Sweat Your Heart Out

Did you know I have a pass to the rec center close to my house?

Oh you didn't? Well now you know.

I love the rec pass and the rec center. I have been going to for a month or so with my friend Tiffany H. Super fun.

Although sometimes she calls me a pansy.

Which I guess is all right because it:
a. makes me laugh
2. makes me work harder

So, remember this year's theme "What do I want more?" this goes right a long with it. And, now Tiffany has thought up punishments for other things. For instance, I am trying to give up soda, so for every day I drink a soda she thinks of a punishment at the gym. Tonight it was to run on the elliptical for 2 minutes at 5mph on a level 3.

I almost died.

Seriously.

But then I didn't so good for me.

And now I will think twice about if I really want a soda.

(p.s. I don't love when people say pop v soda. It's a weird thing about me.)

Thirty Four (Read Twenty Four)

I just turned 34.
Bleh.
That's what I think when I think of my age. However, that doesn't mean that I am unhappy to be this age...but it just sounds so OLD! Seriously. If I live as long as my mom...well..in 6 more years I will be midway through my life! Ahhh! Let's hope that my mom lives another 10 to 20 years.

Any who, side track over.

Did you know that I often pick themes for each year?
You didn't? Well, now you know.

This years theme is "What do I want more?" When making any decision I am asking myself this question, or at least I try to.

Let's be honest, it hasn't been going well...I got completely sidetracked...however, I am trying to bring this to the forefront of my mind. For instance, when deciding what to do tonight:

1. Stay home and watch T.V.
2. Go to the gym

I ask, what do I want more? Do I want the life and body that I have or do I want to make changes that going to the gym will help with? Hmmmm....let me think...

GYM.

Feel free to ask what I want more if you see I am facing a dilemma...

Interesting Fact #14

Interesting Fact #14 (about ME): I name my plants. This is not a secret and most of you probably already know this.

Above is one of my plants at work. His name is SPIKE. When I first adopted SPIKE he was just barely poking above his home. Now look at him! SPIKE is a giant!

FYI #1 The plant next to SPIKE is named DEAN. I received both of them in a planter when DEAN passed away.

FYI #2 I love plants and I love them more when they have names!

FYI #3 Someone once told me that I have awful taste when picking names for my plants. That person was wrong and basically and idiot. I love my plant names.

Weird

After school adjusting is weird.
I find that I don't really know what to do with myself.
And that I am a little overwhelmed with the things I placed on "hold" and now have to start doing again and thinking about.

I am kind of regretting placing somethings on "hold".
Darn it. I should have organized my time a little better while in school.
I could have done it all, right?

Anyway, this is a weird place for me to be in.
I feel a little out of sync with my life.
Not quite in the groove

Are you picking up what I am putting down?
(That phrase always makes me giggle.)

Let's hope this doesn't last too long.

Personal Ethics Statement

Have I told you lately that I love my Ethics class? Well, I do.

The classes I have loved most, these last two years, are the classes that make me think. And think. and think. And then make me want to have conversations about what I am thinking about.

I love a good conversation.

In my Ethics class one of our assignments is to write a personal ethics statement. I have been struggling with this assignment. I have googled it, thought about it, asked colleagues about it, and asked a friend who took this class earlier if I could read theirs.

And I am still struggling to write a personal ethics statement. So, I came up with a list of questions and topics to help me know what to include and what issues I want to address.

Family
Friends
All who I come in contact with
Business dealings
Financial responsibilities
Health/Wellness
Is it okay to use the word or feel hate?
What motivates me?
What values do I hold close?
Who do I answer too?
What actions need to be present?
What actions should never be present?
How do I define: Honest, Truth, Just?
How do I speak to others?
Am I kind? Compassionate? Do I act like my Savior in all aspects of my life? Who is my "gauge" in life?
How do handle, think about, fulfill my religious callings and duties?
Where do my priorities lie? With church? God? Work? Family? Friends? Myself?
What do I stand for?
What is my social responsibility? Locally? Globally?
What about my commitment to my country?

These are the questions that I will be answering before I write my personal ethics statement this weekend. Wish me luck!

