deadly pandemic.

The pink peep is the hottest pink I've seen in ages! It reminds me of pepto bismol. You know what if it is a type of medication?! What if it's the antidote for the green peep! Well if that's true than you'd have to by both pink and green peeps because you wouldn't want to take the medicine for nothing. Wow what a way to sell a product, making them by two things so they don't die from just one!

Yellow peep. Well you see the yellow peep is the only one I have found that doesn't have a potentially deadly illness hidden inside of it. Symbolism for the color yellow is happiness and hope, so they could be taken as an antidepressant, which is all fine and well until your teeth begin to get cavities and you gain weight. So I'd use them with discretion (That is unless you want to become better friends with the dentist).

Did you know that the color purple it's self is in fact a language! Yep when people refer to a purple prose they mean: exaggeration or colorful lies. Or it they say 'what a purple cow' they mean: Something remarkable or eye-catching. Since we are talking peeps it is only to be expected that they are not cows, so I must say that the purple peep is really a purple prose. What if it's telling a colorful lie?! What if it isn't a peep but a piece of spy-wear created by the government to help see what we are eating so that they can have a bit more evidence that we do need the health care bill! Don't tell anyone that I tipped you off on it....

I don't even want to get started with the bunny peeps. They look like hippies! Since when did we decide to sugar coat the hippie legacy?! I just thought I should mention it.

With all of this Easter candy going astray its comforting to know that there is still one candy that is still a symbol of sugar and joy and that is (wait for it) Cadbury Easter eggs! The inspiration for Charley and the Chocolate Factory! Its true Rhold Dahl fell in love with Cadbury chocolate and wanted to write a book about it. So there you go, fact about my favorite book and about peeps, the disgrace to the marshmallow family.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Authors of Inspiration

I've been thinking lately about the people in life that inspire, encourage and support you. It seems as though I have a lot of them. They have changed my life, I honestly no idea where I'd be now with out their influence. As I think about the top five most influential I can't believe what my minds eye sees!

With my birthday drawing closer the family has asked for my wish list, which I gladly supplied (I mean think about it, a chance to get free stuff all wrapped up!). But now that I think about it I could easily go on without those things if I could have just one thing....Those that love me to be close (But seeing as I enjoy my space I'd have to add not too close!). These people are seen as "normal" to the world, but the things that they have taught me and the examples that they have set for me have had an astronomical on my character! Of coarse there has been times when I've been forgotten at a store, chastised for being lazy, and had rotten apples thrown at me. But they still seem like perfect people to me.

