Awkwardness Squared

Apparently I have some interesting Auras. Like this one that I thought I hid pretty well, but I guess I don't. It's were I don't really say what I'm thinking. I give one word replies but the receiver knows I'm thinking much more but I'm not enlightening them. This is important to know for this story.
It just so happens that this Oliver kid is also in my FHE group. I know, I get all the luck. So Becca and I go to his apartment (that's where they always are), we were one minute late but the first ones there. They have three couches: a two seater, a three seater, and a love sack. I followed Becca to the three seater,but she didn't immediately sit down, so I sat in the middle to leave her room. Bradford (Oliver's roommate) sat on the other side of me, and I was okay with that. But he got up without my noticing, and Oliver took his seat. Becca then went and sat on the two seater with one of my "sisters" and this other girl sat to the right of me. Very slowly, and without detection (I hoped) I moved to sit closer to the girl. By the end of the lesson, Oliver was taking up one and a half of the three cushions and I was in the protection mode with my arms and legs crossed. I barely talked to him, but I really didn't talk to anyone there.

When Becca and I got home, she gave me her observation on that whole show. Her first sentence, " You really made Oliver uncomfortable tonight". I asked how I did this, because as I've already wrote, I'm dense and oblivious to people's attitudes. Apparently, I never looked at him, I didn't talk to him, and I guess there was even a look I gave, but I don't remember that, oh and my body language did a ton of talking. And here are my rebuttals. He was sitting right next to me so it would be kinda weird to stare at him. So I just didn't bother looking his way. The talking wasn't just my fault it's not like he tried to start a conversation with me... and the look I guess was from me to Becca, and he intercepted because Becca smirked, but once again I don't remember this "look". The body language I have no excuse, that one is pretty true. Over all, I guess he's trying because I'm rejecting him. Sorta like a challenge. (It's official, I've got several accounts that men like challenges. That's why Spencer, the most recent boy that was interested in me, liked me. It's because I didn't fall for him immediately. I was a challenge. Lame, but I'm glad I didn't go for him). Anyway, I'm sure there will be more posts on this issue, but hopefully not too soon.

Queen of Awkwardness.

Yes that's me. I have a dousy of one that happened today before sacrament meeting.

This morning, none of my roommates had to attend any meetings, which is very abnormal. So most of us walked up together, except for Becca because she slept in and we left early. Usually, I am the one that saves seats because my calling does not require meetings. I sit on one side halfway down the "pew" and put my jacket and purse on the other side of the boundaries. Lately, my saved seats have been taken because people who I do not plan for come and want to join, and I can't refuse (examples are other lonely roommates or engaged couple member.)and the rest of the chairs that were outside my perimeter are already taken. So last Sunday, Kayla couldn't sit with us and Becca had to sit next to Scott's (Falisha's fiance, she's my newest roommate) new roommate Porter and the "border". Today Tanis said that it felt like Becca was cut off from us because she was sitting on the wrong side of Porter.
Alright, back to my story. So today, it was Tanis, Falisha, Scott and I who walked up together to church (talking about wedding registration the entire time...) I went into the "pew" first followed by Tanis then the couple. As we sat down I told Tanis to tell Scott to save two seats for Kayla and Becca on the other side of our group next to him, because I'm just used to sitting on a border and everyone to the right of me. Tanis, "why don't you just save the seats next to you?" Me, "uh... um... because... okay." So I put my purse and scriptures on the two seats, and started to re-examine my lesson that I was giving. People slowly started to arrive, and I see someone walk towards me. His name is Oliver, and I do. not. like. him. even as a friend. I have no reason or explanation, I just don't. He's the one on the right and then the left.

This is roughly our conversation:

Oliver: "Dana! I wanted to sit next to you."

Dana: "Oh. sorry, they're saved."

Tanis: "Dana, you could just move over."

