snowboarding

Today, I blew off work and went to Kelly Canyon. Alone. Snowboarding alone lends for a LOT of free-thinking time. Here are some thoughts I thunk while I played today:

Defying gravity-- if I don't turn fast enough, sometimes I end up going back UP the mountain. On another note, if I try to turn while going too fast, I can also defy gravity. Momentarily. Until I land.

Leona Lewis isn't risk-inspiring snowboarding music. Funnily, Sarah McLaughlin is. Who knew?

Lots of people wear matching pants and coats (like the same plaid pattern on top and bottom). Should I be looking for pot pants to go with my pot coat? Could I be one big head-to-toe pot plant? SHOULD I be?

I found someone with a cooler coat than mine. Mexican blanket. Except then I saw another guy with the same coat. Not so cool when it's duplicated. Dang Tara has my same pot coat. Its value is automatically depreciated. Except, Tara's pretty cool, so the value went back up a bit.

The chair lift caught my left calf TWICE in the same spot. I'll never be able to stretch that muscle out again.

I shouldn't be driving my Blazer after carving all over the mountain on my snowboard. I get to thinking I can carve the roads like I can the powder. Doesn't quite have the same effect.

Lots of thoughts are centered around music when you download a bunch of songs you're unfamiliar with. "Heel side ... toe side ... don't catch an edge ... avoid that skiier ... what the crap is this song? ... crap. Another skiier. Ouch. Dang song."

Oh, and concerning music (document this because this may be the ONLY good thing I ever have to say about Twilight) ... the soundtrack for New Moon has some good crap on it! I downloaded it because I like some of the artists, and if I don't look at my player when the music comes on, I actually like it! (if I look at my player and see that it's from Twilight, I get an icky taste in my mouth and have to find a piece of gum.)

Speaking of icky tastes ... I need to keep pickle juice in a thermos. I get crazy muscle cramps, usually in my feet and legs. Snowboarding brings them out in full fury. Pickle juice seems to help. It's hard to find up there.

Seventeen-year-old boys think "sharks eating cats" is "wicked awesome." Well duh. It IS!!

I really love snowboarding on New Years Eve!

Thanks, Cody, for the free pass, and Karla, for the day off work!

I'll be home for Christmas

If "home" means Grandma's house down in Utah. But that's what I meant, really. That's just where Christmas happens.

That's one thing I don't understand. Why would anyone want to stay home for Christmas? Nuh-uh. Take me to Grandma and Grandpa's and give me some crazy-fun cousins and a wild game of Wackee Six, and I'm a happy girl. Give me some cookie dough and candy cane ice cream to go along with it, and I'm done for. Guess what? I'm ready for all of the above in just a few short days!

One other thing I don't get--off years. Ya know, those years when all the family goes to the in-laws instead of to your house for Christmas. I have quite a few friends with married siblings and this year seems to be everyone's off year! That just means that it's only the single kids at home. The siblings, spouses and offspring are all in Colorado, Utah, California and Rigby. My family's never done that. We ALL show up at Grandma's! Which makes me wonder ... what did the Silvester grandparents do at Christmastime? Did anyone go to their house? I never did. SAD!

But this year is sort of an off year for me. I won't see these guys. They're in California with some of Aunt Lizette's family. I never considered the option of some of my family not being there for Christmas. I'll miss them. But maybe my camera will survive this holiday without crashing to the hardwood floor after I've been tackled by these sweet/crazy boys!

We leave Thursday night after dad gets off work for the drive down to Grandma's. You'd better believe I'll be watching the sky on the the drive for Santa's sleigh. Mom's already planning to torture dad with the Osmonds and Carpenters Christmas music, and I'm trying to figure out how to fit my snowboard with me in the back seat of the Grand Prix.

Merry Christmas, Friends!

Wannabe

I wannabe a writer like my cousin Kylie or my friend Valerie.
I wannabe a photographer/life capturer like my friend Kylie T.
I wannabe a word artist/humorist like my roommate Gina.
I'm aspiring. Until then, you all get my blog as it is. Sporadic. Uncensored.