Summer of Numbers

TEN weeks of classes
FIFETEEN classes I have to attend
TWO presentation to be given
ONE take home exam
SEVEN cases to prepare
TWO papers to write
FORTY THOUSAND dollars (well actually more than this) paid to get me to this point
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE classes I attended
TWO years of my life spent getting more education
ONE MBA diploma earned

NINE days until I fly to see the Koreans
ONE new(er) car to pick up while visiting and drive back to Utah
THREE days and nights of play
ONE HUNDRED SEVETEEN times I will hear "Como Nellie, can I play your iPod?"
TWO birthdays (potentially) to celebrate while there
TWELVE hours to drive back, unless I can do it faster like I did last time
ONE pretty excited Aunt getting to see some cuties!

TEN weeks of prepration until until girls camp
ELEVEN weeks until girls camp
TEN Sundays to get to know the girls
FOUR dinners at girls camp to figure out
TWO activities before girls camp
TWELVE girls that could go to girls camp
TEN girls that I am pretty sure will attend
THREE adult leaders going for sure (including myself)
ONE really excited/nervous me!

SIXTY FOUR days until the Joseph, David, and Frank (oh and Joe and Misun) come to Utah
TWO cute nephews staying at my house to play with
ONE crazy weiner dog
FIVE days to play with the Koreans
SEVENTY NINE the age Ardell will turn on her birthday while the Koreans are visiting
TWO things to celebrate at the party we will have while they are here
ONE MBA graduation
ONE birthday party
FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN the estimated number of times David and Joseph will ask to play the ipod
THREE the current number of different kinds of meats being served at the grad/birth party

ONE exhausting summer
ONE goal accomplished
ONE amazing academic experience completed
ONE week spent at girls camp helping the YW recognize and feel the Spirit and strengthen their testimonies
ONE absolutely amazing summer planned
ONE really excited me!

The List 9.22.10

I have a friend who writes a list everyday and I am priveledged to get the list everyday since I am on the "A" list. A couple of things on today's list mirrored exactly how I have been feeling the last little while so I am stealing part of his list and sharing it...

1.) Looking in a mirror that is reflecting your life is hard. Its hard to see your life actually reflected back. You can cover your life for so long but ultimately you have to look at it.

4.) Sometimes, you hear things, and you really can't 'unring that bell'.

It's HERE

Football season is FINALLY here and well underway. I am very excited to have season tickets again this year (thanks to my brother-in-law Dennis). You may not have known this about me but I love sports but only when I get to go to the stadium, arena, ice rink, etc and watch it live. There is nothing I love more than going to games and Ute Football games is only second to Aggie Hockey games.

This season I am looking forward too:
* The excitement that builds as I am headed to the game.
* Wearing red (except the black out game)...I look HOT in red!
* Tailgating.
* Singing the Utah Man song after every touchdown or field goal.
* Learning about a new penalty at every game (it seems like the Utes get an awful lot of penalties...who knew there were so many different penalties)
* Sitting with Shanni at every game.
* Cheering, screaming and grrrrr-ing.
* Basically EVERYTHING!

Here is to a great season....GOOOOO UTES!

Flying

Time has been flying by.
In just over a week I will start the SECOND and LAST year of my MBA!
I am so excited.
What happened to the month long summer break I had?
It seems like it has only been a couple of days.
I had these big plans.
The biggest plan being home/personal organization.
That was put aside in favor of hanging out with friends.
I have loved every moment.
And...there's always next week for home/personal organization...right?

Trust: Learning How To

Two things in the last couple of days have reminded me of a a time in my life when I had to learn to be patient and put my trust in the Lord.

On Sunday in testimony meeting there were two testimonies that spoke of the Lord's plan versus our plan. They talked of how we need to sometimes "get out of the way" so the that we can move forward on the Lord's plan.

Then tonight (this is cheesy) I saw "Letter's To Juliet" and when Claire wrote the response for Juliet she talked of "What If's" as in "What if I had done this instead of that."

When ever I think of the Lord's plan for me and/or what if I had (insert statement here) I think of the last year of my time in Logan.

Let me just tell you that I was NOT happy to be there. I was excited to graduate college and get started on my life and in my mind that included leaving Logan. In my personal life (friends and such) there seemed to be lost of drama and I spent more than my share of time frustrated, irritated, and crying over the drama.