Dana:"---(thinking of an excuse, because I really didn't want to sit next to him)--- uh...but--- okay"

I lean down to pick up my jacket "wait what?" (I'm staring at the saved seats trying to figure it out. I guess I'm really dense because I couldn't understand what she was suggesting)

Tanis: "Just move over"

Dana: -----I was thinking like, stay there and just move Kayla and Becca over one seat so he could sit next to me or I move over one and still sit next to Kayla/Becca and have Oliver sit in between Tanis and I. Like I said, my mind was not working very well.

Oliver: sits down on the other side of saved seats, and leans over to read my scripture cover, ie the name. "who are they saved for?"

Dana: still sitting in my first seat with my jacket in hand " Um, Kayla and Becca"
Oliver: nods

--------------------awkward silence----------------

Dana: I return to my lesson after putting my jacket under my chair again. I didn't move.

After a minute Oliver gets up and goes and sits next to a different girl in the ward, which happened to be the row right behind us, and sits right behind me.

I take a breath, I don't feel too bad, but I'm sure my face was red. More people start to come in and I see Porter and Spencer (engaged but his other half is not in our ward) sit next to Scott. So the lineup right now is saved-saved-Me-Tanis-Falisha-Scott-Spencer-Porter. A minute later I see Kayla and Kim (her roommate) come and sit on the other side of our row (close to Porter). I say to myself, "Alright, no Kayla" and removed my purse. Then an apartment of men come and sit next to Becca's saved seat. and then they have to go sit and pass the sacrament, but they will be back. a minute later Becca comes toward my side and sees her spot and tells me and Tanis, " But I always sit over on the right side!" and then went and sat on the last seat near Porter/Kayla/ Kim and some other random people. (talk about being cut off from us!). Dana: "Fine. No Becca." and I remove my scriptures. I was just sitting there wondering what it must look like to Oliver to see all this happening. I don't know why, but it hurt that not one of the people who I saved a seat for sat there...

So church started and the Sacrament was over, and the faithful priesthood holders came and sat down. Well Becca's rejected seat was inhabited by Stevo(real name Stephen, but we have like 3 of those), another man that I do not have a drop of likeness in me, though I prefer him to Oliver. Once again I wonder what Oliver must be thinking right now...

This story might not seem too awkward because I really don't remember the entire conversation, but trust me it was.

Gods Gift to Women

Today started with another klutzy moment. Last night, I thought, I don't have class until ten, why not curl my hair!? It was a splendid idea, so then next week for my birthday it wouldn't be a tragic difference if I curled my hair. Well, I was almost done but that last curl didn't curl the end, stupid strand... Usually I just wrap it around the barrel, but I just needed the end curled so I put in the rod and sticky thing (what is that even called, the part that can lift up?) and just in case the laws of Newton weren't working I had to double check. What I mean is that as I let the clippy thing close with a snap, the force caused that stupid barrel to hit my forehead... right between the eyebrows. Good thing it was the last piece or else it could have been totally worse. I immediately put cold water on it and then neosporin. I grabbed an ice cube and towel and for the next 20 minutes I held them to my forehead. The last thing I wanted was to have a scab on my forhead, I mean I have sympathy for people with unibrows, but I really don't want to have empathy. Especially since I'm teaching this sunday, playing soccer tomorrow, and my birthday is Wednesday... you can't blame me for being concerned, specially since I don't have a husband who will take me when I'm ugly and beautiful. The burn is shown below. This was taken about thirty minutes after it happened. I don't think it's going to be too bad...

The second part of my day was better. It seems that there always has to be a bad thing to balance the great thing. Once that embarrassing accident happened, I hoped I could get through the day with out being noticed. However, my work doesn't allow that to happen. Luckily, today seemed more dead than usual. With only 45 minutes left of work, I was anxious to escape the public eye. But little did I know that the most gorgeous man I will ever see came into the school supplies section in the bookstore. I'm not sure, but he would have diserved a double take look, that's how cute he was.

His description:

probably 5'11"-6'0" tall; medium athletic build (neither skinny nor large, and he was wearing athletic clothes, ie shoes, nike jacket); fair angular (not chizzled) face; amber eyes (I could get lost in them without even trying); redish-brown hair that was perfectly tousled (I usually don't care for the just-woke-up style, but he worked it); and most importantly...I did not notice a ring on the left hand...

