My Dad

I realize that this comes a few days after Fathers Day, but oh well. I want to pay tribute to my amazing dad, Gary Irvin Johnson. (Irvin was his father's name, yikes). I love my dad more than I can truly express. He and I have a very special bond, sometimes I think it's because I was the first kid in my family to express interest in playing a sport. In 3rd grade I told my mom I wanted to play softball, not because I thought it would be fun, but because my best friend, Nicki Peters played. We normally only got to see each other on Sundays at church (go 11th ward!) so I thought we would end up on the same team. Wrong. We didn't, I was sad, but I was hooked on softball. I remember how excited my dad was and how we would play catch in the front yard. He taught me to throw, slide, bat, everything. I owe the amazing gun, also known as my right arm to my dad.
He was in the Navy when I was growing up and wasn't able to make it to many of my games, but if he was in town and off work, he would be there. I missed him so much when he was gone, but he did his best to make up for it when he came back.
My dad is fascinating to me, I love going home and talking to him. We're not big phone talkers, but kitchen or backyard, it's guaranteed to be a long, good talk. He is so knowledgeable about the gospel, sports and all sorts or weird stuff. I feel like every time we talk, I learn something new.
My dad and I have a handshake that none of the other kids have. I don't remember how or when we came up with it, but I treasure it. He calls me "Sally", "Sally Sue", "Peg" and "Peggy Sue". I love it! (those nicknames will be explained in another blog post, I'm sure). When I go home to visit we always watch crazy stuff on the History Channel and Discovery. His recent addiction is "Gangland" on the History Channel.
My dad is amazing, I am the luckiest girl alive. I owe my success, my morals, my intelligence and my independence to him. Thank you dada, I love you!

The Funnest Weekend EVER

I just had the best weekend ever! I was invited to go to a cabin with my friend from school. It was just going to be pretty laid back, like eating, playing games, watching a movie under the stars, etc. On the way up there my friend let it slip that this was no ordinary cabin, it is valued at $7 million. Um yeah, isn't that a mansion? Yeah. Anywho, it was so much fun! We played ping pong, air hockey, we watched I, Robot under the beautiful night sky (actually, he and I didn't watch, we don't like that movie. He taught me about the constellations). Then we all decided we were freezing so we went inside and watched Hitch in the home theater. Amazing! Then we all went to bed and woke up VERY late. I had such a hard time leaving the cabin, I could really get used to that sort of life!

Saturday night I went to the Manti Pageant. It's official name is "The Mormon Miracle Pageant" and it's about Joseph Smith, the Restoration and some of the Book of Mormon stories. My friends Eliza and Sariah's ward rented a bus and I was able to tag along. My friend Jordan (the cabin boy) came with and it was a great time! First of all, I will never, ever live in Manti. It is roughly 45 minutes off the freeway....ew. Secondly, I think the only thing that ever happens in Manti is the pageant. Back to the pageant, we got there around 7pm to be able to save a big section of rows for our group. We were then dropped off at a park to have dinner and play around before the pageant began at 9:30. We played on the swings, threw a ball around and I almost broke my ring finger. I currently have a black and blue sausage in between my pinkie and middle finger on my left hand. (thanks Jordan and Sariah...jerks). The pageant itself was kinda cheesy but it was good too. The ride home was long, bumpy and not good for sleeping.

Sunday morning I took Jordan to the Deaf ward Sacrament Meeting so he could see what I do. It is a really cool experience, I love going to the Deaf ward! There were two babies blessed and the way they do it is all the men start in the circle and then the person administering the blessing goes to the pulpit and signs the blessing. After he has finished he returns to the circle, lays his hands on the baby once more and the it is done. Yay for babies and Deaf people!

