Terrible Tuesday.

Okay, so it really isn't terrible but it has been an adventure day.

Remember that one time, two years ago where I had the most boring job on the planet?

Well, I'm back.

I've been here since 10:45 ish this morning and I'm here until 5.

And they literally just called me while I was writing that sentence and they want me for tomorrow, and maybe Thursday. Perfect.

Felicia, the girl who normally works here, is sick with Strep throat. And it's perfect because I am not nannying for the Hastens this week either so I'm free as a bird.

This job also pays better than that AND it's so dang close to my house.

The downfall is that it is so boring.

What have I done all day you might ask?

Facebook.

Caught up on blogs.

Read boring news stories.

Tried to text people and be entertained.

Facebook.

Oh yeah, and sorted like three days worth of mail. Ew.

And now I'm blogging.

But, I walked in this morning and I was seriously blown away.

This place is a disaster zone.

Garbage everywhere.

Random paper and clutter everywhere.

Food all over (And like smashed chips/crackers in the carpet).

Overflowing garbage cans.

Etc.

It's disgusting. I don't know how someone can work in this environment.

Time to go clean.

Monday Funday.

Today was a splendid day.

Actually, scratch that, this week is going to be the most splendid week.

Lemme elaborate.

Today I got to wake up at 6:30 for a babysitting job at 7:30. (The Jerusalem Center lifestyle has luckily taught me how to get ready really fast while looking presentable but also not caring what I look like. So exactly half of that hour was used for getting ready (getting dressed in the dark, eating breakfast, waiting for Shmackaley to get home from Seminary, getting all my stuff ready, etc) while the other half was used for driving to Menlo Park.)

I then babysat a super cute little 18-month year old. She and I became friends. Except for some reason, I was very sneezy today and everytime I would have a sneezing fit, she would get super freaked out and start to cry. Which reminded me of this funny video.

But at about 12:15, we got ready to go over to the Garff's. We packed up all the stuff we needed (diapers, water, snacks, carseat, etc) and then we drove across town.

As planned, Eden fell asleep in the car on the way over because she's a little sick PLUS it was past her nap time. And I played some Taylor Swift quietly in the car over. Right to sleep!

And when I got to the Garff's Andrew was also asleep so I got to have a nice little break for like 45 minutes while the two ninos were sleeping.

Eden then woke up at 1:30 and I then read her every single book that was accessible. Her mom picked her up at 2:30 and then not more than 5 minutes after they left, Andrew woke up and I read him those same books.

It was so cute because Andrew is my new little best friend. He is always so well behaved, even after he has been so bad for his mom. He and I are buddies and everytime I got over there, I try to teach him my name and today when I was leaving he said "Bye, Danielle" and he actually pronounced it really well. SO PROUD. :)

And. let's just say, I should babysit in Menlo Park all the time because I can charge a whole lot more, which was also a perk. Plus, getting done at 3 is super nice. I wish that this was everyday. haha

But, tomorrow and Wednesday, I don't have my normal nannying job (which I'm actually a little happy about, even though it means I don't get money) and then Thursday and Friday are also currently free (except my favorite Friday night job with the Garffs). Which leaves us with Saturday.

Saturday morning, I get to go to Oakland and fly to Utah. Which is strange that I'm so excited to go to.... Provo. haha

Suzy Q. is picking me up at the airport which I am BEYOND excited about. Love that girl.

And I honestly can't remember the last time that someone I know has actually picked me up at that airport. Usually I'm either a) going to Rexburg so I just hop right on that shuttle or b) am a hobo so I take the free shuttle to Temple Square and then eventually I find my way to my destination. haha so this is going to be quite strange to have someone actually greet me at the airport. But it's going to be marvelous.

Then later that evening, we're having a JC reunion at the Ludlow cabin, which'll be great (mostly because I'll FINALLY be reunited with Charlotte. YIPPEEEE!)

So yes, in a nutshell, this week is going to be fab.

I'm also planning on going back on pinterest for the first time since December 12th on Wednesday. It's going to be a momentous occasion.

Operation: Utah.

Remember how that one time I was going to go to Utah?

I was going to drive out with some people in the ward and then fly back to sunshine?

And I booked my flight to come home and everything?

WELL, the day after I booked my flight to come back home, we got a call from the Patsfitricks saying that they changed Beej's missionary assignment. WHAT? They are putting him in an new intensive pilot program and he'll enter the MTC on the 22nd instead of the 8th.

