Sheri: The Rocking Awesomest Person I know.

Let me introduce you to Sheri. She was born in Smileyberg, Kansas (and yes it does exist) in December of 1945. And yes, if you do the math that makes her 64. But don't worry! She's discovered the Fountain of Youth and drinks from it. Frequently. ;) Her social security number is: 154-78-21295. Her full name is Sheri Shaniqua Bonquiqui [pronounced Bon-Kwee-Kwee]...

...Let me guess -You're not buying any of this are you?

Well, you shouldn't. It's a lie. I have noticed that many people feel they need to lie to make their friends seem cooler than they really are. I want you to know that I have the good fortune as to not need to lie, because Sheri truly is a rocking awesome person!

Sheri is my cousin and a fellow-blogger. She works as a full time mommy, changing diapers and giving baths. She speaks fluent Toddler and loves, loves, LOVES to play with her children.

Some of her favorite quotes go something like this: "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." -Mart Twain. "Everyone is different. No two people are not on fire." -Strong Bad. "It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man." -Jack Handy. (-If these don't give you a taste of her personality, I don't know what will!)

And speaking of quotes, this is what a few of her family members have to say about her:

"She always has something to say about everything." -Sheri's little brother Joseph.

"Sheri has a very quick wit. She is also very sweet. She also knows how to tell it like it is and occasionally she can catch you off guard. Her sweet nature is very real and sincere and her quick wit makes her a very fun person to be around." -Sheri's mother-in-law Melissa.

"Sheri is very competitive, and has loved the status of 'Favorite Sister-in-Law' which she has enjoyed for the past 5 years. Unfortunately she will loose that status to all but me next summer when Paula and I get married." -Sheri's brother Keith.

"Sheri has always had the uncanny ability to see the bottom line, and clear away all the confusion in an issue. Take the time, when she was just a little bit, a mere four years old... She came with me to Wal-mart, and she noticed me gazing longingly at the large clothing section. Of course, I didn't stop to actually look, and with a sigh, started to move past to do the business of the day. She said something that put not being able to buy new things into TOTAL PERSPECTIVE... She said, with delight and awe, 'Wow Mommie, look at all the LAUNDRY!' I walked away a happy woman. :)" -Sheri's mother Susan

Sheri loves to read! Her favorite books are those factual ones on ancient things like castles, Egypt, Mesoamerica, etc., etc. As for specific novels she likes "Pride and Prejudice", "The Princess Bride", "The Alliance", "The Giver", and one of my own personal favorites -"The Hollow Kingdom." As for movies, Sheri likes the really long classic six hour version of "Pride and Prejudice", she also enjoys musicals like "The Music Man" and "Fiddler on the Roof" ...well, the first half anyway. She also likes to watch the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, the Discovery Health Channel, and she even likes those PBS Nova ones -which can totally be accessed online too! (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs). Ever since my last science class I've made this one of my favorite websites! Anyway. Moving right along.

...I'm finding it difficult to sum up a person in one mere post, especially Sheri. Sheri is amazing! No matter what happens to her she always has a way of making it funny. Even if it's something as simple as having a stranger come up to her and beg for money.

Well, I guess all I mean to say is -Sheri. Is. Awesome! There's nothing else to it. I have truly been blessed with the awesomest of all cousins ever!

Charcoal Drawing.

The vertical lines aren't vertical, and the sphere's aren't actually spheres. We were studying more of the shadow than the cubes (which aren't actually cubes) and the spheres themselves. Anyway, I think I'll go and take a nap now...

The Best Commercial Ever!

I know I've been posting a lot of pictures and videos on my blog lately and I usually don't do that, but I have to put up another one. This is one of my all-time favorites! Turn up the sound and enjoy the moment!

Tamahana

I have a roommate who's Polynesian and we were watching the movie "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" last Sunday and I found out that this song is one of her favorites. I think I have now adopted it since its now become one of my favorites too.

Just When You Think Your Plate is Full.

"Hello, is this Julie?"

There's no point in correcting them, they won't remember anyway, so I just say that it is and wait for the request. As Ward Bulletin Director in my ward it's not an uncommon thing to get random phone calls after hours on Saturday or early Sunday morning, for that matter.

I received my calling at the beginning of May near the first of the semester. It was that Sunday, in fact, (after noting that one of my roommates was a Sunday School teacher, another working with the Ward Visiting Teachers, and another the Relief Society President) when I sighed with relief and said "Wow. Life would be so much harder if I had a calling." And yes, roughly three hours later I received a calling.

At first I wondered how on earth this could help. I'm taking a large number of credits, am getting up every day at three in the morning for work, am always tired, and always have homework to be finished. ...Yup, just when you think your plate is full, you find that there is always room for jello.