At noon I went to Catholic mass in Spanish!!! For one of my classes I had to go have a cultural experience where I would be the linguistic minority. Eliza and Sariah planned to go to Mass and invited me along...it was awesome! We were pulling into the parking lot and started noticing that everyone walking up to the church was wearing jeans. We were all still in our clothes from church (we looked mighty fine if you ask me) and other than the fact that we were 3 white girls, we stuck out BAD. The outside of the church was the place to be, they were holding a car was with donations going to the church and there were vendors selling food! Love it. So we get into the church and it was packed! We had to stand in the back (I was in 3 inch stilettos) and people kept looking at us funny. I love awkward situations! The service was about 45 minutes and started with singing (accompanied by guitars) and then 2 women took turns saying a short sermon each. After the ladies spoke, the Father took over and delivered the bulk of the sermon. He ended with, "Feliz dia de los padres!" Happy Fathers Day! Then they started passing around collection baskets and a women approached the 3 of us and asked if we knew Spanish. We all said we didn't and she then invited 2 of us to take the wine and wafers to the front of the congregation for the sacrament. Eliza and Sariah did it, I didn't want to! I have a jacked finger and super tall shoes, I was imagining very embarrassing things happening to me. The altar boy came to the back so they could walk behind him. As they were waiting to go, the collection baskets started to come in and some of the money fell on the ground. The altar boy helped to pick it up and as he bent down he came VERY close to hitting Eliza in the head with the crucifix he was carrying. I wish! That would have been the greatest story!

What a good weekend, I don't think I'll top that one for a while. Have an amazing week!

Babies, babies, babies

My amazing friend Kristy is pregnant with a boy! Hooray for Kristy! It got me thinking, have you ever wished there were more genders than just boy or girl? Wouldn't it be cool if there were 6 genders?!? Because a 50 - 50 shot really isn't all that exciting, but if it was 1 of 6....you see where I'm going right? That would be TRULY suspenseful (not to discount the excitement of finding out if you are having a boy or girl) but really, can you imagine? If we had 6 options, that would be the coolest. But I guess it would also alter everything on Earth, but it would still be cool. CONGRATULATIONS KRISTY!!!!!!!!

I Do?

There is an amazing show on TLC called "Say Yes to the Dress" about a wedding dress shop in NYC. I believe I have to stop there this summer and pay my respects. This show is hilarious! It a reality show about this shop called Kleinfelds, all the people that work there and ALL the awesome drama that goes down. Some girls pick the UGLIEST dresses and pay a ton for them. In an episode the other day the assistant manager said that they carry 1700 styles of dresses that range from $1,100 to $30,000. Yikes! I love weddings but come on! Oh and ew... some of these girls are just heinous, but even worse is their moms! I strongly suggest watching this show and letting me know your thoughts on it. I claim to not be a girly-girl but I love this show and if you watch it and love it too, we are obviously destined to be friends. Probably not destined for much else but who cares, friendship rocks!

Glamorous!

My favorite magazine of all time, Glamour, does a page every month called "Hey, It's OK..." that basically validates little things that women can tend to feel badly about. As women, we feel bad about A LOT of things. I love this page, it's my favorite out of the whole magazine, so here's this months offerings:

Hey, It's OK...

...to take all the credit.
...to consider yourself the most sophisticated woman since Audrey Hepburn, but still sleep with stuffed animals.
...to ignore any email with a subject line beginning, "FWD: FWD: FWD."
...to use the zoom lens on your friend's camera to keep an eye on your ex-boyfriend at the wedding you're both attending.
...to wonder whether Indiana Jones is a little too old to be traipsing around like that.
...to say, "Oh, it's vintage" when someone compliments you on the Wet Seal sundress you've been wearing since high school.
...to get it with fries.
...to have never quite mastered that public-toilet hovering move.
....to skip the whole "I hope we can still be friends" charade. You HAVE friends.

Love it! Can't wait for next month's issue!

Tag...I'm it!

I've never been tagged before! I think this will be a giant let down for some of you :) I hope this lives up to your expectations Nicki!

