Useless Musings

I once read a book about dating (in high school- how hilarious that I thought it mattered then) that said every woman has exactly the love life she wants. That is certainly a comment worth debating, but for whatever reason it has stuck with me the past few years (just two years shy of a decade actually) and as I've mulled it over, I really think it may be true.
You can always find what you're looking for. If you want to just have fun, then by golly it will find you. For example, I have always appreciated being able to tell a good story, and what do you know, events in my life keep occurring that render my repertoire ever current for girls nights or long hours at work. Just when I think I've reached a cap on good stories, things like going jogging lead to an unexpected kiss under the stars, the temple becomes a happening place for getting dates, and going to dinner results in a reunion with the star of one of my more dramatic tales. And that's just this week.
I do appreciate being amused, and the goal is to eventually find someone who contributes to an entertaining life.

To Pandora

Dear Pandora Internet Radio,

When you play country songs and Christian rock on my Justin Bieber/One Direction/Bruno Mars station, it makes me feel like you have ulterior motives... to ruin my life.

You're only sending more people to Spotify and Grooveshark, which, lucky for you, I have not entertained yet. Your days are numbered, however.

Love,
Caitlan

It's my blog and I'll post what I want to

First of all, I absolutely love this song. One Direction is so cute! If this video doesn't make you feel a little bit better about life in general, well, I don't know what will.

And, I haven't posted in a while, so I figure it's time for an update. I'm coming up on one year of being home from my mission, and I think I can say it has been one of the craziest years of my individual life. I say individual life because I have had crazier/harder times, but they were more like hard times for my family, and it was something that we went through together. This past year though, it has been mostly an independent journey, and it was largely a process of learning to stand on my own feet and become more self reliant in a lot of ways.

I just feel like my life is leveling out, and slowing down. And I am grateful!! It's been interesting transitioning from a mission, and I was a fool to think I was somehow exempt from that transition. I guess it was just different than I expected, and so I thought I was immune. And don't get me wrong- I can fully accept that I'm still transitioning. But that's what life is, isn't it? Just one adaptation to the next. Anyway, I feel like I'm coming to a place in my life where things are more stable, and I can take things in stride. Part of that stability, however, is coming to terms with progression instead of perfection.

This is still a work in progress, but for a while I would keep thinking, "Ok! I'm 23, so... I should be handling things right by now!" I mean come on, 23 is the age where you start doing everything right... right? Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong, at least for me. I have definitely made marked progress since say 21, but I still do and say things I shouldn't. All the time. But, part of my leveling out of life is just letting go of these expectations and just trying to be better today than yesterday, step by step.

Speaking of step by step, line upon line sort of stuff, I gave a talk in church about two weeks ago about becoming like Christ. I referenced a talk by Elder Oaks that discusses how life is a measure of what we've become as opposed to a balance of good acts and bad. In preparing, I learned a lot about having patience with myself, and recognizing that there is peace to be found in the process, not just the destination we may never reach in this life.

So those are my thoughts. I do things wrong, but at least I'm getting better. :)

Fun Fact: Tree Sap Removal

This was so unexpected, and so effective, that I had to share- if you need to get tree sap out of your clothing, just use hand sanitizer! I googled it, and this seemed like the best option for my poor college supply of cleaning agents. So, I generously squeezed sanitizer all over the sap on my clothes, and in a matter of minutes it was like it never happened! Just apply sanitizer, rub a bit, rinse, and you're good!

......

You would think I would have come across this sooner. ;)

Zucchini!!

Yesterday my roommate Angie and I were in ward correlation (a mostly productive church meeting, minus a few side conversations here and there) and in the midst of discussing ward activities, one of the leaders mentioned he had a box of zucchini from his garden. Angie and I both got excited at the prospect of zucchini bread when he said it was up for grabs. So, we followed him to his house, picked a squash, came home, and went to town on the child sized vegetable. Please enjoy the adventure that ensued via photo.

It was sooooooo delicious. And that crazy huge zucchini yielded 20 cups grated! Woohoo zucchini bread for the rest of the summer!

As a sidenote, best quote of the day:

"Um, no way. I can't date him because he has less than 100 facebook friends."

How do I contact thee... Let me count the ways

So today Jessie and I were comparing notes on these online calorie tracker programs, and discovered it also has a messaging feature! I promptly sent Jessie a stupid message (stupid because of content and also because she is sitting across the room). As I was typing the message, it occurred to me how many channels were available to me simply to tell her today was Saturday, which then evolved to how many ways there are to just contact anyone these days. Let us begin.

Face to face communication: Considered a luxury. Used for times when what we have to say is especially important or exciting. If I spend time with someone face to face, it means I have decided my time with them is more valuable than it would be with someone else at that moment, and I am there because I want to be.

Phone Call: When face to face is not possible. Still something I reserve for those I consider more important than others, or- if they are unable to communicate in another way, I guess I'll use a call on them.

Texting: My message is not of utmost importance, but I'd still like you to see it before the day ends. I don't necessarily expect or need a response soon, but as mentioned, the hope is for a reply within 24 hours.

Email: Usually just for work or school. I don't actually expect to hear back, unless you're like, over 40, and this is still the way you communicate.

Google Chat: Hey! We're both online at the same time, we might as well talk about what we're doing online! Obviously a google chat conversation is not priority, it is a bonus to whatever else you were initially doing.

Facebook message: More pressing than an email, but still low on the urgency list.

Facebook post: I want everyone to know that I am funny and you are funny and we are friends.

Facebook chat: All of the above options are either inconvenient or have failed.

MyFitnessPal messaging: Joke.

Linked In: I am on it, but not savvy enough to use it. Do not expect a response if you contact me this way.

Blogging: Mass communication. Or I have something to say, but to no one in particular. However, leaving a comment on someone's blog is a good way to let them know you are thinking of them or that you notice their posts without really expecting any sort of response in return. Passive thoughtfulness, perhaps.

An Actual Letter: For things like birthday cards and thank you notes. Or a missionary. Virtually unheard of otherwise.

Ah what a great world we live in. When something monumental happens, expect to find out via 11 different modes of communication. And I don't even have a smartphone.