I graduated in April and during the summer anxiously looked for a job in SLC to no avail. I ended up taking a job in Logan which was NOT in my plan. I still continued to look for a job. Later that summer I got in a huge fight with one of my closest friends at the time.

Here I was in Logan not in SLC and had just had a huge falling out with the friend I did almost everything with. I was not happy. I just wanted to be somewhere else but nothing was working for me.

It felt like I was kicking against the pricks.

In November I had finally gotten a job offer from a company in SLC but for lower pay and responsibility than at my current job. I had a choice to make. Do I stay in Logan (where I thought I didn't belong and was determined to kind of loath) or do I take a pay cut and move to SLC (where at this point I thought I would be happy)? I just couldn't decide and didn't have a strong feeling either way.

I got a blessing and was given some great advice that "I make good choices and either decision would be a good one. That this was my decision to make."

I chose to stay in Logan but continue looking for a different job. I am so grateful that I made this decision.

Thinking back the Lord had a reason for me to spend an extra year in Logan after I graduated. There were specific lesson's I needed to learn and specific people that I needed to meet.

There were two big things that impacted my life:

1. That last year amongst all of the people that made an impact on my life I met two of the most amazing women. They have become great friends who have helped me stay close to my Father in Heaven. The other, and just as important, thing they have done is they have been honest and questioning. I love it and need it. Everyone should have at least one, preferably many, friends who aren't afraid to ask you hard questions and expect answers and then respond with care and love. I am so grateful I have this in my life.

2. I learned to trust the Lord. I learned that the Lord does have a path for my life and working together with Him will be rewarding and bring much joy to my life. What if I had left Logan a year earlier? Scary thought. There isn't a part of that time I would change. Not the heartache, tears, joy, or laughter. Not one moment.

My favorite scripture that not only defines this time of my life but reminds me to trust the Lord is: Doctrine and Covenants 101:16 "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God."

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am God."

What comfort and peace these words give me.

More Coveting

I went to lunch today in the above beauty. I know need one. I hereby declare I am COVETING a VW EOS convertible car. I pretty NEED a convertible. Not want, NEED.

Dreams

Last night I had the following dream:

I was on a speed boat on the ocean.
No one was driving the boat but it was going very fast.
I was a model and modeling on the boat.
The camera people were hovering above the boat...not sure on what...
To model I was posing on the seats, pretending to drive while rocking out to music etc...
The final modeling shot was me HACKING off my hair.
Lets just say I remember looking SUPER ugly with short hacked off hair.
Then after the modeling shoot was over I was trying to make an appointment with CODY to get my hair fixed.

The end.

WEIRD.

Chinese Zodiac Signs

This month at work we are celebrating Chinese New Year. With this celebration we have gotten emails about the Chinese Zodiac signs. I am a Horse, read the below description, do you think it sounds like me?

YEARS: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

PERSONALITY: Occupying the 7th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Horse symbolizes such character traits as strength, energy, and an outgoing nature. Extremely animated, Horses thrive when they’re the center of attention. Always in search of a good time, Horses keep the crowds happy with their humor and their wit.

Horses are extremely intelligent so they’re able to grasp new subjects with ease. They’re also capable of multi-tasking however they don’t always finish what they start because they’re forever chasing the next opportunity. Horses are honest, friendly and open-minded. They’re perhaps a bit too centered on themselves and have been known to throw tantrums when situations don’t go their way.

HEALTH: Horses are very healthy, most likely because they maintain a positive outlook on life and because they’re athletic. Lead Horses to wide, open spaces and watch them run free! Horses will usually only feel ill when they’re trapped inside.

COMPATIBILITY: Horses are compatible with a Dog or Tiger and incompatible with a Rat or Monkey.

*the line about "running free!" makes me laugh so I hard I cry. But maybe there is some truth?

Blessing: PEOPLE

I am surrounded by the most amazing people.
GOOD people.
People who are SPIRITUAL.
KIND people.
People who are trying to make the BEST of the talents they have been blessed with.
SMART people.
Super SMART people.

I have been so blessed.

All In Perspective

On occasions, like most people I am sure, I think that I have a really hard life. As soon as I get sad or frustrated I am quickly reminded that I have it pretty good.

