Today on the way to the library from devotional, I was eavesdropping on a fellow who was walking behind me. I couldn't really help it--he kept saying "cheese" really loudly. I decided to tune in to the rest of the conversation--who can pass up a conversation centered around queso?
...Yeah, me neither.
So anyway, he was bragging to the girl next to him.
cheesehead: I couldn't think of what to eat. But I have lots of cheese.
girl: oh, really?
cheesehead: Yeah, like four blocks. I LOVE cheese! LOVE it!
girl:
cheesehead: I've had, like, four quesadillas today. Why not have another one?
girl:
cheesehead: [awkwardly laughing] Well, I gotta go to class.
Just thought I'd share that with you all. Happy Tuesday.
oh..and I guess this is my 200th post. All of you who lurk on my blog are welcome to leave a comment. I prefer funny stories, anecdotes, or song lyrics please. Anything else and you are banned from this blog.
I stole this idea from Tessa the other day and I decided to post it for no good reason.
{written on sunday, april 24th}
1. Do you paint your nails? Yup. Right now they are pink.
2. How many times a day do you think about your ex? Haha well if I had one, I probably wouldn't think of them much.
3. Are you feeling sick? At the moment I feel stupendous. Yesterday, different story.
4. How many concerts have you been to? Uhhh...do BYU-I concerts count? If we're talkin legit concerts, only like three. I know, I need to get out there and live a little. I really wanna go see Yo-Yo Ma in concert...seriously.
5. What are you going to be doing three hours from now? Dreaming I hope.
6. Do you shower daily? Yes, I love showering. Sometimes I do it before bed just so I can sleep with that squeaky clean feeling, you know?
7. Have you ever heard of Led Zeppelin? Who hasn't? Robert Plant's hair...ahh yeah.
8. Do you know anybody's who blind? Hmm well if you count old people blindness, then yes.
9. Do you have nice feet? Well I don't have webbed feet if that's what you're asking.
10. How many times do you pee in one day? Uh, depends on how much agua I consume. I don't keep track. I know, how strange of me.
11. What comes to mind when I say GREEN? Ireland! Oregon! Springtime!
12. Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart? pshhhhh
13. Can you spell well? why yes! I always got 100% on the spelling tests in elementary school. Everyone hated me for ruining the curve. Suckers.
14. Do you like skittles? not mucho. i like chocolate. :)
15. How many times a day are you on myspace? never
16. What does the last text message you received say? "Ahhh thanks for making me cry!" it was pretty funny actually
17. What do you think of Germany? I want to go there, obviously. I always think of Indiana Jones movies when I think of that place. Weird but true.
18. Do you have any siblings? Do you hate them? Yes, but I definitely don't hate them. What kind of twisted question is this?!
19. What is your favorite kind of shoe? the barefooted kind. I don't mean the $100 ones that make you feel barefoot. I mean wearing no shoes at all. heheh. But if I had to choose, definitely comfy slip-on tennies or sandals.
20. What was the last gift you received? do letters in the mail count as gifts? because I got 3 of those this week. That's right, THREE. I am a lucky woman.
21. Do you have all of your limbs? bahaha. I feel bad for anyone who answers this question...not in the affirmative.
22. How many REAL CDs do you own? Lots! They are all packed away in a box at my parents house, sadly.
23. What's one thing that you collect? If I was still 8 years old I would have to answer this question with Wizard of Oz books/dolls. But thankfully, those days are over. Now I just collect pictures of places I want to visit. And books. Lots of books. Better throw in music, too. Oh, how I love me some Pandora.
24. What jewelry are you wearing at the moment? I was wearing a necklace, earrings, and my CTR ring today, but I took them all off when I got into my jammies. So...no jewelry at the moment.
25. Do you have any aspirations in life? I want to be happy, get married in the temple, have a family, raise my kids in the gospel, serve a mission sometime, meet the Savior. Those are pretty good aspirations, I think.
26. What makes you really angry? Reading about all of the creepstaches in this world on CNN.com.
27. Who makes you feel better when you are? "The Big Man Upstairs" as Tessa likes to call Him.
28. Have you ever set anything other than logs on fire? Oh these questions...really kill me. Um, one time when me and Liz were about 8 or 9 we killed a fly and then we wanted to cremate it. But her mom said no. Sooo...that was the one time I came close to lighting something other than a log on fire. Oh wait, do candles count? Cuz I've definitely lit those! And of course our water heater in Mexico so we could shower comfortably. This answer is turning out to be way longer than I expected.
29. What's one object really special to you? My scriptures, my journals, my patriarchal blessing, my notes from friends and family members. That's 4 objects, guess I cheated.
30. Do you like chalk? Heck to the yes. Me and my Mexican kiddos would always sidewalk-chalk.
31. Do you still have stuffed animals? Nope, but I used to have 200. You can ask my mom.
32. What's one thing that truly frightens you? Car accidents. Yikes.
33. Do you like the smell of flowers? Yeash! It depends on the flower, though. If it's too overpowering/smells like baby powder (I don't like that smell...I know, right?) then no. But usually, I could take a walk through a flower patch any day.