3 Joys: my amazing nieces; being outside in the warm sun and being lazy on the grass; having good, deep conversations with intelligent people

3 Fears: someone in my family dying; that I'm not good enough in any facet of my life; that I'll never get married (I can't believe I just admitted that on my freaking blog)

3 Goals: to own a super cute house (that me and a super cute husband can live in); to be an incredible interpreter; to really, truly follow a budget and a workout schedule

3 Current Obsessions/Collections: I will be moving into a new place in the Fall and will be TOTALLY redoing my room and I am already collecting stuff for it (lame, it's like 3 months away); blogging; "Arrested Development", other than "The Office" I think this is the funniest, most intelligent TV series ever made

3 Random Facts: I think I make too many comments in most of my classes (I tell myself to shut up all the time); I have eaten a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's in one sitting too many times to count; I'm pretty sure I can pop almost every joint in my body

I tag Susan, Kristi Lamb and J Dub!!!!

Cavemen Rock!

I had the ultimate priviledge of attending Cavestock 2008 last night at American Fork High School. It was so fun! Let me explain the name and then I will explain the party. The mascot for AFHS is the Caveman. Initially I was a bit hesitant but it is growing on me. My Elementary school was the All-Stars so really, who's to judge? From what I gather, they combine Caveman with Woodstock and end up with Cavestock. Love it.

The party was to celebrate the end of the school year. What an awesome celebration is was. When we got there it was pretty casual, the dance portion had not yet started. This is what happened pre-dance:

BEAUTY - a hair school was doing colored extensions, there was face painting, someone was making ballon hats
GUITAR HERO - they set up 3 stations and had a competition. I am now convinced that I am actually 67. You know when you talk to adults about texting? They look at you like you are speaking Arabic. That is how I feel about Guitar Hero, I can't even wrap my head around how they can play that game...and I'm an interpreter! I should rock! (Should)
FAMILY WARD GAMES - there was a football throw (you know, through a tire hanging from the basketball hoop) and a fishing pond! Do you remember helping out at the Ward Halloween party and being assigned to the dreaded fish pond? The kid throws the fishing line over the sheet and you attach a tootsie roll. Right.
EATING CONTESTS - this was truly amazing. We only saw two of them but it was the coolest! The first was a hot dog eating contest. It wasn't timed, it was whoever ate their plate of 6 first would win. Sick. I bet on a pretty solid looking kid to win but he totally let me down. The next contest and probably the highlight of the night was the milk drinking contest. The first person to down 6 pints of milk won. Pretty simple, right? Well if you have never seen a milk drinking contest I can tell you this, it always ends in puking. The organizers were awesome enough to include strawberry milk, the typically forgotten variety. I was almost convinced to join but I was drinking a soda and I thought the combination of soda and 6 pints of milk might not agree with my stomach. The real reason is that I am a weiner and would have thrown up for sure. The bet for this contest was to pick the first person to puke. Once again, I thought I had it in the bag! My pick totally disappointed me, I feel like he wasn't even trying. Now the winner on the other hand.....lost it in the trash can almost immediately after claiming his victory. Twice. It was pink. Thanks strawberry milk.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS - I was super impressed by the talent last night. There was a group of teachers that played classic rock and MC'd in between acts. They were so cool, I love this school. I was thinking that if my school had had an end of the year party there would definitely NOT have been enough musical talent for a Battle of the Bands or even Battle of the Band. I think they probably could have thrown together a skate competition though.

Dance Time - the dance portion started at 9pm and it was truly a spectacle. I was worried that I was going to have to intervene and politely ask sweaty students to move further apart as they dance, but NO! I am so impressed by the students at AFHS. I didn't see any inappropriate dancing, etc. The worst part...I knew a lot of the songs, but not all. What the? I'm still young and semi hip, dang it. Another reason to feel 67.

On to the absolute best part of the night. I have the best, most amazing, sweetest and coolest students on Earth. All night they were running up to me all excited and happy to see me. I felt so special! I didn't think it was possible for them to love me like I love them! I want to meet all their parents and congratulate them on a job well done.

Thanks American Fork!!!!

Pride and Prejudice

I watched that movie tonight (the Keira Knightley version) and I always forget how much I LOVE it. Dang, I am such a girl! At the end I teared up when she's explaining why she loves Mr. Darcy. The reason I tear up? Her dad's eyes get shiny because he's happy and trying not to cry! It's such a sweet moment, my dad loves me that much too (although I've never afforded him the opportunity to have shiny eyes in regards to my love life). There are really good dresses in that movie too!

