Coming Soon...

I will be serving the people of Poland for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was told to report to the MTC on September 3rd. But on Monday, June 2nd, I got a call from my parent's Bishop saying that he had gotten a call from the Stake President who got a call from my Mission President asking that the would invite me to join them in Poland sooner. So now I am leaving July 2nd.

Mawiage

Life has been rather crazy. I have been rebeling against writing since no one seems to read this crap anyway. But I met an elderly woman today who really impressed me. Here's why:

This woman's name is Diane. She was born and raised in Spanish Fork where she met and started dating her now husband at the age of 14. They were married when she was 17 and he was 20. Her dad was supportive of the marriage, her mom was not. Of course, her mother was married at 15 and if I recall correctly, had her first child at 17. Anyway, just a little background.

I could tell that she and her husband had some rough times. But they were so in love and were hard working together that they always knew they'd make it through. It was so cute, I have had a hard time figuring out why she inspired me so much. I had her for two hours and talked about lots of things. Her family, her weekly schedule of tending grandchildren and cooking for her sons family every night, her garden, church history, going through high school being married, loads of fun things. I think though what makes me want to be like her, is that I could tell how much she was still in love.
I have felt like I have only heard of one tale of True Love. That would be my Grandpa Gardner. Even though I didn't know my grandmother, since she died when I was three, I could feel the love he had for her when I would go into his home. It makes me wonder, will I ever bump into my True Love? How does that work? Is it supposed to be easy to talk to Him? Is it a feeling inside like blood rushing to get to my heart, or all thoughts being swept away to clear room to just feel the moment? Am I going to blush or feel embarrassed easily? Or is True Love hit and miss? Now I have witness to two companionships of True Love. Would thinking this way set me up for a life of loneliness? It seems to be so far. Is settling down the same as True Love? I think not. Some day, my prince will come.

Join the Dark Side... We have cookies!

'Darth Vader' spared jail in Jedi church attacks
The attack involved a church founded on the Jedi faith of 'Star Wars' films

HOLYHEAD, Wales - A man who dressed up as Darth Vader, wearing a garbage bag for a cape, and assaulted the founders of a group calling itself the Jedi church was given a suspended sentence Tuesday.
Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, attacked Jedi church founder Barney Jones — aka Master Jonba Hehol — with a metal crutch, hitting him on the head, prosecutors told Holyhead Magistrates' Court.
He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones — known as Master Mormi Hehol — bruising his thigh in the March 25 incident, prosecutors said.

The two cousins and Barney Jones' brother, Daniel, set up the Church of Jediism, Anglesey order, last year. Jedi is the faith followed by some of the central characters in the "Star Wars" films.
The group, which claims about 30 members, says on its Web site that it uses "insight and knowledge" from the films as "a guide to living a better and more worthwhile life."
"We all love the films and what they stand for. Obviously some people are going to laugh about it," the Wales on Sunday newspaper quoted Barney Jones as saying last month. "But a lot of people do take it seriously."
Unfortunately for Hughes, his March attack was recorded on a video camera that the cousins had set up to film themselves in a light saber battle.
"Darth Vader! Jedis!" Hughes shouted as he approached.
Hughes claimed he couldn't remember the incident, having drunk the better part of a 2 1/2-gallon box of wine beforehand.
"He knows his behavior was wrong and didn't want it to happen but he has no recollection of it," said Hughes' lawyer, Frances Jones.
District Judge Andrew Shaw sentenced Hughes to two months in jail but suspended the sentence for one year. He also ordered Hughes to pay $195 to each of his victims and $117 in court costs.
In the 2001 United Kingdom census, 390,000 — 0.7 percent of the population — listed Jedi as their religion.

Huh? What? Who's that?