Thoughts of the day:
I've never been one to stick with the same brand of stuff. I'll always have my favorite foods, but every time I buy lotion, face wash, shampoo, deoderant ... I come home with something different. It's not that nothing sells me. I just don't pay enough attention to details. This year, I finally zeroed in on a foundation cream and an eyeliner that I'm gonna stick with. Don't ask me the names. I'm not that detail-oriented. I now have a favorite razor--Venus something (I'm not picky about the second part.)
Today, I decided I have a favorite shampoo/conditioner. My hair does whatever the heck it wants to do anyway, so I haven't usually bothered. (although it TOTALLY rebels if I go with the cheap VO5 or Suave stuffs.) A couple months ago, I bought Garnier Fruictise's Wonder Waves. My bald friend asked me if it would make me fly. It didn't. But I've recently discovered that when i get the curly shampoos, my hair doesn't know what to do with that kind of permission. It'll go in ringlets and then change direction halfway through, sometimes defying gravity and doing a roller coaster-inpired loop upwards before spiraling back down. Not what I had in mind.
Recently, I bought this:
and I love it. So does my hair. We're all gonna get along great.

Yesterday, I bought boots. The store sold more than one pair that day. My roommate Gina has good taste. The shoe line-up by the front door is bound to get really confusing. I've been working on Christmas projects. Holy crap, have I! Pictures and details to come. But for now, I can't spoil the surprise--or stay up any later than I already have.

My friend Kylee's grandma's starting her third week in the hospital. She's not doing well. Please keep my Kylee and her family in your prayers.

Happy Christmas week!

what I do late at night because I'm not taking finals ...

Brookie & Lisa VS Gina, Kylee and Brooker (me).
We have a LOT of fun together. (and I mean A LOT!!)
It's only natural that something like this happens:

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Hygiene delays

I should be in the shower right now.
I should actually have showed nearly an hour ago.
I still haven't.
Blogs are distracting.
I've read a lot and have posted very little.
It's about dang time I step up again.
Since I'm already following the format, I'm going to copy Kylie's idea of one-sentence summaries.
I have more to summarize than just one day.
I also have a lot of Kylie/Kylee's in my life, but only one can take the credit for the one-sentence thing.
I've spent a significant amount of time with all 4 Kylie/Kylee's today.
I only saw one of them physically, but thoughts and blog interaction count, too.
These sentences really are updating NOTHING but random thoughts.
My laundry pile is growing on the floor because my laundry basket is harboring Christmas projects.
I need to work on both Christmas projects AND laundry.
Mom had a hysterectomy yesterday.
She didn't appreciate it when I greeted her in the hospital with the question, "Do I now have two dads?"
What do you get a sister missionary for Christmas?
Gravity got the best of me and my black pottery statue from Mexico.
There is not a single brown scarf in all of Idaho Falls that's appropriate for my mom for Christmas.
I like buying myself Christmas presents.
The shoes I wore today are NOT puddle proof.
And Idaho Falls is melting.
I'm gonna shower so other Brooke can't claim to be the ONLY one at our house who does.

Do you remember that time ...

when Jose forever changed the way we say "Do you .." "Joo wanna Corona?" "Joo need an anatomy lesson?"

when Kylee got flipped over by a tidal wave in the "lazy river"?

when we bought waterpark tickets off the black market?

when Jose poured water on Chennelle over and over and over again without realizing it?

when we were kidnapped in a scary van and none of us really knew where we were being taken?

when we shimmied ... ALL THE TIME?

when Omar danced? Oh yes.

when we got caught in a tornado and almost got blown overboard?

when our maid made a towel replica of that monster off of Star Trek and left it on Nicole's bed?

when we bought souvenir underwears?

when we stalked the gold lady like the paparazzi?

when Kylee tried to eat a butterfly?

when Kylee 'ta-daa-ed' around EVERY corner?

we checked out the itinerary every day so we wouldn't miss a trip, a show or a meal?

when we had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dinners?

when we needed Willie to photoshop, but didn't want him to use the lasso? Rope burn!

when I was a vampire?

when I slacked off and left Kylee alone to steer the kayak?

when we went down a water slide through the SHARK TANK?

when I couldn't work the magnet door?

when Ricky's hair almost ate us all?

when I thought a mojito was some kind of enchilada?

when we thought we were at the southernmost point of the U.S., but we weren't really sure where we were?

when Kylee was a dolphin?

when Chennelle posed provocatively for pictures?

when Jose was concerned about Kylee's bubble gum?

when Inyoface brought us all sorts of crazy food?

when Kylee practically stood on her head trying to set up the camera timer?

when we saw the cutest little fat boy in the world?

when Jose shook his groove thing for more tips?

when Chennelle learned to breathe underwater?

when we could never decide what kind of bread we wanted and Jose's not so good at picking it with his eyes closed?

when Nicole beat Chennelle with a kayak paddle?

when Natalyn tried to blame Chennelle for ordering too much food.

when we saw LeQueesha shakin' what her mama gave her ... and it coulda been dangerous?

when we avoided all of the elevators?

when creepy guy tried to dance with Kylee and instead he kissed some lady's face?

when I had a man "all folded up" in my suitcase?

when we spent all of our time on the pool deck, but never got in the pool?

when I cry like a frog?

when we were at the beach on red flag day?

when we ate chocolate covered key lime pies while running across the island of Key West?

we were always laughing at something inappropriate?

when we went on a cruise to the BAHAMAS????

