Hair

I have a hair appointment scheduled in a few weeks and I'm trying to figure out what color to dye my hair. There are so many options for blonde.

There's too blonde:

Medium blonde:

And not enough blonde:

Right now, I'm "not enough blonde". I want something in between "too blonde" and "medium blonde"....but I'm having a hard time finding the right color in a photo. I have the image in my head, but need an example...

I really like this color. I think it would look great with my skin tone, especially with summer coming up. I know my skin will get a little darker, so the brighter blonde would look great. And it still looks like a natural blonde, which is an absolutely must!

I think we found the winner!

What do you think?

Why is it always my responsibility?

One of the things that has really been upsetting to me lately is the fact that out of all my friends, I seem to be the only one who invites anyone anywhere. How come I have to be the one to pursue these ideas? How come I always have to do the inviting, but rarely get invited anywhere? It's becoming a pain in the ass. I don't think I should have to go to efforts of figuring out something that I want to do, then try to get some friends to join me. Hell, I should just do them on my own. Forget inviting people who don't have the decency to be creative and come up with ideas.

And what about the flaky people who you care about and enjoy being with, but who don't give a damn about you and are only selfish people who do what they want? What about those people? My best friend was in a different state for four months and when she returns she doesn't even bother to call me to let me know that she's here. Instead, she finds other "more important" friends to hang out with. What a selfish thing to do!

I am in desperate need for a change. Honestly, I'm sick of the people in my life. I'm sick of babysitting and taking care of everything. Do I need to move or something? What can I do? My family is here, my "friends" are here, my job is here, my life is here. Should I give all of that up to experience something different; experience people who DO give a damn; experience life changing things? I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. It's something that I need to decide on my own and there's no one who can help my decision. It's definitely been something I've been thinking about for a long time now. Years, in fact. I just have never had the guts to actually do it.

Blogging

Blogging has become such a huge part of society. I'm hearing about celebrities "setting the record straight" through their blogs. This has encouraged me to blog more...not that anyone actually reads my blog...but it helps me break up my thoughts and look at everything from the broader scope.

My friend, Amy, just got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Bob. I'm so excited for the two of them!! It's been a long time coming! I'm going up to Boise in a few weeks to visit and help out with anything I can for the wedding. I like Boise a lot. It's a fun city with a great nightlife...unlike Salt Lake City. I definitely need to get away for a few days. I can't wait!

The ski season is almost over. One of my hometown resorts, Deer Valley, is planning on closing Easter weekend. I hope I can get out a few more times before then. I'm planning on going every weekend (only three more weekends left). I have been skiing every weekend, and I think I've gotten in a good 50 days. It's been a good year. The snow wasn't there this year, but I was able to get out a lot more than I did last year. I'm trying to take full advantage of my season passes!

Speaking of Easter, it's just around the corner! Easter is one of my favorite religious holidays. I enjoy going to church on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday morning. We have a great brunch at my church on Easter. I'm too old for an egg hunt, but a few years ago, my friend, Lauren, and I decided on spray painting beer bottles to look like Easter eggs. We made up a game. One person would go out into the yard and hide eight beers. The other two would then run around looking for the beers (much like an egg hunt), and as soon as one was found, they had to chug it before they could go looking for another one. WOW! We had such a great time doing it! We haven't played it since. Maybe this year is the year to get back into it!

I'm going to New York over Memorial Day weekend to visit my brother who lives out there. I have always envied my brother. He moved to Chicago in his 3rd year of college, and continued living there for an additional two years afterwards. He then decided to move to NYC to pursue his film career. He now works for BET as a camera operator and gaining the experience of a lifetime. I can't wait to go out there and see New York as it is meant to be seen. Last time I was out there, I saw the tourist attractions, but this time, I want to see the local attractions. Any suggestions??

Spring begins this Friday. I'm excited for summer, but I will miss winter. I love winter! I love the snow and I love to ski. But I had a good five months of skiing, so I'm ready for it to end. Spring is almost like a new beginning for everyone. The flowers come out and start a new life; grass grows new; blue skies bring thoughts of happiness and hope.

Looking back at the last year of my life, a new beginning is exactly what I need. There have been a lot of disappointments in the last year. I have been the happiest I've ever been, but then lost it all and experienced one of the most difficult things of my life...love. I also had to put my dog down; the dog I had for 16 years. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, and I have experienced a lot of death in my life.

