Boyfriend for Christmas...

Merry Christmas to me!!!

I had a goal to get A Boyfriend for Christmas this year...and guess what?! I DID!!!!!! It was official today. I am really happy about this.

I was first introduced to him Monday night after FHE by Kirsten. I knew it was love at first sight. He is very handsome. His name is Ryan Hughes. He's romantic and OH so Cheezy. You can find him on the Hallmark channel frequently. It's sort of sudden, but it's going so well, I am taking him to Mexico to meet the family!!

If you want to know more about my Boyfriend for Christmas just follow this link .

Looks Like I am IT!

The rules:
A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

It has been hard coming up with these things on demand. So I am writing the facts/habits about myself that I can think of at this moment. It may change....


1. I can't go to sleep with out chap stick on my lips, a hydrated mouth (must have a cup of water on my night stand for those you-wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-nights-so-thirsty-you-are-about-to-die moments) and lotion on my hands. If I don't have those, I will lay there thinking about the one (s) that I don't have and won't be able to fall asleep. Once I am all situated, though, I fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow. It's a beautiful thing. I feel really bad for those of you insomniacs, I wouldn't be able to handle that!

2. I really like to accessorize. I love matching my earrings, necklaces, shoes, purses and makeup to my outfit. It just makes it so complete. Also a little secret about completing an outfit?! Lip stick and perfume. They can make drab turn into FAB!

3. I love to TRAVEL. It's great to see new things, experience new cultures, and have a change of the normal routine. Mostly I love it to run away from problems/stress/uncomfortable situations. It's a terrible habit, I know! But, when life gets lame I like to book it! (literally) Leaving town is my favorite things to do when there is some turbulence in my life. It can be on a trip to the mountains, down to Tucson, home to UT, or to a far away land. Any of those will do. I come back feeling refreshed and more able to handle the stressors of life.

4. My life is great. I have a great job, I am surrounded by great people, I have so much freedom, I have extra time and money on my hands, and I have SO many opportunities to do amazing things. Life is great!!!

5. I think that I am turning into a neat freak. My bed has to be made everyday, my car can't be dirty, everything has a place (it may not make sense to anyone else---but I know where it's place is) and it bugs me when people move it out of it's place, I love vacuum lines on the carpet, my towels can't be crooked (anyone seen Sleeping with the Enemy?) etc. I clean other people's houses when I visit (right, Mom?). I am sure that I could list other neat freakish things...but those are just a few.

6. I love water. I love drinking it (sometimes a lot of it). I love swimming in it; oceans, lakes, rivers (especially if it is clear). I like playing in it when it is frozen (skiing, sledding, crunching on it while walking on a sidewalk). I like relaxing in it (HOT tub) or while listening to it (river, ocean surf). Love the H2O.

Ok these people are tagged.... Heidi, Kim, Carmen, Naomi, Rachel, Andrea. Have FUN!

Knee How Ma?

Maybe it's the extra time on my hands (still no calling--hehe). Maybe it's because I have wanted to since living in Taiwan. Maybe it's to help me get around when I am in China this summer. Maybe it's motivation to get me to China this summer. Maybe it's because I want to serve a mission there someday. But, whatever the reason....I decided to register for a Conversational Chinese class at the local community college for the upcoming semester. Am I crazy?!? Maybe. Especially since I still have never been successful at saying my Chinese name correctly (Chung Mei Ling). The tone thing is super hard!!! Regardless, I am really excited about my class!

Those of you that speak Chinese will have to tutor me.....

Bittersweet but mostly Bitter.

I was released from being the Relief Society President on Sunday. When I was called 17 months ago... I was VERY overwhelmed. My ONLY previous experience in RS was on a committee for a few short months. So how was I supposed to know the ins and outs of the RS? Well, the Lord definitely qualifies those who He calls! He helped me figure it out. It was bittersweet to see it end (mostly bitter, surprisingly). I really enjoyed my calling. I am sure that there are great things in store for my next calling. I am hoping to be called as "security" for our MENrichment activities. (These are enrichment activities put on by the Elders Quorum). :)

On a lighter, much lighter, note.... I was offered DEER liver this morning by one of my students. Which is disgusting ANYWAY. Who eats deer liver?! It was more disgusting because it was offered at 8 am. Who eats deer liver for breakfast?! AND to top it all off...I have been really sick to my stomach the past couple of days. My diet has mostly consisted of saltines and sprite. SO, that was something I didn't need to hear. I almost tossed my cookies right on my student. It didn't help my nausea, that's for sure! Another very VERY bitter moment.

Spatula City

I found out some interesting news last week. Ok, it's not really news. It's actually quite disturbing. It's more of a rumor that I believe to be true. Regardless, it makes great blogging material. I hesitate telling you this because you may think worse of me...but hopefully you will find it as FUNNY as I do.

You know how some people consider themselves "springboards" for marriage?

For example: We have Guy A, who dates Girlfriend B. Their relationship ends. Soon after, Girl B starts to date Guy C and they end up getting married. Guy A is alone-again. So, he dates Girl D. Their relationship ends. Girl D starts dating Guy E and they get married. Guy A= Alone. Again. Well this pattern continues on and Guy A now prides himself on this talent to marry off every ex-girlfriend. He is a "springboard for marriage". Rumor gets out and girls begin to date him just because they know that once they breakup the next guy that comes along is going to be the one.

Well, I am sad to say, I am not a springboard. I am a spatula. I date a guy, we break up and the next person he dates is another GUY. I turn (or flip) them to the other side.

