I went to the redwoods. It was an amazing trip. I suggest everyone go at least once in their lives. I went with my mom and we camped for the first two nights before heading to a hotel. It was just so cold, and my mom's airmattress wouldn't stay inflated.

The trees were so cool. Giant thousand year old trees. They don't have a taproot. Their shallow root system doesn't seem enough to hold them in place. The ranger said that they interlock their roots so they keep each other strong. Their's a sunday school lesson in there somewhere.

My apartment is infested. Okay so I've only seen 2, but two means infested. The second one got away so I know for sure that they're alive in the apartment. It's a house centipede. I'm going to bug bomb my apartment. I know they're bad and chemically, but honestly I'd rather suck fumes for a few days than live with the knowledge that THAT is under my bed. I'll let you know how it goes.

On November 20th I was laid off, but all is well. I just finished my first week as an executive secretary at the University of Utah. Being laid off was scary. I just wasn't sure if I was going to be able to find a job in this economy. I was very lucky to find one so quickly, and I really think I'm going to like my new job.

Halloween pictures, finally! I was a princess this year for Halloween as part of a theme that 7 of us decided on. I started on the costume in April and worked at it sporadically throughout the summer.

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person... a partner who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's" Your Personality Type?

The longer I live in my apartment the more interested I get in making it the best it can be. I love cleaning it, and I spend far too much time rearranging furniture in my head. My parents just got me a couch and all day I keep looking at a picture of it. I'm so happy about my couch.

Clearly I've become a victim of the Ikea nesting instinct.

Well, I'm moved in. It went pretty smooth. I had lots of help, and the furniture went in in 45 mins. Afterwards I took everyone to Star of India.

Now I just have lots and lots of unpacking.

I'm moving! Normally I hate moving, but it's not so bad so bad this time since all my stuff is already packed. I sort of enjoy unpacking, because it's nice and exciting to be in a new apartment. I like finding a place for everything to go.

I got the apartment! WooHoo!

My address is now a Harry Potter sort of address. At least I think so. I'll change up the number and the street name in case there are weirdos out there, but:

123 1/2 Bennington Court.

I have a fraction in my address. How cool is that?

I'm waiting to hear about an apartment I applied for. He'll make a decision today.
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I'm dying. I'm so bad at waiting.

So I'm still looking for apartments. There are a bunch out there in my price range, but there are even more people looking. Every apartment I've applied for has 15 other applicants. Hopefully I won't be living with my parents forever.

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I did check out a few roommate situations, but after the last one I checked out I'm wary. I went to see an apartment in the avenues. I brought along my dog since she has a dog, and we needed to see if they got along. The girl that lived there was mysteriously absent, but a friend was there to show me the place. The apartment was perfect. It had everything I've been looking for. I told the friend I was interested, but I needed to meet the girl who lived there (hereafter known as The Girl). The Girl called me later that day (it was a Saturday). We made an appointment for the next day.

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I went over the next day at 1PM. When The Girl answered the door she was in her pajamas, no bra, hair clearly not done. We talked for an hour. I thought she was weird, but I'm never really home much so I didn't think it would matter. We agreed I would move in after the first of October, and I gave her a check for my deposit.

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Later that night I noticed I had a voicemail on my phone from The Girl, but she was clearly leaving a message for someone else named Darla. The message said something about taking a deposit from someone but not being sure about them, and did Darla want to move in. It was 10PM when I got the message, but even though it was late I called her back and left a message saying that I wanted my deposit back. She called me back 10 mins later and told me she was sorry, and that her last roommate was mean to her, which I guess means that she thinks I'll be mean.

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The day after work I stopped by her house to pick up my check (which I'd already put a stop payment on). She totally wussed out, and instead of giving the check to me herself she left it in an envelope with a note that said:

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My concerns were from a previous roommate who had some problems and I realize that is not you and again I am very sorry.

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No explanation as to why she thought I'd be mean or have problems, or why she offered me the place only to change her mind an hour later. Strange.

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I'm glad I don't live with her.

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Oh, and apparently Darla didn't want to live there. The Girl is still putting up ads for the spot everyday.

Running lasted until June. When it started to heat up outside running got a lot less fun. Oh well.

I spent the summer in my parents spare bedroom. I had $3000 left in my student loan, and I just wanted to be rid of it. I can happily say that I am now completely free of any debt whatsoever. To be 31 though, and living with your parents is hard, and a bit shameful.

I'm apartment hunting, which is harder than normal since I have a dog. This time I definately want my own place. I'm leaning toword a 2 bedroom to use the 2nd as a sewing room, but I think what I'll end up doing is getting 1 bedroom and letting my sewing take up the living room during the summer.

I haven't posted here in a while, but I've started a new project so I'm interested in documenting it. I'm taking up running. I'm starting with the Couch to 5K method. The details are here. I'm just finishing up week 3.

I run 3 times a week Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Right now I've been running on a treadmill because it's easier to keep the timing and distance with Couch to 5K. In 5 weeks when I'm done with the program I'll start running outside.

So far it's been easy. I feel like I'm ready for each new weeks workout when it comes. I'm a bit worried about this next one. It feels like a big jump to me. I'm never tired or sore after running, mostly I just need to convince my lungs that they are meant to work that hard at times.

I really like running. I kind of didn't think I would. I think I'll like being a runner.

One of my coworkers is experiencing her first Utah winter. Just before Christmas she bought this poinsetta, and when it inevitably started to die, in frustration she declared that when it was dead she was moving. She's been frustrated with the snow and cold, and a bit depressed.

The next day (yesterday) I bought her a little dracaena plant and snuck it into her office while she was out. You know, a back up plant. All day she's been laughing and asking everyone where it came from. Since she's in the next office over I can hear her good mood through the wall.

Best $5 I've ever spent.

My sewing room is on the back of the house. I share it with the washer-dryer and a couple of shelving units full of storage boxes. There's no heat, which basically means it's a lean-to and not a room. When I sew I have to clear off the laundry piles and plug in a rather large space heater. Winter is not usually my most prolific time of sewing, but lately I've got the itch. Thing is...I have nothing to sew. Nothing fun anyway. The girls still haven't cemented a theme for the upcoming Halloween, and normal clothes aren't fun. It's all rules and orderliness. Halloween I can really shake things, make whatever I want. No rules.

Maybe I'll embroider something. Maybe that will satisfy this urge. All I need is a sketch or drawing of something. My favorite to date was the treasure map I made for halloween. I impressed all the little old ladies with that beauty.