  1. Mom, she's been there from the beginning! (In more ways than one). She's one of my biggest cheerleaders. I don't know if it comes with being a mom or if it a special talent that she has but she has always been very intuitive about my needs, especially spiritually. According to my mom my purpose was clear from the beginning. She saw that I needed literature. I can't remember a time when my mom hasn't read to me. We been through a lot together and yet she's still there to cheer me on. She is the best example of faith that I have in my life and I'm so thankful that she's mine.
  2. Dad, Wow. I could leave it there but I wont. The only guy in life for the most part. He is the most open minded person, the smartest guy I could have asked for. He loves to see his girls learn and expand their talents. He does a lot to help us in our efforts and is very honest. I love him and find it impossible to think of life without him.
  3. Sisters. What else hurts you, loves you, gives you advise, and still manages to steal your clothing, while you love them? Without my sisters I'd have more chap-stick and less necklaces. They are my little fan club. They are the group of girls that watches chick flicks with me. They give me their most honest and sometimes (What am I saying? Most of the time!) brutal opinions about my writing. (Thanks to them I don't think that a publishers mean words will hurt.) I love all of my sisters and I'm so grateful for them, their different personalities, and for all of the times that they've made me laugh until it hurt.
  4. Sandra. She was the lady that saved me from rebelling when I was nine (okay so the rebellion probably wouldn't have been huge, but she definitely guided me to higher roads). She taught me how to knit and helped me understand Shakespeare. There were innumerable times when we'd discuss the importance of a having a Darcy, or my personal favorite "What makes Darcy so amazing?!" She's the only lady I know that shared my opinions about Jane Austen and The Importance of Being Earnest. She guided my thoughts from Dreamland to Hopeful Reality. (We still had our moments where we would day dream together). She is in the ranks of best friend still! It's funny to watch the two of us walk through a store, two best friends, one a young teenage girl and a adult laughing like little girls and sharing the same understanding on most topics.
  5. My Teacher. I know he's probably counting down the days for my graduation but to me he's an invaluable friend and mentor. I have absolutely no idea what he thought of me when he interviewed me two years ago but I don't think he understood exactly what he signed up for when he allowed me into his school. The first three months I wasn't very friendly, trusting, and to put it in true Sheba fashion I was cloudy. I wasn't my normal self. I felt so bad, I wanted him to understand me and that how I was currently acting wasn't how I am normally. But some how he got it. He's pushed me and made sure that I never felt board. He has seen me at gunpoint millions of times and yes I've cried in front of him before. Thankfully he also disagrees with Twilight and enjoys Deep thoughts by Jack Handley. I don't think I can every be able to fully say how grateful I am for his putting up with me. I know he has a lot of faith in my abilities (Probably just brain washing me so that when I'm rich I can pay for his counseling that I drove him to) which I find to be a great strength when things get hard. Thanks!
  6. My cousins. Basically I've been raised with these guys. Their my best friends and love them more then words can say.
  7. Friends. I wont name names but I have amazing friends. I've had epic journeys with almost all of them. The support and encourage me. But most of all they make me laugh. I hope they know that I love them millions of red M&M's and that animal crackers are the best!

These are just a few of the people that I love and hold dear but I'll never forget them or what they have done for me. Hopefully one day I can repay them some how.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Melodramaic Birthday

With most of the preparations underway for Groundhogs day I've now begun the task of planning for sweet sixteen. This birthday holds many exciting things such as a drivers license, dances, and road trips. And now I can legally whistle at the guys! The excitement is almost overwhelming when a guy you like threatens to take you out, but now I must return to my sense and say this: Don't shave your legs before you go on a date. With a few sweet lines a girl can easily be lost, but if she is armed with hairy legs that make cricket sounds when she rubs them together then it is easier to keep her head out of the clouds and pay attention to his nervous laugh that makes you want to cringe. Hairy legs is her last connection with reality. But what would I know?

Seeing as I'm not quite on the market yet I've been a safe friend for guys to have, but with the approaching days the conversations have mutated from "Hey!" to "Hey hows my girl?" Or my personal favorite, when I ask that they get me their grades (I'm class secretary) then they have ten minutes in the HHF (aka my Hero Hall of Fame). Previously I would have received their grade and perhaps a little thanks for my hard work; but now I'm receiving little notes along with the grades that say 'I'm excited to be your hero' or 'you're cute when your mad, I don't think I'll give you my grade so I can see you mad'. These little notes aren't quite the self-esteem boost that one might think....

In the school that I attend we love to debate. In most debates I can stay calm under the frustration, at times I even laugh in the climax of the heat. I seem to bloom with life when I'm put under pressure that is until the flirt drops a line.

I might be having a good talk with a close friend and then they say something remotely flirtatious and I freak! I've done everything from leaving the conversation immediately to leaving the house screaming. But enough of this uncomfortable subject.

Now for the moment of truth, the real reason why I'm excited for the big day. Drum roll please. Drivers license! The moment the bird can really fly from the nest. I realize that I might be half slave to errands after this marvelously freeing and empowering paper/privilege card of all privileges has been issued to my itching hands.