I almost feel like I need to leave Utah in order to experience the new things that I need in my life. I absolutely love Utah, and I love Park City and my job. But I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck. The economy is so horrible right now that finding another job is nearly impossible. It's definitely not the time to start looking. My 20-year plan has suddenly become a 4-month plan. I must decide what to do with my life and where I want it to go. I can't continue living in my parents house. I need to live on my own and be independent! That is one of the things I still have, but there's not much left.

Spring into change!

Diversity

I firmly believe that travel provides so much for human nature. It gives you the opportunity to experience new and challenging things, become diversified and cultured. There are so many different lifestyles in the world that being able to witness those things would give you a broader range on who you yourself are. I think being more cultured makes you a more humble person; a better person. And one of the biggest parts of my life is being more open-minded and being able to see people (and the world) for who they are, rather than judging them.

Overall, I think America is a very closed-minded, stubborn country. Sure, we are the most diverse country in the world, but we are set in our ways. My religion is a perfect example of that. Actually, all religion is a perfect example of that. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best, "An individual has not started living until he has risen above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." That quote describes my every reason to vote for President Obama. Maybe Obama doesn't stand for everything that I personally believe in, but he stands for everything that I want for my country as a whole.

I look at my family and realize how different I am. I have different views and opinions on almost every subject. Yes, I believe 100% in my religion, but I don't think that should be displayed in my political views. Politics are meant to benefit a group of people, not one single individual.

Here's how I see it: I personally am pro-life. However, there are many women out there who think they should have rights for their body and those rights should allow for them to have an abortion. This is where I vote pro-choice, otherwise, this goes against The Constitution and our overall human rights.

Basically, what I am getting at, is I think that everyone should have the opportunity to travel and witness the beauty of the world and of all the amazing different cultures that God has provided us. I rarely get out of Utah, and we all know how red this state is. One of my goals in life is to travel the world. Traveling changes you. It makes you a better person. I don't want to be so selfish and closed-minded as I appear to be. I want to make a difference and help those in need. I want to go to Africa and help build a school for the children who don't have as many opprotunities as I do.

I am infatuated with the Travel Channel. I love No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. He travels to the most exotic places, and the most amazing part of his show is that he doesn't do the touristy things. He has a tour guide from the country who takes him to all the places that all the locals love. That's what kind of travel I want to do. I want to be apart of the local culture. Isn't that what travel is all about?

Everyone's an asshole

No matter how close you are to a person, how much you know them, how much you trust them, they are still selfish assholes. I don't think there is a single person in this world who doesn't think about themselves first, with the exception of Ghandi.


I have this friend. She can be the coolest person in the world. I've known her for 14 years! We're best friends. But she is the flakiest person I know. Don't expect to keep plans with her because she'll just ditch you.

Then, there's this guy whom I love. Things were going great, we were really good friends. Then I tell him how I feel and he tells me he's dating a flight attendant. My heart shattered, my legs went numb, and now I'm watching him with someone else while tears well up in my eyes...oh, our friendship is now nonexistant.

I thought life was all about trust. Isn't that how we're supposed to get through it, by trusting the people around us to help us and be there for us? WRONG! Life is all about YOU! Life is about being selfish, learning how to get through things on your own, and taking everyone out while you're at it. Look at the most successful people in the world. They didn't get to be millioinaires and billionaires by being kind and helping others. They got to the top through narcissism.

Moral: Think of yourself and yourself only. Don't expect happiness. You'll never get anywhere in life by trusting others. You'll just end up lonely and depressed.

25 Random Facts

There is this post going around on Facebook that asks you to fill out 25 random facts about yourself, then tag 25 people. In turn, those 25 people will fill out 25 random facts, tag 25 people, and it goes on and on. I thought I'd post by 25 random facts on here, but spice it up a bit!