I actually rented the movie "27 Dresses" and was going to watch it with some lady friends but we turned on the TV and "Pride and Prejudice" was on so we did a quick change of plans. Yeah, "27 Dresses". I'm not sure what the estrogen is all about. At least I didn't eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's all by myself. My snack of choice during the film was string cheese and some corn.....serious. I don't know so don't ask.

Love you! Have a fabulous week!

Something to Pass Along

My friend introduced me to an awesome website, hulu.com, where you can watch episodes of TV that you may have missed or whatev. I have recently been watching old SNL skits, love it! I highly recommend searching for "SNL Steve Carrell", "SNL Two A-Holes" and "SNL Penelope". Amazing! By the way, I think I totally have a girl crush on Kristen Whig, she's the girl in the 2 A-Holes skits and Penelope, she's incredible. Since it's raining here in beautiful Utah Valley, I think I'l be playing on Hulu all weekend!

Something that NEEDS Checking Out

My dear friend, Susan, is an incredible artist. We met at school when I interpreted for a class she was taking. She loved trying to "trip up" the interpreters by saying crazy things and trying to get us to laugh as we were doing our thing. (We normally hate people like that, but it's impossible to hate Susan). I didn't interpret any of the classes she was in during the Spring semester yet we just kept running into each other. Basically, she's now my greatest fan...or the other way around. She showed me a bunch of her paintings and they are AMAZING! When I get rich (sooner than you think), I will be commissioning her to make my bare walls beautiful. She recently set up a blog to promote her art and she has a few of her pieces up for everyone's viewing pleasure, so CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!
susanpurdy-art.blogspot.com

I'm So Brave

Here's the deal, I don't like motorcycles. My dad had one when I was younger and sometimes would take me to volleyball practice on it (driving on the freeway in San Diego, mind you). I always hated it, it was cold and I expected to either fall off or be side swiped by some drunk SDSU student. Luckily nothing like that ever happened but I still have always carried a dislike of motorcycles with me. I think they are dangerous too!

But Rachel, what about the Barbie on the scooter in the picture? Good question. Here's the deal, it seems as though scooters are "the big thing" around good ole Utah County, I see them everywhere! I always look at them and think, "how cute!!" but not for me. My roommate, Eliza, has one and she looks DARLING on it. I like to look darling too, but not at the risk of being drunkenly side swiped. She and I have discussed my phobia(?) and she has been great about not pushing me to ride with her.

So here's the deal and the reason that "I'm So Brave". Eliza and I have a class together every Tuesday and Thursday morning and this morning we were running a bit late AND it was gorgeous outside. She mentioned that she'd like to ride her scooter and offered me a ride. I did it! We rode to school on her scooter and it was tons of fun! By the way, I was in a skirt (sorry mom and dad) and we both looked super cute. I know this because we got some honks and waves...hey boys!

I think I'll have to start a new spot in my budget for a scooter! I'm going to tear up Utah Valley next summer!

Good Way to Start the Week

I saw this picture on line today and I knew. I knew that I had to share it with the world. I mean, how selfish would I be to keep this gem to myself? You are welcome by the way. Meghan, this really is for you. I know about the Carrot Top love binder you keep under your bed, filled with pictures and press clippings of your man. So today, I honor your love. I love you sissy!

My Brother Is Amazing!

My little brother, Taylor Sawyer Johnson, placed 5th in state today for the 300 meter hurdles! 5thi in the whole state of Utah! I am so proud. Amazing, right?!? It was so fun to go sit and watch him run today. We had to sit through a lot of other people running, jumping and throwing but it was fun because the whole fam was there. Speaking of throwing...some member of the press got hit by a javelin. Wrong place, wrong time. Ha!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom is nuts. Serious. She doesn't allow us to celebrate Mother's Day because she says that if you love your mom you should show her throughout the year, not just on the second Sunday of May. I agree, but I have to say that when I have kids, I'm SOOOOO going to take adcantage of this "holiday". We are not allowed to give her gifts or anything, I think she'll allow a phone call but I don't know for sure because as of today at 6:40 I haven't called. Ooops. Anyway, I wanted to use this post as a way to let moms know that I appreciate and love them.