I have had one of those weeks. A week where I realize that I am not where I wanted to be in life. A week where I realize that I may have to wait longer than I wanted for things to happen. A week where I feel more alone.

Today, however, I saw some amazing friends who love me for me.
I laughed, and then laughed more.
When I got home I did some chores while Ardell bossed me.
Then we just sat outside and chatted.

It was a great day. Simple pleasures that remind me that Heavenly Father loves me. That I have value, and that I need to keep things in perspective.

Kindergarten

Can you pick me out of this picture? Look closely...

Yep, you guessed it. I am on the back row smiling at Noel Gale. If I remember correctly he was saying something funny and I was answering him. You think the photographer would have been so kind as to wait until we were done.

My friend Carrie is on the front row with her moon boots on...and I love it!

I think this picture says so much about me...What do you think?

Whew! I Dodged That Bullet

One of my dad's favorite stories to tell was about my blessing day. As usual he picked out my name but didn't really tell anyone what it was going to be, instead he joked that he was going to name me a Spanish name meaning "the ultimate end". In church he filled out two blessing cards. One with my real name and the above one.

My grandma Swasey was sitting behind him trying to get a glance at what my real name would be...but my dad had other ideas and would be holding the "fake" card. When the Bishop got up to announce the blessing's he could not pronounce my name and just said Dean & Ardell's new baby. It was then that whispering went down the row "he's really going to do it".

Lucky for me it was just a trick.

I loved hearing my dad tell the story of my blessing day, and finally finding the "faker" card made me squeal with delight!

I am pretty sure the fake name does not mean "the ultimate end" in any language.

Birthday Gifts

Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday D'Nell...Happy Birthday to ME!

2002-One of the best birthday gifts EVER was the "package" I received in China. Above is a picture of the ladies I spent the most time with. Left to Right - Jill (she's 6'1" and don't let her deny it.), Kiley (her nickname was "mouth" for a reason...), ME! (I look slightly dorky), Terusha (It's always a party when Terusha is around. PINK ELEPHANT), and Sarah (the kindest, funniest, sweetest snuggle bug ever.)

These cute ladies sent me a package for my birthday, made me a birthday crown to wear around and were all around just amazing. Being in another country with out your family or friends could have been wretched, but lucky for me I made some of the best friends of my life...and they took care of me. Thanks Chicas!

2009-Worst gift ever? Expired drivers license. Doesn't the DMV usually send you a reminder? Well I certainly didn't get one. So if you see me driving don't tell the cops...I am going tomorrow morning to get it renewed...



On a side note, this is the face of a friend when he heard that I am MORE awesome than him. He looks scared huh! Sorry, friend...but it's the TRUTH. D'Nell = AWESOMEST, YOU = Not quite as AWESOME, but I love you anyway!

Is The Sun REALLY That Bright?

Last Friday I was at Ross with my roommate Nicole and I almost purchased an amazing pair of sunglasses. I mean, c'mon, EVERYONE needs a pair of sunglasses. I refrained from purchasing them because I am trying out this new "budget" thing. I figured I could suffer and just quint when it was bright out.

Right now as I am sitting in my room I can see no less than SIX (6) pair of sunglasses. All 6 pair are fabulous (did you expect anything different). So now my question to myself is: "D'Nell just how many sunglasses do you need? REALLY need?" I am thinking the answer is 6.

Well...until I see some new sunglasses that are fabulous....

Right This Minute...

Right this minute....
...my room is colder than an industrial freezer.
...my hair is curly, did you know I am starting to do it this way every week?
...I am sad I have to work tomorrow...I like having Friday's off...why did I trade this week? WHY?
...I am reminded that I had the best friends in China. Thanks for posting the pics Jill...I giggle everytime I look at them!
...my mind is trying to think of something exciting to do for my birthday!
...TEO needs water.
...I am surrounded by chaos.
...I am dreaming of getting a pedicure of Saturday!
...my credit card has enough points to buy a roundtrip ticket to NYC...that's what happens when you have a CC for 10+ years.
...Big Dave the Korean is dreaming of Grandma bringing "The Incredibles" when she visits in 2 weeks. (David called me today to tell me to send it to him.)
...I am STiLL freezing.