My love waits there in San Francisco (part 2)

Girl Code. 


If you type it in to urbandictionary.com, this is what you get...


1. Girl Code

The code of guidelines that girls must obey in order not to get kicked out of the community. There are many opinions if the Girl Code actually exists, as well as the Guy Code. 1) If you change boyfriends so fast they rarely achieve name status, a man must be around for at least six weeks before you make your friends bother to learn his first name. Until such time, he should be referred to as "The boy" or "That guy". 2) All girls must have a "Mr.Right Now". This is the guy friend who is always ready and available to hang out with you, and may or may not like you as more than a friend. He's not “Mr. Right,” but he may be good enough to be “Mr. Right Now.” 3) If you just met a guy and know absolutley nothing about him, but need to refer to him during 'girl talk' you use one example of who he is, something he has, or what he does, and he becomes... that guy. (Ex. "The Camaro guy", "The Trainer dude", "The Four a.m. in the Taxi Guy") 4) Every girl must wait at least a day and a half before calling a guy whose number she has retreived. 5) You are never in any case to date a friends ex or a guy who she was really into. Exception: If he's one of those guys who every girl likes.  2. Girl Code An established code, a womans law that 'every girl should follow.ODE   -------------------------------------------------------------------  Any rulebreak is punishable from fellow females and general looking down upon... (note rules are not in order of importance, bar rule #1)  -------------------------------------------------------------------  1# Rule no 1 and the MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL.. No girl may date her friend's; exs, past crushes, guys who have humiliated/used her and guys she currently fancies... Do this at your own risk!! Acceptions to rule: a) Your friend has given you permission/ couldn't care less b) The said fancying/going out happened before the age of puberty  2# It is perfectly acceptable to take an automatic dislike to a girl/ judge them without ever speaking to them  3# Chocolate is an accepted food in any occasion  4# A girl has a right to lie in order to keep a secret told to her by her best friend.  So, you see... girl code. Always risky territory I say. As far as I was concerned, the great hugging quarterback was taken via numbers 5 and 1 in the aforementioned definitions...hate that right? I looked across the table at him while we were eating tacos at Julia's party, and thought to myself, "don't even go there Hayley." I swore to myself, to the girl code, to the girl, and to the well-being of the universe, I was NOT going to like someone that was already being crushed on. I tell you, I tried! I told myself that I did not like him, I told my roommates that I did not like him, but let's be honest...  Once I realized (probably more like once I accepted) that I was falling for this kid, I had to figure out if it was for real. I knew that it had better be worth it for all the unsettled feelings it could cause everyone involved.  It didn't take long for me to tell that this was different, he was different, he made me feel different. And I liked it a lot.  "Wherever you go, go with all your heart" -Confucius  With that as my motto, a hard conversation with one of my best friends in the world under my belt, and a first date coming up, my world embarked on the whirl-wind that I like to call-- falling in love.

My love waits there in San Francisco (part 1)

Now that I have officially blown the mind of the fbook world with my little news last week, I guess it's about time to introduce this whole blog world to the reason I have been distracted from blogging...

Story time shall we?

Once upon a time, let's say...last September, My roommates and I moved into a little apartment called Monticello. Little did we know then, our back door would be located precisely 16 steps from the love of my life's front door.

Anyway, life went on, single, lovin it (sort of), and preparing to leave for Uganda in the coming May. Flag football was great as always, passing the time of another fall semester. Another "little did I know then occurrence", my nameless free safety coach would later become a lot more than that...

Thanksgiving time rolled around, which means one thing. Ward Turkey Bowl. And boy can I thank this one event for changing the course of my life. When the boys finally let the girls join their football game, I was put on a team, and probably played the game of my life. Thank goodness! Our quarterback was getting a little frustrated with me, telling me to quit playing like a girl and do something! I took a little offense, but followed orders and ran straight down the line without looking back until I reached the end zone. I did just that, and caught a mighty beautiful pass to get a touchdown. In my opinion, it was that very second that Jonathan realized who I was, and that he might have some potential interest. I guess it makes sense, seeing as he was that quarterback, the one who threw the beautiful pass, that I caught, that changed our lives. I still remember the huge hug he gave me after that, yep, I liked it.