It happened once, and that once could happen to anyone. But, now I have started to get a little creeped out. I heard (now here's the rumor part) that another guy that I dated is now out of the closet, living with another guy-- you know GAY. Very gay. Creepy. Very Creepy. Jennica dates guy A. Break up. Guy A dates Guy B. Jennica=alone. Jennica dates Guy C. They break up. Guy C dates (and lives with) Guy D. Jennica = alone. Pattern? I think so.

I don't know if I can see this talent getting me any closer to where I want to be. So, I am not going to advertise it too much. :)

Instead of being sad about this little skill---- I actually like to think of it in a positive light. I break up with these guys and they realize that they will never find a girl as GREAT as me. So they give up looking for a GREAT girl (who can compete with JENNICA?!) and decide second best was to look for a great guy. EWWW. Sick. Find a happy place!


To end- I close with a very happy thought given by our own Michael Scott.

Angela: You know this is a luncheon shower. Girls only.

Michael Scott: No problem. The guys are having a little shindig of their own in the warehouse. From 2:30 to 3:15. That is the only time that Bob was available. Sort of a guys' night out. A 'G-N-O' if you will. A 'gno.' Actually it's more of a guys' afternoon in. A G-A-I. A gay. Not-- not... it's uh, not gay. It's, uh, just uh, it's a bridal shower for guys. A guy shower. An hour long shower with guys.

Smashizzzzzle

The state fair is in town. The best thing about the state fair being in town is the DEMOLITION DERBY. If you have never been before, I highly recommend it! You will never experience anything like it. The excitement of cars revving their engines, the destruction when they collide and of course the thrill of fire, smoke and dust. You will leave a better person, I can almost guarantee it. A big group of us from the ward decided to go. Here are a couple of pictures... too bad there aren't any better ones of the actual demolition!

PS Heather and Sam are still dating (even though the above picture suggests otherwise)

PPS This is taken right after a carnival ride.....One that our lives flashed before our eyes. It was very rickety.

PPPS Smashizzzzle was the name of one of the cars. Too bad it was very badly smashizzled in the process and didn't win! It had a great name and a great paint job. For what it's worth it did win the beauty contest before the derby. SO, Congrats SMASHIZZZZLE!

This is, too familiar!

Here I go with the books I am reading...... (wow that didn't take long, did it?)

The latest, is Austenland by Shannon Hale. The book is about a 33 year old single female, who is in love with Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. I am only a few chapters into it and I LOVE it! Here are a couple quotes that hit a little too close to home....

Quote #1:
"Jane watched and re-watched the part where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy look at eachother over the piano, and there's that zing, and her face softens, and he smiles, his chest heaving as though he'd breathe in the sight of her, and his eyes are glistening so that you'd almost think he'd cry....Ah!" (Yeah you know that look!!!!)Quote #2:
"Have you noticed that you refer to any guy you've ever been on a date with as a 'boyfriend'?"

Hmm....does it count if I haven't even been on a date with a guy and I am calling him my 'boyfriend'?


Quote #3:
"At a very young age she had learned to love from [Jane] Austen. And according to her immature understanding at the time, in Austen's world there was no such thing as a fling. Every romance was intended to lead to marriage, ever flirtation just a means to find that partner to cling to forever. So for Jane, when each romance ended with hope still attached, it felt as brutal as divorce. Intense much, Jane? [or Jennica] Oh yes. But what can you do?"

Bottom line: I am loving my new read. It definitely is ringing some bells quite close to home! :) I highly recommend it.

Payday

Teachers aren't in their profession for the money. We are in it for the real paydays. These don't happen every two weeks. They sometimes don't happen every year. BUT, when they happen they are usually big and it makes all of the time in between worthwhile. These paydays happen when you least expect it, usually from the kid you least expect it from and usually on the day that you need it the most.

Today was that day for me. If you have talked to me in the past few months you probably know that this year has been pretty crappy. I have had to deal with some lame politics and serious personality clashes which have made me not like a lot about my job. In fact, this morning I was wondering how I was going to make it though the day.

After school, this boy named Bob* (name changed to protect the innocent and more importantly to protect my booty) who is the only boy in my child development class came in to check out his electronic baby for the week. Bob started telling me all about his childhood in which his father was physically and emotionally abusive to him and even still was emotionally abusive to him. Bob was very open and honest and I could tell really wanted to talk about it. After some time of chatting about his tragic childhood he packed up his things and left. A few moments later, Bob came back into the classroom and said "Miss Castle, I just want to let you know why I am in Child Development. Most people think that it is weird that I am the only boy who is in this class. But, I wanted to take it because one day I want to be a Dad and I don't want to be the kind of Dad that mine was to me. I want to be better. You are my teacher and I just thought that you should know that. I already feel that I am going to be a better Dad because of the things that I have learned in class." Ah..... Cha Ching! Payday! $$$$

Bob, thank you for helping me see why I put up with all of the other junk that I don't like. Thanks for my payday. This paycheck is going into my savings account and should last a long while!

Welcome, me!

I figured the rest of the world is into this whole "blogging" thing. I thought that I'd try it out. :) Now, I know most peeps give up dates on their kids, husband and family and I realize that I have neither, but I still have updates on my life, right?! Or maybe I can talk about the books I am reading, or the shows that I am watching, or the brats that I am teaching....you know---really interesting stuff! :)

Watch out blogging world--here I come!