But now for the scene that I have in my mind: With freshly shaved legs and a beautiful black dress, I will paint my nails cherry red while listening to the Hallelujah chorus (the purpose of doing this is to remind me what a monumental day this is). After applying a little makeup, I will adorn the high hills that demand respect. With my hair done in a dressy yet normal way. The outfit for the day will be complete

With parents in tow we will depart to visit "friends" (I know calling the people at the DMV friends isn't accurate but I have to make this seem romantic!). Flashing my normal scintillating smile and then leave the office with power freshly laminated. I will hold it in a sassy manner between my cherry red nails. As I drive around looking gorgeous many will honk in order to be bestowed with my dark blue eyes for a moments pleasure. Men will stop walking on the sidewalk as I pass so they might have a second longer to look at me. With a slightly smug smile I will flutter from one end to the next of town.

I will then return home, and walk in to see my room decorated by some secret admirer. With the newly acquired treasures from my extensive travels-the grocery store-I will then pop in the movies of all movies! Pride and Prejudice! The six hour version. As I sit in the basement making notes for my future husband I will then be called to run an errand. While I'm gone something fun will happen to make my day (okay so what if I don't have this part planned?).

With the day to reflect on I will end the night with a roll of sushi and a little day dreaming about the perfect boyfriend (Which I will probably end up calling co-conspire-er about. I swear if Ronda doesn't know the perfect guy for every mood then her name will cease to be Ronda). With a wistful journal entree I will then retire my over excited mind to the sweet soft pillows and dream of my future husband.

Yeah it sounds perfect, too perfect. So I plan to paint my nails, make at least one non-moving traffic violation, watch Pride and Prejudice and then as I watch the sunset I will say thank you for the little miracles; such as not having my room decorated by a secret admirer or not having to go to school. Either or both will be good.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Is it spring yet?!

With the acceptance of school I've tried to occupy my mind with more cheerful thoughts such as warmth (Please note the sun hasn't been out for three days and its beginning to take it's toll), the up coming sweet sixteen! Bulbs, and plant starts. Yes spring is on mind and the one thing that I'm holding out for is Groundhogs Day.

What is Groundhogs Day? Well it is celebrated on the second of February in Punxsutawney Philadelphia. In the early hours of the morning some guys dressed in suits and top hats come to the town square where thousands of people have been all night singing songs and dancing. When the men in black show up things become quiet. The master of the men in black grabs a cane and knocks on a stump then he reaches in and pull out the weather man of all time! Punxsutawney Phil! He holds the lovable creature up and the crowd goes crazy with love and admiration. The master then talks to Phil, Phil replies, then the man talks, ect. After a lengthy conversation the man turns to the crowd and recites a heart warming speech at the end of which he tells the world what Phil says to expect. Now this is when the weather report gets tricky. If Phil see's his shadow then it will be six more weeks of winter, but if Phil doesn't then it will be an early spring. The crowd boo's accordingly and then they do whatever else they have planed for the day.

This national holiday has never been celebrated as it should on a national level. But my family religiously celebrates this unusual holiday that often times inspires innovation and awe for the rest of the year. Just think of the great benefit that the world would see if they too celebrated this day when animal respect had been brought to a whole new level of originality? I dare say that even your neighbor would smile and say "hi" (I realize that for some people this is a near impossible feat).

Now that we have discussed the importance of this winter wonderland jubilee I will now go in great depth about how to properly observe this day of great rejoicing (According to my house). We start the night before leaving messages on the phones of those that we hold near. The message is a simple one we record for them "I've got you babe" By Sonny and Cher (from the best movie Groundhogs Day. It is a must see!) and leave a heart warming thought such as "YELLOW! It's your favorite family in the world! We were just calling to remind you that tomorrow is the day of all days, it is the day of the groundhog. We would also like to remind you that we are collecting money for our Go to the Groundhog found. All contributions will be used in careless ways in our effort to visit Phil." (Please note that it has been a long lasting goal to go to Punxsutawney to see Phil.) After several phone calls of such nonsense then we go to bed.

We awake in the morning to the said song. Thoughtfully we then devour sausage or a ground hog. At seven we call those that we didn't leave a message for to awaken them with the glad tidings and the song. Then we depart to fulfill our obligations.

At about four we begin to gather. We run some errands to pick donuts. With paper groundhogs colored brown and taped on toothpicks we then toothpick the donuts and door bell ditch our close friends that could use some cheering. After that then we come home to some thoughtfully planned dinner. We take a few pictures at the dinner table while we ware our groundhog hats and then we eat.