Who's that in my casket?Man presumed dead in train accident calls daughter at own funeral MOST PECULIAR!

updated 2:40 p.m. MT, Fri., Sept. 17, 2004 TORONTO - Dane Squires was late for his own funeral. At least it seemed that way after people gathered Thursday at a Toronto funeral home to mourn the retired welder from Newfoundland, whom they believed had been hit by a train.Relatives of Squires were watching the casket being loaded into a hearse when his daughter Trina was told she had an important phone call.Story continues below ↓
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Her father was on the other end."She totally, totally lost it," Squires' brother Gilbert said."She said, `There's a ghost talking to me on the phone. Please somebody try to make sense out of this because I'm losing my mind.'"Squires was initially identified as the man who was hit by a commuter train last Friday night. The body was badly mutilated in the accident but still fit Squires' description, police said. Authorities haven't yet identified the victim."He went to my sister's house, and whoever answered the door fainted," said Gilbert Squires, noting his brother didn't become aware of the confusion until he read his own obituary in the newspaper.Squires' sister identified the dead man as her brother after viewing the body at the coroner's office this week, police said.

The Wait

Well friends,

After months of work to finish the challenge my Stake President gave me of reading the Book of Mormon, I am happy to announce that my mission papers are finally in! This doesn't seem real at all. I think part of that has to do with the fact that it's been three months since my first attempt to put the papers in. It also had taken three months to get those papers and to do the work. I'm starting to notice a pattern. So, I suppose anyone who actually reads my blog has three months to send me your guess as to where I will be serving. And then I suppose I will be out on a mission three months after that.

The Race

"Quit" "Give up, you're beaten!" they shout at me and plead,
"There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed."
And as I started to hang my head in front of failure's face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene,
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.
Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that race
Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they sped, as if they were on fire
To win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, "My dad will be so proud."
But as he speeded down the field, across the shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arm flew out to brace,
And 'mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.
So, down he fell, and with him, hope. He couldn't win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished he'd disappear somehow.
But, as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win the race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that's all.
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished he had quit before with only one disgrace.
"I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race."
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race!"
So, he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last;
"If I'm to gain those yards," he thought, "I've got to run real fast!"
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye,
"There's no sense running any more. Three strikes, I'm out... why try?"
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error-prone, closer all the way.
"I've lost, so what's the use?" he thought, "I'll live with my disgrace."

But the he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.
"Get up," an echo sounded low, "Get up and take your place.
You weren't meant for failure here; get up and win the race."
With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all,
For winning is no more than this - to rise each time you fall."
So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.
Still, he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
Three times he'd fallen, stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner, as he crossed the line, first place.
Head high and proud and happy, no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen crossed the finish line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he'd won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad, he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."
"To me you won," his father said, "you rose each time you fell."
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all,
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
"Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten!" They still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, "Get up and win that race!"
-D. H Groberg-

To Do List

I had heard about a To Do List for life a couple years ago and thought it was a good idea. To dream of endless possibilities to put on this list helps me to really get to know myself and what I would like in life.
Though I didn't care for the movie "A Walk To Remember" I did think the main characters to do list was pretty good and it was cute that the guy helped her to accomplish some of them. I hear all the time that Life is short. And yet, why does it seems to fly by? Here are some of the things I was remembering today is on my list:
I want to be on an animated film. Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks. Any of those will do! I want my voice to come out of one of those crazy characters! I don't want the graceful princess
I really would love to travel!!!
I want to visit someplace that is haunted. I have a fascination with the paranormal.
I have always wanted to be a mother. "Someday my prince will come". And to be sealed for Eternity in the House of my God.
PLAY THE GUITAR!!! I Suck at anything music. But I am always daydreaming about playing in a band. And when I'm a mom and being able to have my home be filled by music.
I want to be a hero!
To read the entire dictionary
I want to live to be at least 90 (But I want to look 50!)
I want to own something antique. There is something about touching something that someone so long ago touched, cherished, made, appreciated. I used to think a vintage diamond ring would be ideal for a wedding ring. That depends on the ring though...

Bwah-hahahahahaaaaa

[sarcasm] I just love it when I am feeling like I look all cool and then get into my car, turn on the music, and... what the? What gay song is this??? See, the music isn't just stupid, but it's on loud. Why would I have a stupid song on so loud? Because when I got out of the car the music was a freakin' awesome song! I had no idea what would be waiting for me when I was to get in. Had I know about that song being there when I got back, I would have put on NPR or church music to seem intelligent or spiritual.