As time passed, however, I came to realized that I actually love my calling! I feel needed at church. I always arrive early, to print and cut the bulletins and then hand them out before the meetings begin. I'm always early, and yet I always walk in late because of those stragglers that still need a bulletin. Being the one and only Ward Bulletin Director isn't actually very hard. You just fit everything on one page, print it, cut it, and then pass it out. The hardest part I think is waiting to get the information. Sometimes it comes at the beginning of the week and sometimes you get a voice-mail late Saturday night telling you what needs to go on the bulletin. It can be rough, I'm not going to lie, but if it was easy it wouldn't be nearly as rewarding.

Over the Handlebars.

Okay, so I was riding my roommates bike to my cousins apartment for my other cousins birthday. I was cruising along when all of the sudden the sidewalk gave out and the front of the bike went down. I only had a few minutes to figure out what in the world was happening before it actually happened.

There was a road, and so the sidewalk, instead of politely meeting up with the road on a smooth decline, just gave out. Soon the back wheel followed and I was a full half a foot lower than the actual sidewalk. It clicked just then that -concerning this sidewalk -what goes down must soon come back up. I managed to declare the words: "Oh crap!" before everything unfolded.

I squeezed the brakes and braced for the worst. My bike hit the curb that met up with the sidewalk -which was, as I said before, half a foot higher than the road -and I flew up over the handlebars and landed on the concrete sidewalk. The next thing I remember is lying on my back with my legs tangled in the bike, which was now on top of me.

I just laid there. My body was so worked up about everything that I couldn't figure out whether I want to bust up laughing or ball my eyes out. I chose the first and got to my feet before anyone saw me. ...At least, I hope no one saw me.

Aside from worked up nerves, a hurt knee, and a bleeding elbow, I was pretty much fine. I managed to tow the bike to my other cousins house where I was able to clean up and have the bike-chain re-assembled as it had fallen loose during the accident. Anyway, I thought it was pretty much amazing that I crashed yesterday and I wanted you to know about it. :) I just can't believe it actually happened!

The 'Value' of Charcoal.

I had my art class today. Usually I dread going because it's three hours long and I am a very tired sort of person. But today was different. We did a charcoal drawing of a sphere. We were learning and discussing the concepts of value and then lights and shadows. The drawing is very simple but I thought I'd post it up anyway. ...It's not good, but I think I have the general idea. Class today was very messy and since it was more of us just drawing we had a chance to talk among classmates and our teacher. It was great! I've gotten to know my class well enough that I feel like we're all really close friends. I've also learned that when I have a three hour class and I've had about the same amount of sleep I'm usually not exactly 'myself' during class and I find that I typically say things that I otherwise wouldn't. For instance, in class, everything is funny and I am by no means shy about anything. Anyway. I guess that's about it. I think I'll go and take a nap now...

Note to self: Don't let my kids play with Fixative Spray unless eighteen years or older. It is very VERY strong!

Nick Pitera

One of my F.H.E. brothers just showed me this video on YouTube. It's pretty crazy. This is a video of 23 year old Nick Pitera from San Franciso, California and he sings. But he doesn't just sing the guy's parts, he also for the girl. I don't know how to describe it. I guess you'll just have to watch.

Eleven Years is Finally Taking It's Toll.

I got this set of scriptures when I was baptized eleven years ago. It was a tradition in my family that once a child turned eight and was baptized they received a set of scriptures all for their very own and in the bottom left hand corner their name was inscribed with gold lettering. What do you think -is it time for a new set? I am told, however, that a well used set of scriptures is better than one that has barely been opened. I wouldn't mind keeping this one. I rather like that all of my favorite scriptures are already marked. It's just. I'm always afraid that I'll come home from school or church one day and find that the only thing that made it home with me is the cover. The contents are literally hanging on by one string (if you enlarge the second image you can clearly see the one lone thread). My Bible, needless to say, is in much better shape than my Book of Mormon. So, I pose to you my question: Do you think it would be better if I invested in a new set or should I stick with warn-out and familiar?

The World's Weirdest Spider.

When I was down in Missouri a few weeks ago I was inside eating and my little sister Jennifer came to me in a rush and told me that Joseph, one of my younger brothers, really really really needed to use my camera. Of course, I asked why. I wasn't just about to hand my camera to my seven year old sister to give to my ten year old brother. So, she told me that there was just something that Joseph HAD HAD HAD to film! I don't ask any more questions and I told my little sister, upon giving her my camera, that they'd better be careful with it. She promised that they would and soon rushed out the door. Well, this is what I found when the camera was returned. I thought it was too funny not to share.

Book Recommendation.