The game continued, we were playing to 7 touchdowns and we were winning with six. Jonathan gave me the little nod, like the "it might be coming to you nod."  I was game. I ran my fastest down the field, started fading to the middle, then caught another beautiful pass. Everyone cheered (once the shock that I actually caught that went away), got another huge hug, celebrated the win, and then I went on my merry way, not thinking too much about the skilled quarterback who gives good hugs.

THE Turkey Bowl

That night Julia had a taco party at her house which, according to Jonathan, is when I caught his eye a little bit.  But this is when this story gets a little tricky...

To Make You Feel My Love

There are a few girls in my life who deserve a shout out.

Let's be honest though, they deserve A LOT more than that, but sometimes this is just the best I can do.

I am one lucky girl.

I have been blessed to live with the best five girls throughout my time in college. As I watch our original crew dwindle I can't help but hurt. Like a deep down, in your heart hurt. But even more than that, I feel so much love and excitement for the things they are doing.

We were put together freshman year to become who we are now. And now is our time to prove that we've done just that. If we kept each other to ourselves then what have we contributed to the world? We were put together to prepare us for things to come, and now is the time to take that jump. Marriage, missions, school, all such worthy causes. And the fact that we got each other to each of these milestones is one beautiful thing.

We have molded each other, loved each other, and laughed and cried the whole way through. I owe them the moon and the sun and all the stars in between. They have held me together when all I wanted to do was fall apart. They loved me when I was anything but lovable. And for that I am eternally grateful.

People told me that i'd make the best friends in college. I doubted them, but now best friends doesn't even describe it.

At times they know me better than anyone. One day I was sad because I missed out on eating Thai food with my friends. What did my roommates do? They surprised me a delicious Thai meal the next day. One day I said I was craving a smoothie. The next day I wake up from a nap with a smoothie waiting for me. One night, okay lots of nights after Thailand I would cry and cry. What would they do? Sit in silence, with me, hugging me, willing me through this slump right by my side, just where I needed them. Boy problems arise, they talk me through them. Boy excitement arises, they are there every step of the way.

I owe these girls. Boy do I owe them big time. They have made these last three years ones to NEVER forget. I love you all. For the things you have taught me, for the ways you have served me, for the things you have changed within me. Please know how much you mean to me. Whether I always show it or not...

Peace and blessings my girls.

Out of the doubt that fills my mind

My semester, and brain for that matter, seems consumed with preparations for Uganda. Literature reviews, proposal writing, article reading, medical training, panicking, the list goes on.


With all these preparations one would think that my excitement level and prepared feelings would heighten as the semester goes on. Well of course that would be the logical assumption. But what I really find is that my feelings of inadequacy and fear heighten.


I was watching Hook the other day (of course I was) and the last line sort of hit me. K not sort of, it really hit me.


Granny Wendy: So... your adventures are over. 
Peter Banning: Oh, no. To live... to live would be an awfully big adventure.


I think I have had this feeling lately. I went to Thailand, I had an adventure. And now my adventures are over. OR, why would I miss out on Uganda? That's the only way to have another adventure? Peter's response rings true to me though. I have had an adventure, but life itself is the adventure. Whether I am going to school in Provo, riding an elephant in Thailand, or working my tail off in Uganda, it is an adventure if I choose to make it one.


I've been looking at my Thailand journal lately. I thought it might help me with some decisions I find myself making these days. I was not planning on it helping me increase my desire to go to Uganda, but the strength of my own words right on the cusp of my Thailand adventure have rejuvenated my excitement for Uganda...for the most part.


Here is a little bit from my first day back in America, written around 4:00am when I could not sleep due to the time change.
"Thailand feels like a distant dream. A good dream though, a life changing, never wanna wake up from it kind of dream. I prayed every night thanking my Heavenly Father for the chance to be there...