I also love how in grocery stores they have those 20 items or less lines. And then of course there is someone who obviously has more than 20. (You all have had this experience at one point or another) Well, while I was counting everything as I put the products on the counter (I qualified for that line requirement) I was thinking "Maybe, grocery stores that have people who do that, should add a handling charge for people who have over 20 items!" BRILLIANT! (I have to add an embarrassing moment here. I found myself actually speaking aloud without intending to. My roommate is sitting across from me on her laptop. And as I wrote "brilliant" I said it like they do on those Guiness beer commercials. I don't usually talk to myself out loud. So I had to pretend like I was proof-reading. hehe Yes, I moving my lips as I read to give that allusion)

One more thing I just LOVE! This is the best. People who can't park inside those bold yellow lines. I accredit this ability of noting the disregard of space to the university girls at my apartment. Some are so horrible at parking that they are half in one space and half in the other. I won't bother with more details. However, this has become such an irritation that my only joy from it is to back into the space just so, as to make the supposed offender have a difficult time getting into their car. Yes, in simple terms, I park as close to the line on their side so that hopefully, they will make a note of their own parking skills as they get into their car. You may be thinking "But what if they hit your car?" Don't care. That Moveable Dumpster has dents and identifiable markings all over the car. But all the girls, here minus one, are such people that to get a scratch on the car would be like a bad hair cut. The World knows it shouldn't look like that. So as I see it, I have nothing to loose.

To be continued...

So which am I? A Wussy or a Hussy?

For some reason "Alisha" is a hard name for kids to say. Last night I was trying, with the help of some friends, to teach the adorable two year old Trey to say "Aaaa- Lee - Sha". He did well when it came to saying it in syllables. But when asked "Trey, what's her name?" It came out "Wussy!" and even "Hussy!"

I have a cousin who when he was that age had a difficult time saying my name as well. I was known to him as "Weesha!"

Hmmm, maybe I should come up with an easier name for him to say. Although, when he says "Wussy" it's so cute that it's kind of growing on me.

Muscleman

My brother just cracks me up. At Condor (AKA Kelly)'s B-Day party, Morgan, Bailey and myself were showing each other our arm muscles (or lack thereof). I then told them that my younger brother has impressive muscle tone. He had at one point been a really chunky kid. Then he joined track and became tall and skinny and can eat anyting he wants and still will weigh only 115 pounds................. I hate him.

Oh, and the following voice is not my real voice...

Body Image

This video was recently pointed out to me. I agree that we are a society that is constantly being drowned by false perceptions on how the female body is supposed to be, and by all the shortcuts on how to get there. Even though I am often not comfortable with the way I look, I am at least grateful I am healthy and that not everyone has the same body. I also look at parts of me I am proud of having. We should join the revolution for promoting a positive outlook on what God gave us. And create healthy support for a greater standard of living to be able to improve the well-being of body and spirit.

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=0

Funny Faces

Here's a video clip that I think will cheer anyone up. Sorry you'll have to click on the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOfZPZJHnKg

Brotherly Love

I was laughing so hard today I was crying. My younger brother loves to quote movies, cartoons, and internet sites all the time. Here's the story:
Introduction- Bryan and I were in the basement. He was tightening the chin-up bar and we were having a conversation which neither of remember what it was now. However, the part we do remember started as follows...
Bryan: Why am I always quoting things?
Me: I don't know. You've always been good at recalling random sayings since you were little.
Bryan: I had an embarrassing moment in class today when I said a quote that know one knew what it was from.
Me: What did you say?
Bryan: (in a scruffy voice) "Maybe if I take my shirt off..."
Me: (Laughing) What is that off of?
Bryan: (Home Star Runner) Teen Girl Squad... No one knew what I was quoting. The one kid who I thought would know hadn't heard it. He says he doesn't like it.
Me: (still laughing) What made you think of that quote?
Bryan: The teacher had turned on the projecter and said "Oh sorry class. That's kind of blurry. Now if I can just focus it. Maybe I can focus it if I can get my hand under..." and then the room went really quiet and turned and said it to the one kid "Maybe if I take my shirt off..."
Me: (Curled over, crying, and drooling. After recooperating a moment) And what did your class do?
Bryan: Stayed quiet and then a few students were like "What?"
Bryan also let me know I wasn't to tell anyone. I let him know I was planning on blogging what he'd just told me. He says he doesn't care.
Here's the URL: http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs11.html

Friends call me... Slish?