34. Have you ever seen Bambi? Traumatizing for a 5-year old!
35. What's your favorite book?
Followed by El Libro de Mormon, I would have to say any of the classics. I can't decide.
36. Do you go to movies often? Uhh, often as in once or twice every 3 months.
37. What's the last movie you saw in theaters? "Desconocido," or "Unknown." I saw it in Mexico. It wasn't very good, just fyi. But the Subway sandwich with guacamole which I ateduring the movie? Now that was good.
38. Are you scared of something really odd? I don't like windstorms. They kinda freak me out. Or being home alone.
39. Do you like vanilla M&M's or chocolate? I didn't know vanilla M&Ms existed, but I will always, always, always pick chocolate.
40. Have you ever painted a picture? Sure have! I think my mom has a bunch of them stowed away.
41. Ever watched Spongebob on your own accord? Of course! "F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for you and me, N is for anywhere anytime at all, under the deep blue sea!" Proof. Right there.
42. What's one big thing that you've accomplished in your life? I took a nap on top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico! Oh, and going to Mexico was a pretty neat accomplishment too, which I owe to my parents and many others.
43. What's the dumbest thing you watch on TV? Sometimes I'm channel surfing and I stop to watch novelas for a bit. Yes, it is true.
44. Do you think dead baby jokes are funny? Um.
45. What are 3 words you think describe you? freckly, funny, happy
46. What is your middle name? Cerise (it means Cherry in French. uh-huh)
47. What's the last thing you spent money on? frozen yogurt, and dang was it delicious or what.
48. If a stranger asked you to take a picture with them, would you? Heck to the yes! This had never happened to me before I went to Mexico, but when you are white in a sea of brown--instant celebrity, I tell you.
49. Do you think you're materialistic? Maybe to a certain degree...?
50. What's the best commercial you've ever seen? this one.
"leave the ram!" hahahahha
(funny that me and TP both thought Stride had good commercials)
51. Are you wasteful? Actually, I don't think I'm too wasteful. My mother trained me well in this regard. I can't waste food, I just can't.
52. Do you think your nose is shaped funny? It does have kind of a funny shape, but I don't hate it.
53. What's one thing that honestly makes you happy? Just one? Reading my scriptures, being outside, listening to/playing music, running, talking to family/friends, laughing, hammocking
54. What do you do with stickers? Give them to my sister because nothing brings her more joy (besides candy or princessy things)
55. Do posters of people frighten you at night? Say what now?
56. What color are your sheets? Turquoise
57. What is one of your nicknames? I have a zillion nicknames. A sampling: McNancy, MK, Rudy, Rack-Jack, Josephina, McKenzie Fox (from the Mexicanos), McFrenzy, Tiny Red
58. Do you think Canada exists? claro que si!
59. What's your favorite lyrics of all time? ohhh man I can't possibly decide. Right now I really love these from Mumford:
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears. And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears. Get over your hill and see what you find there, With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
60. What's a movie you like but wish that you didn't? Oh gosh. Please don't judge me. But parts of Clueless really makes me laugh. I'm terrible, I know.
This morning when I woke up I noticed the sun shining through my window...the sun! At last! But all day today I felt a special spirit which didn't have too much to do with the weather. It was more to do with my testimony of the gospel. After a day like today, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops, or writing it in a letter to a friend, or even just singing a hymn about it. Jesus Christ did die for us, He did suffer for us, and He did perform the greatest miracle of them all when He was resurrected from the grave. I know it! I know it more than I know anything else, and I also know that He loves us. He loves us so perfectly that we can't even comprehend it--we can only feel it and act upon it.
In the past year, especially in these few years I've been up at school, I have felt myself grow closer to Him. Last semester I learned that early morning scripture study is the best way to build our foundations on Christ. I also learned that morning prayers are an important key to having the Spirit with us all day. I learned that making time for the temple each week is another special way we can become closer to the Lord and show our love for Him. This semester, my goal is to serve people more--to really get to know them and find out what their needs are. I'm not saying I'm going to know all of their troubles and sorrows, because I'm not like Christ in that I know everyone perfectly. But I can lead others to Him by treating them as He would. I can be His hands.
I hope you all had a lovely Easter!
I wanted to share this video with you as soon as I watched it (thanks dad). It really exemplified Christlike love for me and I thought it was appropriate for this day. Love to you all!
I think I'm finally back. It only took me two weeks...how long does it take for RMs to adjust to coming home? Do they ever adjust all the way? I've never been on a mission but I kinda felt like I had just gotten back from one for the past few weeks. Especially this first week in Rexburg.
I lost my appetite. Nothing sounded good. For 5 days I didn't eat hardly anything (a strange feat if you know me), except for the occasional pb & j. I would see people pull into the drive-in at Ramirez's and have the urge to stop them from ruining their taste buds.
I kept finding notes from Chelsea written to me last semester and I would get a little bit sad.