SO that put a little damper on my plans.

But I decided that since I am going to start working on February 20th, this was my one opportunity to have a little vacation.

AND Junior is planning a SWEET reunion at the Ludlow cabin for this Saturday, I don't want to miss that!

So I booked a flight out there last night. It's really official.

And being the gem she is, Suzy is picking me up at the airport. EEEEEK! I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.

So yes, I'm not entirely sure what my plans are going to be but I'll be in Provo.

While skyping my hubs, I asked him for advice on things to do in P-town. And he tried to talk it up by telling me that there was "so much to do there" and then he was like "...wellll, you can go bowling." Great. He did tell me to go sledding... somewhere. haha I don't remember what he said but I guess that's a good option.

So yes, if any of you lovely blog followers know of anything fun to do in Provo, lemme know. Or if you want to hang out or want me to stay are you apartment and sleep on your couch, that's always a welcome idea too.

Yippeeee!

Warning: this might be too much information for people.

So, super randomly on Wednesday, I got sick.

And normally I can handle being sick because it involves having a sore throat and a headache or whatever. And I just lay around and feel bad but not too bad.

Well, unfortunately, that isn't the kind of illness that I had this week.

I was babysitting on Wednesday and at around 1, I started to feel a little nauseous but I only had a couple more hours of working and I didn't want to leave early because the mom (of the kid I was watching) had "food poisoning" and I didn't want to make her deal with the nino when she didn't feel good.

Well, since she was home all day long, she let me leave a little bit early (at like 4:40 instead of 5) and so I drove home, feeling worse and worse, I came home and I went to bed.

I thought laying down would make me feel better but nope.

Instead I got the stomach flu and let's just say I lost any nutrients that I would've consumed that day. I think I lost like 7 lbs. But I was SO thirsty and weak which was super annoying. Luckily, I only threw up for 6 hours but it was still horrible. I can only remember throwing up a total of 3 times in my entire life... and the other night I more than quadrupled that number. :( WHICH, if you know me, is saying a lot because that is my least favorite thing in the world.

ANYWAY, the following day, I still felt under the weather but I was STARVING all day long. I would eat and I would still be so hungry. So I'm not really sure what happened to my body but I guess it's good that it got over it so quickly. :) I've had a couple days of rest and very quick easy babysitting job (for my FAVORITE kids). And today is going to be a shopping adventure day.

I mean, after we planned our little summer vacation, skyped with the husband in Jerusalem, and waited patiently for Shmackely to get home from babysitting.

p.s. I tried to convince my parents to take us back to Israel this summer. Surprisingly, it worked more than I thought it would. Just not enough to make it happen. haha They all just think I want to go so back so that I can see Josh/the Ludlows. haha such a silly idea...

It's Happening.

Ladies and Gentlemen (but mostly ladies cause boys don't read this blog),

Trip to Provo is happening.

Driving out on the 4th.

Flying back on the 9th.

Partying all week long.

It's going to be the bomb. I seriously can't wait to be reunited with all my Jru lovers*.

And let's not forget the double date I have planned already with Mark & Danielle on Thursday night. They're driving me to the airport, Nicole and I are taking them to dinner. Perf.

Eeeeeeeeeeek! So exciting.

This trip is going to be eventful for many reasons though:

I've never been excited to go to PROVO.

I've never made the Bay ---> Utah drive before. (This is a major milestone).

I've never felt like the Biebs but I have a feeling that I will then. Or maybe I'm expecting too much.

And I bet there's more.

But, to all those lovely readers of this blog, if you would like to see me/want me to sleep on your couch/whatever, lemme know. I'm not going to be homeless but it might be fun to be a little hobo and couch hop or whatever. Plus, who doesn't want a fun little distraction from homework for a little while? No one.

So yes, nonstop partying is happening in P-town in 12 days. Woot.

*Technically not ALL my lovers since some of my favorites are my husband is still in Jerusalem. But we'll have to reunite at a further point in time. :)

Just a little something I stumbled upon while reading the Book of Mormon last night.

Never has one sentence of scripture been so relevant to my personal situation:

"...And they were desirous to return again to Jerusalem." 1 Nephi 16:36

Maybe I feel exactly like the daughters of Ishmael... minus the fact that the circumstances are a teensy bit different.