I think I'm drooling... That's not good for my computer. If the above doesn't help form a mental picture, then my co-worker summed up his apperience. She said that he was how Edward Cullen should've looked like. Pity I never have that kind of luck to get a catch like that, besides he probably has a girlfriend, figures... But now my standard has risen because I Know there is species of Handsomeness out there. If a dream is what my heart makes, I want to dream about him. ;)

Face Up in the Gutter

At least three times a week I try to go running with Kayla at six in the morning. Today was no different. However, I did have an accident while leaving the Smithfield House. We were just minding our business when this sneaky little one centimeter ledge between a dirt plot and the sidewalk tripped me. And I know I look light as a feather, but I crashed hard. I ended up in the gutter, as the line from "Bells are Ringing" about how Dean Martin is going to end up laying face down in the gutter because his life was going down the drain fast, was running through my head. Though I only scraped up my palms and my knee, I finished the run. I can't wait until Saturday where I'll be playing soccer and my knee will be showing. It's the new technique to scare the opponents. It shows how fearsome I am (they don't need to know how I got it...).

My second news are not so bad, on the contrary it's fabulous! It was my first batch. I hope to perfect the oven so the bottoms won't be that burnt. Silly gas stove. Aren't they beautiful?

Manna

Several people noticed I wasn't my chipper self last sunday (the 10th of January), so I got a couple things dropped by. A note (not shown), a plate of delicious cookies, and some homemade bread (this was not left but picked up on monday). The cookies are nummy. With a funny note.

And the Honey Bread made by one beautiful angel, Kayla. This, I was very selfish and didn't share it with any of my roommates. And I loved every last crumb. I ate it for breakfast on tuesday and then my dinner that night as I was jetting out the door to make our 7:50 flight.

Now. This my new baby. I'm really excited for it and on Thursday we'll see how she does.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh(heavenly choir)

It's my Granddad's Sourdough starter for those that couldn't tell. It's heaven in a Biscuit.

Alternative Energy

I have found the new idea to save America and the world! We, Jeff, Mel and I, were driving up to the SLC airport. Along the freeway right by the Point of the Mountain are a few wind turbines. As I was looking at them and wondering why people think they are ugly (they are quite magnificent), I saw there was no building or transfer station. Or whatever, the building that turns the raw power into usable energy. So my mind flipped through possible scenarios, ending with a wire that ran underground.
From there it gets even stranger. I don't even know how my mind skipped. I had an epiphany for our energy woes. America could run on STATIC ELECTRICITY. It's brilliant. It's a source that doesn't have to cost much, just the supply of carpet and socks. All the unemployed American's would finally have an income which would boost the economy and make it so politicians could focus on more important matters like the cost of paper back text books. There would be this giant building with the best carpet (scientific research would tell us which one would give off the most charge.) and have the non-freeloaders "Party" Shuffle around. Now this is where some engineering would come in handy. Of course we can't just have the workers just touching big metal pillars, the Unions would eat us alive for burnt nerves. But maybe a hand held jar that would collect the charge and could then be connected to something... Yeah, I'm not an engineer nor a technician, so someone else will have to figure that out.
So if you have any beneficial advice to my world changing epiphany, feel free to share and get a cut in the new market. There's plenty of shares to go around.

Leoma Cheek Gibson

A wonderful and brilliant child of God, and my name sake.

Many family calls have come across my phone, and mostly since thursday. For a year, her sickness took over her life. And those are the memories that I mostly have of her. Both Jeff and Kristy called me today to see how I am doing (since I'm the only one that doesn't have a shoulder to cry on). And truthfully, I haven't shed a tear. I'm the second youngest grandchild, so I did not really know Grandma when she was young and spry. I find this as a blessing or a relief. But if I didn't have the Gospel in my life, maybe I would be bawling and wailing. To think that this is the only life. It's too full of ugliness and tragedies to be the only one. And I'm grateful that I know there is "heaven". We are told that after we die, we will have a perfect body. This morning, I wondered what Grandma's perfect body looks like. And I knew she was happy.