As many of you know I'm a fan of Stephenie Meyer. I have her official website on my Bookmarks Toolbar. Anyway. For the first time this last September, Stephenie recommended a book to her fans. The book is called "The Hunger Games". Naturally, I went out to the store the first chance I had and bought it. I've read it several times since then and I love it! I've been wanting to post it up on my blog, but I was never sure what kind of reaction I'd get. The book is, to say the least, gory.

The Hunger Games is a young adult science fiction-romance novel written by bestselling author of The Underland Chronicles, Suzanne Collins. It's the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, with two more books to come.(The next book in the series ("Catching Fire") is due to release September 1st and the third is rumored to release around the same time in 2010.) "The Hunger Games" introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking: Yuck! But really, I think it's worth the read. I recommend it every chance I get and by now most of my family has even read it. It's a story of morals and the fight to remain who you who really are. I enjoyed it. Suzanne Collins has a way of capturing your attention so that she has you on the edge of your seat until the book is over -and even then you'll be wondering where the heck the rest of it is. So, that's my recommendation. And now, I can't wait until September!

Taylor Swift

I've heard this song a hundred times and I just discovered that there was actually a music video for it. I love it! It makes me laugh. And I love Taylor's glasses. Somedays I feel that way too. Anyway, I like this video. It's cute.

Banana Bread.

This is one of my favorite recipes and probably one of my more popular ones, at least in my apartment anyway. It's incredibly simple and probably one of those rare recipes that's really hard to mess up. I really like it.

The ingredients are as follows:
1/2 cups margarine (aka-one stick)
2 cups flour (it asks for it sifted but who cares)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs (beaten)
1 teaspoon of baking soda, and
3 bananas

Now I know that everyone says that the order of the ingredients really makes a difference but I've done this a hundred times each in a different order and it's always turned out the same. But generally you'd put the liquids (or squishy stuff) in first. So yeah, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, throw everything in a mixing bowl, grease a bread pan, pour the mix in the bread pan and toss the pan in the oven for about an hour. My roommates love it when I throw in some chocolate chips before putting it in the bread pan and so it's more of a dessert than just bread. But I guess if you want to be healthier then you'd just leave out the chocolate. Well that's my recipe.

Oh that reminds me. A few weeks ago one of my old roommates wanted to make some banana bread with me -using this recipe- and so I went over to her place to help and I left for a bit and then came back to find that she'd finished up with the ingredients and was now mixing it all together. Now I don't know what it was, but my experience with cooking last semester taught me to doubt what my roommates do unless I am 100% sure. So with that in mind, I grabbed a spoon and tried some of the mix. It was good but it wasn't sweet enough. It was missing sugar. "How much sugar did you put in?" I asked rolling the ingredients over in my head trying to figure out what was off with the bread. "Just one of those," my roommate said pointing to a measuring cup. It only measured out to half a cup. I used this smaller cup on purpose so that it'd better fit into the sugar bag, but I guess she didn't catch that. So, I pointed out the fact that she needed to add half a cup more of sugar and the mixed tasted fine after that. I guess I'm telling you this because I was surprised that I'd caught even just that small amount of sugar. I guess that with age and experience you become more "in tune" with what you make. Either that or it's just a mark of a cook who likes to eat what hasn't been cooked yet. Call me crazy but I love eating banana bread batter!

Twenty Down...Thirty to Go.

I had the opportunity to go up to Washington this last weekend with one of my roommates and so I got to check off two states in my 'All-the-states-I've-been-in' list. I decided to post a map just for the heck of it. Maybe someday I'll get to see the whole continental U.S. They gray areas are the states I've been in, or that I can remember being in anyway, and the white ares are places I've yet to see.

Five Times. Fifteen Lives.

I donated blood again today, and since I posted about all the other times I've gone I figured I might as well post this one as well.

I sat there in the chair, ready to be stabbed by the needle and ready to disappear all at the same time. "Oh dear!" I moaned as the needle went into me. I had to look away. The girl in the chair next to me asked. "Is this your first time?" I felt silly when I answered that it was, in fact, my fifth. The last time I donated blood it went as good as it could ever go. ...If only all the other times could be like that. The room started spinning as I finished draining the last of the pint into the bag and the seat had to be reclined for me. A rag was placed on my forehead and I was told to peddle my feet. It turns out that most of your blood is in your legs and so if you're legs are higher than your heart more blood will circulate. Anyway. I felt so sick. Like I was going to throw up and there was a huge hollow space in my chest. It was awful. But I am now well recovered. No need to worry.

Oh before I end I'd like to share with you some info that I discovered on the back of my donors card: One blood donation can help save up to three lives. Only 8% of the eligible US population donates blood. Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. Less than 30% of the people who give blood once ever give blood again. Donated blood only lasts 42 days. You can donate blood as many as six times a year.

I am told that I can donate again on July 29th. :) I guess that means you can expect another 'bloody' post then. Anywho. I guess that's all I have to say about that. Nothing too exciting.