Oh gosh. The first couple of chapters of the Book of Mormon are a little rough to read, after just getting back from Jerusalem. But it's been great at the same time.

But, I'm reading 4 pages a night to accomplish my goal of finishing before my birthday! :)

______________________________

Seriously though, who would've thought it would be SO hard to adjust back to real life? Not I. Although, I should've anticipated it when I wasn't excited to come home at all... haha

Good news though: Provo reunion trip is past prelim. planning stages. It's happening people. :) Eeek!

A Day of Jru.

When Nicole and I were in Vienna, we saw things everywhere that reminded us of Jerusalem. Like the falafel they had every 15 yards we walked, or the Nativity sets that were from Bethlehem at all the Christmas Markets, or all the crepes and waffle places, of the times when we were convinced people were speaking Hebrew (but most likely German) or even freakier, when we were sure they refered to us as Mormons.

Well, I thought that the days of everything somehow connecting with Jerusalem would eventually stop but boy was I wrong. And today was a big Jerusalem/Israel connection day.

Here's the deal. I babysit nanny for a couple that work with my dad. I know that the husband is Jewish. And his mom is living with them right now because she just had hip replacement surgery. So I knew there was Jew blood in the house.

Well, today, **Grandma's friend came over and they talked about Bat Mitzvahs and about their Rabbi and other cutely Jewish things (like friend's grandson going to Israel on the 25th. Oh, and his name is Daniel and I was SURE when they started talking about it, that they said Danielle. I was so jeal.)

First time I was reminded of Israel.

I then noticed that I had a text, from my dad telling me "I just had falafel for lunch."

Number two for Jerusalem.

A little while later, I was talking to grandma's friend while grandma was having physical therapy and she asked me what movies I had seen recently that I liked. I explained to her that I hadn't seen any movies recently and that I had been studying abroad for the past semester so I was a little out of the American-culture loop. (My sneaky segway to start talking about Israel/Jerusalem to someone who would appreciate it).

She asked where and I quickly told her Israel.

She kept asking more specific questions to get me to tell her Jerusalem, Brigham Young University on Mt. Scopus, etc. She was excited. We then talked about it for quite a while. I want to say it was like 20 minutes but it was probably at most like 10. We talked about what we both liked about the area, the coolest things we saw, what our specific group did, etc. It was lovely.

Jerusalem/Israel: 3

They then went out to lunch and while they were gone, I flipped through a couple of magazines (because little nino was napping) and in the Mental_floss magazine I was looking through, they had a whole little section about Turkey. And I knew most of the stuff that they were trying to inform me about. And the stuff I didn't know, I felt even cooler learning because I could imagine the places where it all took place.

Jerusalem (ish) number 4.

When the little grandmas got back home, they told me that they went to a little Mediterranean resturant right down the street "by the Chase bank" which doesn't help me because I have no idea where the Chase is... But they said that they had falafel and shwarma. I'm sure they only told me that because of the conversation we had previously had about Israel but it was funny.

Jru: 5.

Grandma's friend also told me I looked like I could be 16. Which I guess is supposed to be a compliment but I'm not sure I agree. Although, I guess it does show that I'm aging proportionally to how time is moving... because last year, around the same time, someone thought I was 15. But the good part of this is that my future husband is 17 sooooooo, if I look 16, that's working with our plan perfectly!

[insert picture here of Josh and I where we look like we're the same age.]

And that brought back Jerusalem again: Six. (Although this was a mental connection... I didn't tell grandma's friend about Joshie, surprisingly.)

I also talked on the phone with/texted Jerusalem people a significant amount today. As in, more than ever-ish.

Charlotte (who's mission papers are IN!)

Junior (who's less bored than me but still bored, in Provo)

Suzy (whose voice sounds just as lovely as the last time I heard it, more than a month ago.)

I'm supes excited to be reunited with them all in a couple of weeks. It'll be marvelous!

Cuddle sesh in Suzy's bed like the good ol' days? Yes please.

Fighting with Junior like normal? Of course.

Being connected at the hip with little Lottie? YES.

Ahhhh. I've never in my whole entire life been excited to go to Provo.

But yes, it's been a much better day than yesterday, which will go on record as one of my worst days babysitting, ever.

**Whenever Grandma is mentioned, it isn't my grandma, it is the grandma of the kid I watch.