I had a very outgoing RM roommate who moved in late in the summer. After our other two roommates moved out in September she decided to confess something to me. "I've been wanting to call you a name other than Alisha." "Oh?" "Can I call you Lish?" "As long as it's not Butthead or Hey Stupid, sure." "Sweet!"
When my VT's came that day my roomie answered the door. Next thing I hear is "HEY SLISH! (I call her slish!) YOUR VISITING TEACHERS ARE HERE!!!"
Apparently she had said "Slish" when asking me. I was a little annoyed but she got so much joy in using the nickname around people and explaining that she's refering to me, that I decided to keep it.
Once I took her into Shopko. She needed a kickball immediately. I told her where I would be and that she would find me there since she would finish faster than me. I was there for what seemed longer than necessary and Chevy (that's my nickname for her) still hadn't shown up. "I thought we were in a hurry!" Next thing I hear is "Attention Shopko customers: Slish, your party is waiting for you at customer service." and then the message was repeated again. Chevyyyy... I headed for the front and of course she starts heading my way all the while shouting across the floor "Hey Slish! How'd you like that I paged you? Pretty cool, huh?" ("Yeah you sure got my attention with that one! Why didn't you just come and get me yourself?" "I didn't know where you were. I searched around the whole store and couldn't find you!")
Then she had to tell the story for the next three weeks and how the person sending out the call was confused about how to pronounce the "name".
So that's how I became Slish. I still don't care for it. I don't think it has a certain appeal to it that nicknames should have. Suggestions?

Bribing Grandpa With Chocolate

I can't remember what I was going to write for my second blog today. So I figured I'd talk about my grandpa. Right now he is in a nursing home. We put him in there I believe it was the Monday after Thanksgiving. He was so upset. He had gotten to the point that he couldn't remember what his house looked like but remembered the address. But when he was brought to the new home, he knew it was not his home. So I was asked to visit him as often as possible.
The first day I went in, a nurse we'll call Betty, told me a that the previous day he called her into his room, it went something like this.
Betty: What's up Andy?
Andy: Look at it...
Betty: What? Don't you like your room?
Andy: My wife has the money and look how she decorates. Tell her to change it back!

There are special locks on the doors to the building so none of the elderly can escape. Betty was telling me how one day he walks into her office and casually says "these your keys?" She thought nothing of it and says "yes". She turned for a second and when she went to face him again he had her keys in his hand and was heading for the door. "where's your car?" He didn't get very far though, the lines at Cafe Rio move faster (well, maybe).
He apparently didn't have much of an appetite his first week there. He told a member of the staff that he couldn't finish his dinner. He wanted them to box it up and send it to Africa!
I got the idea of bribing my grandfather with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in hopes he'll remember my name. I got this idea because Betty was telling me that one day she walked up to him and had said his name.
Andy: Who're you?
Betty: Don't you remember me? I was the one that gave you candy yesterday!
Andy: No... but do you have anymore?
An aunt of mine (Andy's oldest child) admitted to me yesterday that she is also starting to bribe him with chocolate. I know it's not healthy, but at this point, it's what makes him happy that matters. I had been telling people when they scrutinized this unhealthy routine "He's already on his way out... I'm just trying to help speed the process in a satisfying way!" He's the best grandpa ever with a great sense of humor and personality! I always have aspired to be 1/10th of what he is. I will definitely miss him when he's gone. But I won't be sad. He deserves his spot in Heaven.
(By the way, he played a part in the making of the television. Philo T. Farnsworth's wife wrote a book and mentioned my grandfather. I don't think he played a big role, but I still like to brag!)

Ahhhhhhh What?

So I seem to be suffering from a rare case of brainfartanohma (sounds deadly doesn't it?) which may have been brought on from my recent exposure to the disease of leizee. I'm over the leizee though some symptoms are still lingering. Anyway, on to my real point, I want to write something but don't know what. So I've decided to post a question. Please (to the three people who actually read my blog) give me an answer!