I learned that I can do hard things, but I also learned that I can not do hard things alone. Without the opportunity to skype home and hang out with my Thailand crew I never would have made it. Ever. It shows me that the happiness in life is directly influenced by the people you spend it with. I am blessed to have the people in my life that I do. Oh, I'm so blessed!


I learned I am brave.


I learned I can stand alone, without the cover of my comfort groups around me.


I learned that the world is an amazing place. And I am on this earth to experience it.


I learned that I need to remember the experiences I have had and go up. If I come home from a life changing experience like that and fall back into all the same patterns as before then i simply didn't learn my lesson. I need to make changes. Life is an evolution, it is just up to me whether it evolves forwards or backwards. 


Thailand was a beautiful, challenging, enlightening, exhausting, exciting, hard, adventure. I laughed, and I cried...a lot... I hope i left some sort of mark on Thailand because I sure know it left a mark on me. I hope to never be the same as  I was pre-Thailand."




I still have my doubts about Uganda at times. And those doubts are,putting it lightly, FREAKING ME OUT! People that know me know that I make a decision, make it happen, and remain confident in it. I don't know what my hesitation is, or when it will go away. If it is even planning on going away... My brain knows I can do this, but something deep down inside is not so convinced...

Your Body Is a Wonderland

Oh the things people do for money...

Like subjecting themselves to experimental testing...check

Waiting in long lines for free anything...check

Only going bowling once a semester because it is free only once a semester...check

No more ice cream runs because we don't have our money filled student cards...check

Ya catchin my drift?

Well I feel plasma is stooping to an all time low. Or our need for money is at an all time high so we need to maximize our profits... I like to think it is the latter.


No one should be sitting in a chair while the man sticking needles into you is talking with another man sticking needles into someone else about how tired and loopy they are. You should never hear them say that they are just gonna do it with their eyes closed. You should never hear them say that they have had such a long day that they can barely keep things straight. You should never hear them say they missed. You should never hear them say that you have a delicious vain. And you should also NEVER HEAR THEM SAY OOPS!

Well, maybe I just learned my lesson. Is it that I should stop giving plasma because one of the workers made me cry? Or they squirted blood on me? Or they made my finger bruise? Of course not! My lesson is just that I better donate plasma well before closing time.

I mean come on, I've gotta get to Disneyland somehow!!

If my body has stuff in it that I don't need, and someone else needs it? Well shoot, count me in. Count me even more in if I get some money. And count me double in if my needle sticking guy doesn't talk about the fact that he doesn't know what he's doing!! I mean, I like my arm, i've grown rather fond of it over the years. And hey plasma man! I'd rather keep it if ya know what I mean!!!

Disneyland approximately $400
Money earned from plasma so far $70

Days until we leave 37.

What does that mean? I sure wish I could go more than twice a week...

Happy Birthday To...

This blog is almost one year old. If only we could celebrate a blogs birthday... Cause that would mean I would get cake...I always like getting cake. 





Weird though.


Weird how much has happened, how much I've changed, how much I've seen, and how much is yet to come. 


I started this blog to document my preparation for, and time in Thailand (in addition to all the other random stuff I felt like writing at the time)


As I look back on my first post, I realize how much has not changed, among all the stuff that has. I still:


Write essays to Enya
Cry to John Mayer and the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack
Party to (not limited to however) Ke$ha, Lady G, Venga Boys, BEPS, Akon, just the usual
Craugh (crying and laughing at the same time, weird I know) to Sara Bareilles
Mookie (it's going to be the next big dance crazy, watch for it on youtube. And you thought the jerk was big!) to ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
Jam to All The Above by Akon
Reminisce to Tiny Dancer


plus the addition of 


studying to any and every movie soundtrack
loving life to I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
gaining an appreciation for Hyphe and Sia...
crying to Adelle


plus oh so many more. Music is still my life, and many lyrics seem to describe it now more than ever. 


Since the beginning of the blog I have managed to con 26 people into sticking with me (thanks by the way). About 8,000 page views, which I am convinced are mostly mine. And 120 posts of pure, random life with music lyric titles that describe them to a T. 