I went on a 4-mile run (it was also an "angry run" which I can explain later, but lemme tell you, they are pretty effective. ha.) against the 25-MPH winds native to Idaho. I came back to the apartment with a mane for a hairdo and a desire to let the wind blow me right back to Mexico.
I kept spurting out things in Spanish and nobody would understand. I was beginning to count down the days until Spanish Lit started and I could be stuck in a room with funny RMs again.
But then on Tuesday a few things happened:
1) I received 2 letters from Chelsea written to me now, in the present, and she is happy. So I can be happy, too.
2) School started. Turns out what I have been dreading since I landed back in this country is going to be a really good thing. My classes are incredible, as are my professors, and the homework isn't "punch a wall passive-aggressively" worthy.
3) We had our first devotional, and it was my first in the BYU-I Center since its dedication. I love that building--it still smells like new carpet, you know. Plus, I went there with my old friend Amy Mathews, who I learned is still funny as ever (fun fact you probably do not want to know: back in elementary school, when I would go over to Amy's house, I would sometimes bring extra chonies with me because she made me laugh that hard. I thought ahead).
4) I wore spandex for six hours straight. That always adds to the happiness of my day.
5) I ate a huge salad for dinner AND a mango, proof that not only was my appetite back, but I was craving healthy food... Oh and the mango, it was incredibly delicious. I was worried I would hate mangoes when I came back to America, but I don't. You can alert the presses now.
6) I decided not to study in the library so much this semester. Remember how I kinda lived there last year? Well it's too nice outside to be studying in a cubicle....er...it will be soon. In the meantime I'll just have to keep running in spandex and jackets and ignoring the snow.
would you guys like to see what else has been going on in the world of kenzie? thought so. {that wasn't a question}.
i took a 3-hour nap on tuesday. in the words of mr. "hide yo wife hide yo kids," that was so dumb, so dumb, so dumb.
i got an email from my dad which said the following:
"Rudy - we just put some $$ into your account. Now get a razor and shave your legs. Love, dad and mother"
My parents sure are funny. At least my legs will never be wanting in this chilly weather (now for all of you who haven't been reading this blog for very long, that was a joke. I really do shave my legs. And I can't believe I just said that on this blog.)
Rexburg experienced a thunderstorm and I inhaled that lovely rainy smell while I stood in the Spori Quad (yes...I stood outside). Why is it that whenever a huge rainstorm happens I'm the only one left standing in it?
I picked up that early-early morning scripture study again (in Mexico it wasn't as early). Gosh, I love it. And I love Mosiah.
My allergies decided to come back in full-force and now I kinda sound like a man when I don't guzzle enough water to clean my throat out. Doink.
Awkard moment #1 of the semester: I saw someone in the Smith Building (my second home besides the library...you thought I lived at the apartment? Ha!) who, from behind, looked exactly like a girl I know. Spitting back image I tell you! Now, I'm not an expert at identifying people from their back images (yes, I just made up that terminology), but she seriously fooled me. I kinda smacked her backpack like I normally do to get my friends' attention when they aren't facing me. Lucky for her I didn't kick her backpack, which is another attention-getting tactic I use. Well, she turned and I saw her face and all of a sudden I was walking the other way, uttering "sorry" and "fool" to myself. Oh, McKenzie.
The spring semester is now in session. And Kenzie is back to tell you all about it. Get ready...
p.s. it is Easter Weekend! I left you something better than a chocolate bunny:
Phew. Folks, I did it. I wrote a post every day for a week. Except I maybe sorta cheated and wrote 3 posts at once and then posted them on their corresponding days. Oh well.
Right now I'm sitting in the San Fransisco Airport. I'm exhausted, emotionally and physically. The sun just set quite nicely outside the window. I tried the water from the water fountain and it tasted funny. Nobody is staring at my sandaled-feet. Nobody is speaking Spanish. Why aren't they speaking Spanish to me? I would speak it to them. But they wouldn't understand...I don't even understand.
Oh, and I'm freezing. Kinda shivering, actually.
Did I mention I was in California?
I hope I bring some spring-ish weather back with me in 2 hours....
I don't know if I'll ever be able to write everything I feel about Mexico. Maybe that's what makes it so special...I can't write it out. I can try my best, but I'll never capture it just quite right.
I'll never be able to explain how eerily wonderful it was to walk to the bus station this morning with 3 of my best friends, the sidewalks empty, my luggage rumbling across the cobblestones, the church bells echoing through the dark streets, thinking about my first night...
I'll never be able to explain what it felt like to watch my kids perform their spectacle on Friday and to have them hug me afterwards and tell me they loved me. I can't explain what it was like for my kids at the other school to bake me a cake, and they didn't even shove my face in it (Mexican tradition...).
I'll never be able to explain the bond we had as teachers. I felt like I knew them all for much longer than 3 months. Clearly it was meant to be. It's true that there are no coincidences....so God must have brought us all here at the same time for a reason. I don't know if I can tell you in words what the reason was. But maybe you can feel it when you read what I've written.
“Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.”