Let's say that you have been at your job now for three years. Not a lifetime of work, but you still had put your all into making the best of your situation to help your business strive. They somehow have become big in their industry and you are now making bank. Let's say one million a year and a month in paid vacation time. I'll remind you that you still have kids at home! But here is the question: What would you change or aspire to do since you have aquired an enjoyable income?

I would love to be able to just walk into an airport and get on a plane and fly to somewhere like Ireland, England, or maybe someplace like India. I don't care, I just want to wing it and explore! The rest of the 950,000 would obviously need to go to being taxed and tithed and the rest would go into savings. But who cares about the last part? Blah, blah, blah... (oh, and I'd buy a gun! And a car with a heater! I think I should stop, my list is getting bigger)

BREAKING NEWS

Welcome to Life of Slish News.

Today's news coverage revolves around one subject... the news. While the information given on news programs are often helpful and even vital to the public community, there are too many facts and stories thrown in that are often hard to understand.

For example, I'm sitting here watching CNN (not in my top three news programs) where on the banner at the bottom it says "9 Mexican school children killed as SUV falls into canal outside the town of Cardenas in Guanajuato state." Now, I'm not trying to belittle this fact, but rather to explain why it confuses me. How does the news decide that information from another country goes on-air in our country? This is what I tend to think (I don't know why) "Oh dear, that's so sad... I wonder what happening in Finland." Do they ever talk about tradegies in Finland? What about Alaska??? Alaska is part of America too! We should give them a little quality air-time with the rest of us. There has to be more happening in the world that is bigger than this tragic school story. I also wonder "What are other countries saying about us?" News is like the gossip highway of worldly woes.

I've also have been curious how exactly the reporters find out about what they'll be sharing with the public. Do I care to see a dog dancing or 10 minutes of a sex scandal? Nope. Although, I do think that video on the semi wheel that flew off on the freeway and busted a minivan's window was pretty interesting. And the story of the barista donating her kidney brought a tear to my eye!!! Oh, now for more on the sex scandal. Good Grief!!!

Oh, I thought this was funny (esp. the ending) "The U.S. military has identified frozen remains found atop a California glacier as those of a World War II Era airman who vanished more than 50 years ago." Hmmm, World War II... vanished more than 50 years ago... DUH! I don't think there's any need to expound on this further.

Ah, Rude!

Ok. So apparently I'm supposed to write short stories instead of novels. Got that. I just need to vent a little and I hope it's just a little.

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE???

I went to Walmart after having a frustrating day at work just to find even more frustrations. I turn in to my usual row I park in. Some dude and his girlfriend decide to speed up and take a spot I was heading for. No problem, I didn't mind. I was however skeptical that the female was laughing at something he said. I go and park and as I'm walking towards the door I see them just standing outside their vehicle. I decided to ignore them which worked well in my favor. Once inside, it was worse than a high school locker room! People kept standing in the middle, blocking people off, and cutting in front of others. I stood for several minutes waiting for this one guy to move. He was just waiting for his wife to follow him. Then more people came along. So I kept scooting down. I ended up apologizing several times, one in particular in which the person just completely ignored me. I thought about saying "Or not!" But no, their rudeness wouldn't excuse mine. But seriously, it's like McDonalds was trying an experiment by pumping not just their usual "Come and Get Me!" smell but added a drug that makes people crabby. Their not just trying to give people irritable bowel syndrome, but make the irritation go deeper... down to their very emotions. Anyway, Iwas reminded of two important lessons today: you are in charge of your emotions, actions, and thoughts; the second, NEVER shop at Walmart in Utah on Saturday. I think next time I'll just plan on starving!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Hey...she's HERE! Finally born into the world of blogging. She arrived at 8:40pm on March 3, 2008. WOW she grew up fast! It's all the growth hormones. Too bad her voice is now like Barry White. She's a bit red in the face, but a beautiful babe none the less. She is looking forward to hanging with her homies...Condor and Mr. Ed. She looks forward to many a blog with ya'll.