After that we then gather in our basement and watch the ever famous and most quoted movie in our families history. Groundhogs Day. We quote till we laugh. We laugh till we cry. And we then sit in awe after the movie. This then completes the festivities. We will then revile about our experience for the week.

Warning! If you follow the prescribed festivities you might suffer from the following: Lose of friends for unknown reasons, being reported to the police for trespassing and leaving illegible notes, being reported to the local insane asylum "one of your bad cases is out on the streets. Don't you people have security for this kind of stuff?" Your sense of humor, if you suddenly receive the urge to consume a doughnut with out chewing or refuse to floss your teeth then have an amazing weekend and then call your therapist.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

New year, new short story

With school back in session I've been driven back to responsibility like a mouse to its hole. So in order to maintain sanity I've be spending free time editing, playing with my camera and forming sentences in my mind that would confuse Robert Langdon ("protagonist" of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown) and make Roald Dahl feel proud.

In my editing I've finished a short story that should have been finished a century ago! Okay a month ago but still that's enough to gather dust on an object.

So now a little explanation to this short story; I personaly like it and at the same I have no idea my exact thoughts on it. Oh well maybe by the day that I can choose my favorite color I can also tell you what I think of this short story. (No need to feel nervous, this one if fairly up beat). Enjoy!

Amber Waves of Change

Bells whorled, crowds rushed by with ruddy faces and force. Teary eyed good-byes were being said, but one scene was different. Anna looked over her brother and his family. Relief was visible in their appearance. They were getting rid of their biggest burden.

She bent down to hug the children. She gave them each a stick of peppermint. Her eyes lingered on her nieces and nephews. She stood up straitened the bodice of her dress and faced her brother and his wife. It was easy for her to give Charlie a hug, kiss and causally slip a letter in his hand. As for Alice her sister-in-law the hug was brief. A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth as she waved to them then boarded the train.

With weary hands she assessed the damage of her hair and hat the analysis wasn’t good. Her golden hair was falling out of its Edwardian bun. Her hat that she had bought expressly for this occasion had almost been completely trashed due to the thrashing of the crowd. But this was an adventure the very thing that she had been thought she wanted.

She looked around at the passengers that were sitting next to her. A young lady that wore the a very fashionable dress looked with stars in her eyes at her traveling partner that was reading the newspaper. A young man in his mid-twenties sat directly across from her. He had soft brown eyes and the expression of a gentlemen. His bag of golf clubs sat next to him. Anna realized that she had been staring when he looked up with wonder in his expression. Trying desperately to soften the awkward moment she held out her hand and said in a voice hardly above a whisper “Good afternoon sir my name is Anna…Anna Hemmington.” He looked at her hand for a second then took it, gave it a stiff shake and said in a strong voice “Nice to meet you my name is Jeffrey Black.” Their met eyes for a few seconds. Then with a blush she looked down at the hem of her dress and muttered “Nice to meet you.”

The stress of the past few days was enough to make her sleepy and in want of a nap but it wasn’t proper for lady to sleep in public, so the laws of propriety kept her from a much deserved rest. To help her stay awake she looked out the window and watched the scenery change with rapid pace. Seeing the lush emerald trees for the last was hard on her. The landscape of Vermont was her favorite thing that home had to offer.

Tears came to her eyes as night came. With blurred vision her green eyes frantically searched for the first star so she could have the wish of her heart, but it was a cloudy night. After everyone was asleep she finally she fell into an anxious rest. With a paper clipping in her left ungloved hand. Jeffrey woke up when he heard her moan. He scanned the room to see if there was anything in it that would agitate her. Just when he was certain that she was having a nightmare and nothing more he saw the paper clipping slip through her fingers.

He picked it up with great interest and searched it for an answer to the many questions that swam threw his mind. It was tattered and the corners showed signs of a being rubbed. The printing was fading from being folded and re-folded. With the little light that was in the train car hallway he was able to make out what it said.