Thanks Janessa. I stole this picture from your blog. I don't have pictures of Grandma. My only regret, is that I might not be able to make it home for the funeral. And I dislike how people say that's okay...

The joy of a hexigonal patterned ball

Last night, we played our first intramural (intra or inter? I don't know) indoor soccer game. And let me tell you, I ABSOLUTLY LOVE SOCCER! I don't know how I survived almost 2 years without it. The thill of an opponent, the precision of the kicking, and when you are within shot, the adrenilin that is created to keep your head when it's just you and the goalie. Wow. I missed it. However, you might be thinking that I scored. I didn't. But I did have one shot on goal, but I hit that pesky left post... Darn that post. I think it should of pulled a Robin Hood move and jumped (to the left) so I could have scored. But it didn't and frustratingly enough, we tied. They deserved to tie, we let our guard down the last five minutes, and they got in three more scores...It was rather annoying. But not to boast or anything...they did not score while I was playing ;).
Alright this is the section that I'm going to rant. I don't want to do it in front of the other players, but I believe I'm better than average at playing soccer. So I am a starting player, along with several if not most of the better players on the team. This is how we got our five points, during the first 10 minutes of every half. (each half was 20 minutes long, so over al 40 minutes long. Not long enough...) So at roughly ten minutes into the half the second wave would switch us. The defence is not as strong so more unfriendlys would make it through for a kill shot. And I'm on the sideline jumping up and down wanting, no dieing to go back in, but being denied. I know this is intra(ter)mural, and everyone wants to play and deserve to play, but I want to be selfish and play all 40 minutes. In high school, I was used to 40 minute halfs and playing most if not all those 80 minutes. So this is killing me! And this is why I'm venting through typing and not through virbal ways. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings. and everyone wants to play. So I'll put my selfish side to the side(haha) and be glad for the time that I get.
The final score was 5-5. But I think the wronged us. One of the opposing girls took a shot on our fabulous goalie, and he easily blocked it, but then the goal box was kinda crowded and our boy defender tried to kick it out, but instead of going foward, it went backward and into the goal. And you know what they recorded it as? 2 points because the girl kicked it at Moroni first... Now that, is really annoying. So I think we won with 5-4. I don't care what that stupid scoreboard said.

"Doom on you." (well me)

My first week, and I already know I'll be a social recluse this semester. If I wasn't doing homework for my 4 classes, I was in classes. And if I wasn't in class, then I was working. And if I wasn't doing those, then I was either sleeping, running, or eating (in that order of importance). I've made a commitment with Kris to run a half marathon, and that is why I wake up at 5:38 every morning, to go running with Kayla, Zach, and some times Tanis. then two hours to do some homework and get ready for the day. Then three hours of classes, three plus hours of work, and then six plus hours of homework,and finally and hopefully in bed by 10 to start my next day. Welcome to the REAL College Life. So I pose this question, how do people have time to meet someone, date, and get married? It seems impossible. Simply blows my mind. But then of course, I've come to find out that I'm not very bright. I can not have deep intellectual conversations with people, and in my RM Book of Mormon class I feel lost, the entire discussion just seems to roll off my brain without being absorbed. So maybe it's a good thing I'm not being social in my stupid state.

Last night I was over at Kayla's to use some super glue for my finger (I purposely put super glue on my hand this time!) and Kim, her room room-mate, told me to open my hands face up. "You're pinkies are weird!" apparently my poor pinkies are deformed. I'll let you be the judge though.

And to prove that I'm not so good at baking, this is my first potato cake. After calling Mom about three or four times, it was just tolerable. The cake it self was a tad dry, but the icing made up for that. I think I spent about 30 minutes just scooping the icing off the plate so it wouldn't over flow. After a day or two, it finally hardened, thankfully. The area was a mess too. You can just barely understand the amount of disoray that occured during this eventful incident. But with some milk (melk), I think it was delicious(ish).