My most read post is this one. Looking back on it, my life would have been so much better this last year if I could have just taken my own advice. I still remember this moment, it was a big one for me. I still find myself among all the decisions and change that I was back then, but I am content now, well at least I try to be. I have realized I can not rush what I can not change. And I see no need in wasting my time rushing my life away when I have so much to stop and be happy about. 


The next most read post is this one. When I was just rereading that I felt a crazy surge of emotions. Fear for myself, knowing what is ahead of me at that point in time. Longing, I would do anything to go back to Thailand. Happiness, little did I know it then, when I was writing that post I was embarking on the most life changing experience I could ever imagine. Oh how clueless I was, ha! I just laugh at that smiling face that had no idea what was to come... and yet I am choosing to do it all over again in Uganda


Whether I was running a race, getting a full on airport pat down, riding on elephants, stessin out over school or boys, loving life with my family, friends and roommates, crying...a lot, transitioning back to American life, closing down my parents store, saying by to my brother and his family, marrying off a roommate and sending another on a mission, marrying two of my best friends, being happy, adventurous, sad, excited, depressed, it all just reminds me that life is one crazy adventure. 


Only one more year of my life down, with a lot to show for it, and even more to get me excited for what is to come. Change is scary, I think that is my biggest lesson of 2011. I have a feeling I got the opportunity to learn that in 2011 so that I am ready and willing to accept the changes of 2012. Only 21 days in and I know it is going to be an adventure of a year. 


Ya know what though, I am ready for it. Because....well, game on I say! The change is inevitable, so I might as well make it what I want it to be, something exciting and awesome and new. Nothing wrong with exciting and awesome and new right? 


Welcome 2012, welcome to year 2 of the blog. I find myself in a similar spot as last year. Preparing and fearing for another life changing adventure in Uganda. And preparing for the twists and turns that are just gonna come whether I am ready or not. Like I said when my parents store was closing... I choose not to run from the change, I choose to stand up and face it. Because it is coming for me whether I am turning my back on it and running, or facing it face forward with my army of friends and family by my side. They will always be at my side, another good lesson of 2011. The people that love me will always love me. And I will ALWAYS love them.


Hey 2012, come and get me!

Man, I Love College

A day in the life of a college student tends to be one of boredom, repetition, homework, work, wanted naps, not had naps, food (or lack thereof) ya know, pretty same old.

But some days....OH some days. Things can get pretty interesting.

Take today for example.

Sarah J and I got termites dumped on us. For real.

We were sitting in Bio 100, yes we, Juniors in college, are taking Bio 100 with all the Freshman. Speaking of those Freshman...we were doing our experiment which included watching termites follow a line on a piece of paper. Easy yeah? Us sophisticated Juniors were handling it like champs, while the girls next to us somehow, I will never know how, DUMPED OUT THEIR TERMITES!!!

All over my backpack and my feet. Which of course means that they are well on their way up to my head, burrowing their nasty squirmy selves through my body. I just know it. Ever seen a termite?



Well now you have. Don't have nightmares about them crawling all over your body like I will have. It's not fun...dumb freshman.

Another exciting day? Well, when these guys hung out in our living room of course.

Yeah you see that right. Lizard, weasel, man eating wolf, Hedwig, turtle, nbd. 

Turkey... Meg said she'll never have another Thanksgiving dinner without that little guy sitting by her side.

 That otter was dang cute if I don't say so myself

Animal party isn't complete without Hedwig!

 And something that would eat me if it could...

And the oh so cuddly(?) lizard which took the cake as Megs favorite

Those are REAL, well they were real... and it became pretty much normal to walk down my stairs in the morning to be greeting by a murderous looking wolf.

Among all the boring, same old days of college, luckily it is days like these that finally spice it up a bit.

Oh and how could I forget....another out of the ordinary day was when the roommates decided we are up and selling out bodies (plasma mom, no worries) to get to Disneyland. It's real. 6 weeks to get rich off my internal fluids. game on.



Hey Aladdin! See you soon!