Saturday, August 27, 2011

A Sleepwalkers Day Never Ends

I am sure I did some more walking through the years but I do not remember much more from the younger years.

In high school it started to get really interesting! It all started my junior year of high school when I worked at the little league concession stands. When I got home from school I would head to the concession stand and I worked there until 10 or 11 most nights. Once I got home I always had some homework to get done before I could go to bed. Once I went to bed and was asleep I started to dream that I was at work. I would dream that a customer came to the concession stand counter. I would actually get out of bed and go to my dresser and take care of the customer. Once done with that I would climb back in bed. Once I felt comfortable and ready to sleep (even thought I was sleeping the whole time) another customer would come and I would get out of bed to help them and do the whole thing over again. I did this night after night and many times throughout the night. The strange thing was I knew what I was doing, I knew I was asleep but I still felt I needed to get up every time. The sleep I did get was not very restful.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Tales of a Sleepwalker

I have decided to document not only the happenings in my daily life but also those things that go on late at night when most are sleeping. These stories have entertained many...I hope to accomplish the same here...

My earliest memory of sleepwalking was when I was pretty young. I do not remember much but the image of me digging through a closet. My dad tells me he found me and I said I was looking for the sun.

When I was in junior high my family moved. I always shared a room with my sister Monica. When we were setting up our room I remember we debated whether we should have bunk beds or not, then we went back and forth on who’s bed would go where. That night my dad found me standing in the hallway. He led me back into my room (I remember all of this). I went to Monica’s bed and complained about her being in my bed. My dad told me to sleep in the other bed and we could take care of it in the morning.


In this same house I remember waking up one day with the image of a baby lying on two pillows. I then realized I did not have any pillows on my bed. I walked to the other side of my room and lying in the corner was two pillows and a doll lying on top of them. Random I know.

Lucky for all of you I remember when I sleep walk so there are plenty more stories to come!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Part of it All

This past week I had the opportunity to play softball with my ward. Our stake had a season and a tournament and I played one game in that season. I wanted to go more often but I always talked myself out of it for reasons such as soccer and fear of having to meet new people. The very last game in that tournament I actually showed up to play but they had enough girls so I went home to study. They won that game and in turn won the stake tournament. Since they won they got to go on to the regional tournament.


This is where I come in. Wednesday night was the first game of the tournament I joined the team. That game was fun. Halfway through the game we actually realized we were playing the wrong team. They let us play on. We won 15-0.


Thursday night we had three games to play. The first game was awesome. We were neck in neck with the other team until the last two innings. We ended up winning the game. I kept making minor errors in this game and felt I was not helping the team much but had fun all the same. The announcer took the liberty of calling me Jessie B. It made me cringe every time she called me up to bat. A dear friend on the team went up and asked her to call me Jessica. From then on she would say "Jess-ICA B is up to bat" I will take that any day over Jessie B (said in a whiny voice).

Since we won the first game we had an hour break then we would play in the semi-finals. This game was pretty intense as well. We felt pretty good about where we were at because their pitcher was not that great. However, they put up a good fight and took the game. I did shine in right field though. I caught a pop fly! My batting started shaping up in this game as well.

We had one more game to go. This game was to determine third place. Our excitement had died a little at this point but we played on. This game was a lot of fun. I believe without the pressure of the big win we just had fun. Every time of ran to first base the guy there complemented my swing. After two games I had a lot of practice. We ended up loosing this game but not after we put up a good fight in two extra innings.


By the time we were done playing I was exhausted. What a fun night. What a great group of people. I am finally ready to admit that I am part of a ward and I love it.

Today at church one of the guys sat down in front of me in sacrament meeting and put is hand up in front of me. since I am not use to talking to many people at church it took me a minute to register he was high fiving me!!

Hopefully I will have the team picture to post soon.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Days 3, 4 and 5

Day 3

I will admit this day was not very exciting but I did what I needed to. I am preparing to become a certified orthopaedic nurse. I just need to take a test on all content Orthopaedics and I will have this certification. I basically just looks good and the surgeon I work for wants me to have it. I did a little studying. I also had a very heated conversation with few people on facebook about 90 dollar tickets for people who run out of gas on the I15 in Utah county. One friend felt the new fine was very socialistic. Oh it was a fun conversation. That evening I went with some friends to Syracuse Utah for my friend Cheree. She just got her mission call!! She will be serving in Nashville Tennessee Spanish speaking! I am so excited for her.

Day 4

My day started with a nice walk to the end of the avenues. While I was walking I was studying flash cards on sports injuries. Once to the end of the Avenues I ran/walked back. It was a nice day. After that I hung out with my roommate she loves Netflix TV shows so I always enjoy watching with her. I also went shopping. I was in need of a swim suit for Day 5. After shopping my day was very uneventful. Still enjoyed it.