I am lucky enough to have known a lot of lovely ladies who over the years have gotten married and are now mothers. I am lucky to know dear ladies like Tira, Shanna, Kristy, Nicki and Amanda. They are all amazing women in their own right and have really come into their own since motherhood. I am so impressed by their power, courage, ability to teach and even greater ability to love. I learn from these ladies about motherhood and womanhood and I love them all very much!

Now, on to the main event! I have the most incredible mom ever placed on this Earth, I hope this dedication doesn't make any of you jealous :) She has taught me to love our Heavenly Father and Savior and this testimony is the most valuable thing I have. My mom, Rosie Johnson, taught me to be independent and strong. I owe my success in life to her. She came to almost every single softball and volleyball game I played. If she couldn't make it, it was because of a conflict with another sibling, never beause she was too tired from a busy day. She also adopted the other girls on the team whose parents never came. I was never jealous, I learned at a young age that my mother's love was meant to be shared. When I was little I don't remember my mom being funny, she was just a mom. Now, she's hilarious (I think I've rubbed off on her) and she's my best friend. I could go on and on, but I need to call her and tell her all this...I don't think she reads my blog :) HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Cross Roads

As you have most likely noticed, I have not posted anything new lately. That is due to a myriad of things but today I feel as though I need to post.

School is out until summer school starts on April 30th. This has been a busy semester for me and I'm glad it's over but I still feel at a loss over it. How very odd. I have never felt this conflicted about school ending. It has been a trying semester in just about every possible aspect.

I feel like I have grown a lot this semester so I am grateful for it but I know that I am not yet full grown. A large part of growing is discomfort. When I was a little girl and I was going through my growth spurts I would have the worst leg pains at night. I was convinced that I had broken legs because it was so painful. I would then go downstairs, crying, and tell my mom that my legs were broken. She would give me an extra pillow and tell me to elevate my legs and I remember thinking that my mom was nuts because how could a little elevation mend broken bones? Anyway, my point is that while I have grown a lot this semster, I have hurt a lot too, and still hurt from time to time. And this time, a little elevation doesn't help.

I was speaking with a friend earlier tonight and we talked about how we acted when we were getting to know each other. This friend prefers to stay more reserved until he is comfortable with people then he can reveal his true personality. I am the opposite, when I first meet someone I tend to be a bit over the top to quell any awkwardness and then once I get to know them, I am myself. When we met it was pretty difficult to break through to him, he didn't seem to want to talk so I would just yammer on and on and would think "He must think I'm an absolute moron". I think we're good now. I think people find it odd that I start out being wild and crazy and then I settle into a more reserved, deep thinker type. I don't want to be that anymore. I want to be myself at all times and stop putting on a show. Wild and crazy has it's place, but sometimes I display it as though those are the only personality characteristics I possess.

I have no idea where tht last paragraph came from but I think I needed to write it, it's what is going on in my head and this is my blog so stop reading if you hate it.

I am going through such an identity crisis right now, not the "I'm going to freak out, cash in my 401K and buy a Miata" sort of crisis, more of a "I have had so many new experiences lately and they are all changing my perspective, so who am I?" sort of crisis. I have heard that your 20's is the "decade of decisions" and I feel as though that is 100% applicable to me. It seems as though every week I am faced with another one of life's big decisions and I'm not sure I want to continue making them. Will they stop if I just ignore them? Or will other people be forced to make them for me?

So sorry for the deep thoughts but I had to get them off my chest and it's 3am so it seems realy urgent to do this right now. i'm sure I'll read this later and laugh at my ridiculous self. But you know what? That's great because at least I'll be laughing. Love you.