We sleep around ...

his Thanksgiving, I discovered a few family traditions that aren't necessarily considered traditions ... they just end up happening EVERY year.

I'll explain the title first, so you don't get the wrong idea. We all go to my grandparents' house in Cedar Hills, Utah for Thanksgiving. There are two families that stay overnight. Grandma and Grandpa have a huge house, but not all rooms are valued the same. The most coveted room is the middle room. It's basically empty with a big, California King-sized bed. HEAVEN. The secondmost sought-after room is the "purple room" that's actually more pink than purple. I think its original decor (lots of antique dress-ups and dolls and photos) were displayed in my Aunt Vicki's old bedroom in their house in Orem. Vicki's room had purple lilac wallpaper. Even though the new room only has a hint of purple, we still call it the purple room. It contains a queen size bed with a killer footboard (makes it really hard for my 6-foot frame to hang off the end). The last room goes to the person(s) at the bottom of the totem pole. The "Sunflower room" has been redecorated, and the only sunflowers can now be found on the sheets of the twin-sized day bed and its trundle. The room also houses all of Grandma's sewing supplies and the extra furniture when the family room has to be cleaned out to make room for people and tables. So, here went the sleeping arrangments of the week: Wednesday night, Lori, Rod and Addison got the King bed. My mom got the purple room, and Alex and Amanda (who stayed over to help Grandma with preparations) got the sunflower room. Thursday night, Alex and Amanda went home, I got the sunflower room, Dad joined mom in the purple room, and Lori, Rod and Addison stayed in the king. Friday, Lori, Rod and Addie went home. SO, We all moved up! Mom and Dad moved to the King and I got the purple room, leaving Amanda's socks alone in the Sunflower room. We pretty much all fart in each others' sheets and argue over the beds. After Thanksgiving naps are free game. If somebody's already in your spot, you gotta find another.

Other traditions:

Danielle makes a turkey. She's grown up and gotten all culinary and has provided us with the bird for several years now.

Dessert. There are always LOTS of pies. I don't like them. When the pies come out, Grandma and I run for the cookie dough.

Movie. The day after Thanksgiving, we all go to a movie as a family. I HATE that this tradition has adapted. It used to be that all 15 or more of us would take up a row or two in one theater. Not anymore. All of my relatives have developed a rebellion against each others' tastes. This year, we were split up into three different theaters. I didn't even see 3 of my cousins that day. So much for keeping this a family tradition! At least I didn't have to see Twilight. Blind Side is an AWESOME movie, by the way.

(I cheated. This picture's from last year's movie. But still, it's hilarious, so worthy of posting.)

Football: Rise and Shout! I accidentally wore red on Saturday. Had the Utes won, I would have been kicked out of the house. Good thing Grandma and Grandpa are kind and the Cougs won! (they wouldn't have been so kind had they lost)

Shopping. There's always some of it. C'mon. It's Thanksgiving!!

Oh, and my 3 boy cousins (I have 4 boy cousins, but Steven is on his mission in Arizona) always threaten to tackle me. If Steve were there, he'd be in on it, and he'd get the job done. Last year, Makay broke my camera in the process. This year, it was a lot of empty threats. Being the oldest of 11 cousins, I've gotta get used to the idea that a lot of them are now bigger than me.

NOT A TRADITION:
This year, I was SICK! I think somebody put a parasite in my stuffing. Seriously, as soon as I was done eating the main meal, I was DONE. I'll spare you the details. 3 days later, I'm eating some rice chex and hoping that I've met a full recovery. Somehow, I was the only one who got sick. What's that about? Yeah, we're not doing that again. I missed the leftovers, and frankly, never want turkey again.

Oh, and because of the last bit, I didn't get to participate in my FAVORITE tradition: 4-wheeling with the uncles. I always seem to be the only girl. They had to go without me.

Cousin love.