Day 5

I started my day at 7am packing and preparing for a boat trip!!! A bunch of my guy friends have a friend who has a boat and someone whispered in his ear that I wanted to go boating. So he called me up and planned a trip. We were suppose to be to his house at 8am so my roommate and I made it there ten minutes early. Which is impressive. The other two that were coming with us did not make it till 9am. Not so impressive. We set out for Utah Lake. It was such a fun day. We started by just swimming around the boat. Eventually we tried teaching my roommate to wake board. It was fun we will get her up next time. I went next I got up but was not able to do much. We did some tubing. Had lunch and just lounged around the boat. I absolutely loved it. I was far better than my original plan to sit on the shores of a lake and read.
One thing I found interesting and very flattering was this guy that took us boating. I met him for the first time in April at a friends birthday dinner. We talked some but nothing memorable. Then he was there when I went to the U2 concert. I do not remember anything special about these encounters but apparently he just adores me. In a little sister kinda way. He always tells the boys to invite Jessica. I have not been able to go to anything else until today. So all day he praised me up and down and told everyone (my roommate and two other friends I brought) how wonderful I am. It was funny. As the day progressed he expounded on why he felt I was so wonderful. He liked how I am able to be Mormon but be real and non judgemental as well. He has obviously not had good run ins with Mormons before. At one point he said he really felt there was something to this life that we were preparing for something greater. I told him I completely agree and I know that in our next life we do have an opportunity to be powerful and receive great blessings. I told him that because I believe that I believe we are earning those blessings and showing our dedication and desire for greatness. He loved every word I said.
Today was a reminder of how important it is that we are sharing our light. That we are being Christlike examples. I am grateful he has been able to see that in me. Especially during a time that I feel I need to improve in this area. Apparently I am not doing as bad as I thought. I am grateful for this reminder of who I need to be.
After boating I came home and showered then ran out for dinner with some friends. We wanted to go to a place in Park City but once we got on the road there traffic was backed up for two hours, so we flipped around and went to Charlie Chows. It is a delicious Mongolian Grill. Had great dinner with some great friends.
This week has been so great. I am so glad I took the week off even though I had no real plans. I will also keep you posted on this weekend because it is going to be fun filled!!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Day 1 and 2 of my week off.

Day 1

Monday turned into my catch up day. I got those things done that just needed to be done. Cleaned my room, did laundry and cleaned the kitchen. The best part of the day was the run/walk I went on. I love the Avenues. It is such a fun neighborhood to walk in. Such fun houses and building to see and hidden parks. I just love it. After that run I made lunch and watched Mythbuster "Shark Week". Busting all the myths of Jaws. It was fun I do not watch TV regularly so it was nice to do it because I can this week.
In the evening I read and I went for a walk with a dear friend. Yet another great walk through the Avenues. It was fun to chat and share stories.

Day 2

I set out to pick up another dear friend for our day trip to Antelope Island. I was shocked when I heard there was an island on the Great Salt Lake. I have not made it to the Lake since I moved to Utah so I figure it was time. Once on the island we drove to Garr Ranch and wandered around. We saw tons of Bison on our way to the Ranch. After the Ranch we went on a 3 mile hike to Dooley Knob. It was a great hike. However, on this island there is no shade or trees for that matter. It was noon so the sun beat down on us. Thank goodness for mother Cheree and her snacks. It is the only way I survived. At the top of this island we pondered life.




On the way down the mountain we discovered the millions of spider that lined the trail. We were surprised we had missed them on our way up...they were every where. My favorite moment was when Cheree tried to snap a picture of one but realized she was rather close to several others so she dropped her phone beyond their web.



After the hike we went to the beach side of the island and grabbed some lunch. Buffalo Burgers...quite delicious. Then we walked down to the beach and made our way through the cloud of brine flies and into the muggy waters of the Great Salt Lake. You can walk out quite a distance before it gets deep. It was a nice walk and we watched the brine shrimp swim. Then we headed home. Such a fun trip.

I got home in time to take a very short nap then head out to SOCCER. I love soccer right now it is so much fun. Every Tuesday I play with a fun group of people in North Salt Lake. Tonight's game did not disappoint. We played for a good hour when it started to rain. We played through it a little but then in started to come down hard. Right before we got under the picnic areas it turned to hail. By this time we were soaked to the core. Once the storm blew through and the rainbow appeared we headed out to play some more. This time shoes were squeaking and I was sliding all over the place. It was a great game.


I ended the night at the groccery store and as I toted all of my food and blankets and shoes up the stairs I biffed it. Luckily my head lost momentum and I only bit the step instead of shattering my teeth on it. My only scars are on my fingers from the grocery bags. When it comes to falling up stairs I am skilled.


I am loving this week off!!