“Needed: A women who isn’t afraid of work.
Can teach kids, and open to marriage
with a forty-five year old man living in
Nebraska with three kids all under the age of eleven.”

He tucked the add back in her hand and studied her face. It looked young yet clouded with worry. She was beautiful to be certain; Golden hair, green eyes, red soft lips. It all seemed so strange that a lady with so much promise was throwing herself away. But as he began to ponder on their awkward introduction today it wasn’t to hard to see why. A girl that so obviously needed grace wouldn’t be wanted. With one last glance of pity he fell asleep.

Then next morning she was the first to awake. She sleepily looked around and rubbed the kink in her neck as she looked around the room. Nothing had changed, with hope she looked out of the window to see fields of wheat passing by. Her arm slowly dropped to her lap as she stared at strange yet phenomenal surroundings. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.” She jumped when she heard that same self assured voice speak. She flashed a glance at Jeffry and nodded good morning. But this wasn’t enough for him. “Forgive me,” he started out “but I saw the add in you hand last night…it slipped out of your grasp…” as he fumbled for word she looked at him and searched his being with her green eyes then cut in to his monolog “Yes, I know that I should be patient, but its easy for one to know when they are no longer wanted around. I felt like this was my only option.” During this little speech of hers Jeffry stared at the floor embarrassed at her bold and unguarded words, a lady would have known not to speak so freely. He was shocked to see that he felt a since of freedom that came from braking the stiff rules of propriety. Anna soon found that she could talk to him easily. And he likewise discovered that there was something about her that made attention draw to her. HE trusted her a feeling relatively new to him.

Sunflowers soon blurred past the window as they talked. Directly at twelve lunch was brought. Everything was normal with their sandwiches except for Anna’s. She bit in to it find a twig but on further examination she discovered that it was a sprig of rosemary. With a nervous laugh she waved it off as an accident she opened the window to her left and threw it out. With the drawing on of the day there was a notable weight added to her countenance.

Promptly at three her destination was called. She gave Jeffrey a brief nervous glance then she grabbed her hat box and carpet bag and said goodbye. As she left she turned and said “have fun in California Jeffry, my prayers are with you.” With out another word she turned her back on the room and walked out, a sense of poised duty followed her like a perfume. But no one saw her quivering ankles or how her breath caught when she exhaled.

On the platform she waited for him…..Earnest Hill. It was sunset when a broad shouldered man appeared in a buckboard. He walked up the steps to the platform and took off his straw hat and said “Anna?” “Yes. Mr. Hill I presume.” An emphatic “NO” was her answer. “Oh” she said with her cheeks reddening “Mr. Hill is down with a broken leg I’m his hired hand James Callahan.” With this he took her luggage and helped her in to the buckboard.

The bumpy dirt road made her even more weak then she already was. It seemed like they would never find the farm, they’d die from lack of provisions here in the wilderness, of course it didn’t help that dusk was setting on the dusty surroundings. When she saw the white house lit up with roses in the yard she wished they had died in the wilderness. “Go ahead and going with out knocking. Mr. Hill is waiting for you.” Her stomach twisted and cramped. She grasped the pillar on the porch in order to make it up the three small steps.

To her astonishment a little girl meet her at the door and helped her to her new room…until the wedding. Lilly told her that her pa was waiting for her to have dinner with them but to go ahead and freshen up. This she did with great pleasure, at last something that wasn’t foreign to her. Right as she was putting the finishing touches on her hair a shadow appeared in the doorway. Her hands quivered and the color drained from her face. The figure entered the room. A man with a leg in cast on his right leg came wobbling in.

He had dark eyes and thick wavy hair. With a smile as he held out his arm and said “May I escort this lady to the dance?” Her eyes lit up with joy. “Why of coarse you may!” She said. His winter blue eyes twinkled. There was something about him that seemed familiar. She rested her small hand in the crook of his arm. She looked at him, his smile of genuine goodness seemed to radiate, she smiled back. A new smile.

Love always, Stephiphany