1. I have been skiing since the ripe age of 1.5 years old. Basically, as soon as I could walk, my father pushed me down a snowy hill with two plastic planks on my feet.
2. My great grandmother was a survivor of the Titanic. When I was in high school, we took a trip to Sweden to visit our relatives. We found out that my great grandmother's fiance came back to Sweden from the US to bring her to America with him. My grandmother was in the 2nd to last life boat and her fiance tried to get in with her. He was shot and killed.
3. My great grandfather was a politician in Chicago, and whacked by Bugsy Moran, mob boss of the Polish mafia. Bugsy Moran was whacked by Al Capone.
4. My obsession with the HBO series, The Sopranos, is indescribable. I have seen every single episode at least 5 times, if not more, and will watch them all many many more times.
5. My biggest fantasy is to travel to every country in the world. I have a life list that includes some of the specific things I want to do in each country. It includes, yodling in Switzerland, meditating with the monks in Thailand, watching the flying sharks in South Africa, Octoberfest in Germany, etc.
6. I would love to take a month or two to volunteer my time and efforts in Africa. There are so many volunteer programs that go to the countries in Africa to help build homes or schools, or help make the water drinkable. It would be such an honor to help!
7. I can ski anywhere in the country for FREE. I have the privelege of working for the US Ski and Snowboard Association. We can request gold passes that will allow us to ski at any resort!
8. I work at an Olympic Training Facility and have the opportunity to watch Olympic athletes put their heart and soul into the training to become gold medalists. I can't think of anything more motivational!
9. I have to have a schedule or some kind of plan in my everyday life. I'm not that spontaneous, but can be....sometimes! I think having a plan helps you become a successful person overall.
10. I have a 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year plan. My yearly plans may be cut back to monthly due to the economy.
11. I create short-term and long-term goals that I ALWAYS complete. I guess it's the athlete in me. I wouldn't be able to achieve anything if there weren't goals to strive for.
12. I'm pretty low maintenance, not like the typical girl. It takes me 20 minutes max to get ready, either for a regular day, or a night out on the town. I'm pretty casual in my every day life.
13. I hope to one day be a sports agent or a special agent (in organized crime, obviously). A sports agent would require law school. A special agent has different requirements, but equally difficult. I would be proud to either.
14. I'm very punctual. I hate procrastinating and I hate being late.
15. I strongly believe that Brett Favre should have retired as a Packer. His comeback was a disappointment, and his trade to the Jets was a shame.
16. When I read a book, I can't stop in the middle of a chapter. I lose my place and usually re-read several sentences or paragraphs. I have to stop a place that's meant for breaking.
17. I am very religious and have been attending the same church my entire life, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. I was baptized, confirmed, and will one day be married there.
18. I could possibly live off of bratwurst, cheese, and beer. The typical choice for a true Cheesehead.
19. If I ever became a fan of a football team other than the Packers, I would be disowned. My family is proud to be from Wisconsin, and proud to be Pack fans!
20. My brother is a camera operator for the Black Entertainment Television network. He is one of the few white people working for the company. He loves it!
21. I don't like talking on the phone in front of other people. There's something about it that makes me nervous. Usually when people call when others are around, I will ignore them and call back at a time when I'm alone.
22. I am, and always will be, an athlete. I have been playing sports for as long as I can remember. I love everything about sports.
23. I don't like getting help with things. I think it's better for people to figure things out on their own....which is probably why I suffered in Math.
24. I quite possibly could be the coolest person you know. Fact!
25. All of my DVDs are alphabetized. I'm very proud of my DVD collection and my love for films. There's a lot about the films I watch that make me who I am. Movies are so powerful and really can change someone's life. Movies in general have definitely changed my daily life, in that, most of my daily vocabulary is movie quotes.

There's a lot more to me than just these 25 facts, but it's a start!

Sundance 2009

Another year of Sundance begins today. This will be my 11th consecutive year attending the festival. My experience at the festival has given me low expectations throughout the years. They keep telling the locals that there will be more tickets available to the films, but for the past five years or so, it feels like the tickets are minimal. I used to be able to get tickets to all the movies I wanted, and that included the opening night film. Now, I basically go through my list, crossing out all the films that are sold out, and only get the ones at the bottom.

Sundance used to be different. It used to be fun! I'll be honest, when I was younger, I would go to the films depending on the celebrities that were involved. Now, I'm more involved with the films themselves. I have seen too many horrible films at Sundance. It's not worth it anymore.

Main Street is even different. The young people around the area have discovered how amazing the festival is and flock to Park City to see celebrities. But because they are doing that, the celebrities don't go to Main anymore. I used to see Jake Gyllenhaal, the cast of That 70s Show, and Luke Wilson walking up the street, but now, you can't catch a glimpse of anyone. This year, they have completely shut down the street to vehicles because it has gotten so big. There is no parking on Main, and the chance of finding parking on Swede Alley (the street behind Main) is slim to none.

Basically, the Sundance Film Festival is becoming a circus and is no longer fun. Sure, I'll still attend, but I think there may be a point in the next few years where it just won't be worth it anymore. Purchasing tickets has already been disappointing for the last few years and is becoming more and more depressing when you don't get the movies you want. But, what can you do? Being a local doesn't really have it's benefits anymore. It's discouraging and fustrating.