Get to Know Me

I have some odd facts about me that you may not know. So get to know me! I thought it would be interesting to list some fun trivia that you may not know. I was totally inspired by my roommate Eliza's bathroom admission on her blog. I highly suggest checking that out too. Anyway...here we go!

1. I can spell any word backward. Except supercalifragilisticexpealidocious and antidisestablishmentarianism, those two are highly requested. I started doing this as a kid when I would look out the window as my mom drove. When you're a kid, buses are at eye level so I had plenty of practice material.

2. Whenever I see a string of numbers (addresses, phone numbers, church hymns, time, etc) I add up all the numbers in my head and see if they are divisible by 3.

3. I am a movie nut. I see about 3 or 4 new movies a week. Don't worry, I don't go to the theater 3 to 4 times a week. I have Blockbuster Online and I USE it! I also have a bad habit of buying movies...lots of movies. I bought "Enchanted" on Tuesday and I couldn't be happier. Now...where's my true love's kiss?!?

4. I totally believe in karma and the law of attraction. I used to want to get justice for everything that I saw as unjust, but now I know that everything will eventually work out. Karma's gonna git you, sucka!

5. I think I have a sub-conscious fear that I will wear down my teeth on one side of my mouth quicker than the other. Due to this fear I will divide my food evenly as to prevent any uneven wear and tear. Example: if I have 6 Skittles, I eat 3 on the right and 3 on the left. If I have 7 Skittles I eat 3.5 on the right and 3.5 on the left. Yes, I bite things like Skittles and M&M's in half. Leave me alone.

6. As I walk down the hall at school sometimes I give people head to toe makeovers in my head. It is really dumb and pretty judgmental, but whatev, I'm admitting it.

7. I never use the first stall in any public restroom because I figure it is probably the most used. Need I explain more?

8. I have a girl crush on one of my teachers at school. She's amazing! I think that everyone who knows her shares this crush so I don't feel like I'm admitting some deep, dark secret.

9. When I was younger my mom was very involved at our elementary school and they would have a cupcake sale every Wednesday. Her favorite thing to do was to show me off to the other moms. I can put a whole cupcake in my mouth without trouble. I don't even get any frosting on my mouth. What a talent! Also, one time I put 29 grapes in my mouth and then my sister made me eat them all. Don't be jealous of my skills, I'm SURE you have your own talents...somewhere.

I have plenty of more talents/oddities about me but you're probably overwhelmed at my awesomeness. You're welcome.

Oh you're SO neglected!

I haven't writen for a while now and I know you all have been eager with anticipation. "What's she going to say?", "What is she thinking", "I love Rachel". Those were examples of your recent thought processes, I'm sure. And by the way, I love you too. The internet on my computer has been super funky lately so I can't do a full Vegas review for you, yet. So, hold your breath until I can :) Love you! (Except for you, Meghan and Susan)

An Open Letter

Dear Boy in my Film Class,

Would you please shut the hell up? Hearing your personal stories that never relate to class are a bit annoying and distract from my college experience (even though my sister says that UVSC isn't a real college, I still want to take advantage of the "experience").

All the best,
Rachel

Soccer Anyone?

I never played soccer, but I know if I did...this would most likely be a video of me. I have always been an ardent supporter of my younger siblings soccer endeavors. The closest I came to any danger at a soccer game was when I almost got in a fight with a 14 year old boy playing against my brother. What?!? He was being rude so I called him on it and he told me to shut up so I called him a "snot nosed little brat who needs to learn some respect". I think my dad was proud of me. For once. (kidding)

Vegas Baby!

I'm going to Las Vegas next week for work! I'm totally excited! An agency is sending me down to Vegas to interpret during my Spring Break. I'm excited because I enjoy my alone time so it will be nice to get away and spend A LOT of time by myself. I know, weird, right? My mom said that even when I was a little girl I liked being alone. But, if you want to hang with me give me a call and we can play for the week. I'll have a hotel room so don't worry about that :) Well actually, boys, if you want to come you may need to get your own room. Or you can sleep in your car. Any suggestions for something fun and cheap to do in Vegas?