Weekend Warriors

Sun. Friends. Volleyball. Soccer. Softball. Free time.

I'd like to make a shout out to a fantastic weekend. Jam packed with Domination as well as the fun things listed above, it was a great way to kick off the summer! Since my apt complex has a sand volleyball court we have played every night this weekend and I'm slowly getting better! Volleyball and Softball are the two sports (that I am currently aware of) that rip up my previously claimed title of the "Athletic Type" and smash it in the trash can. To say the least, I struggle. However, practice and a lot of pity cheers have definitely proved to be helping! Thankfully I have the best friends in the entire world who like to compliment each other even when we fail miserably. Some might find it embarrassing that you are being told "good job!" every time you touch the ball, even when you project it into the parking lot repeatedly, nearly missing the tight rope walkers; but not me. I love it.

Now to touch base on the last two words in my list above.

Free time.

Personally I didn't know this even existed in real life. Wanna know a secret? It does, and I was apart of it this Saturday! I woke up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy then grabbed my cleats, brushed my teeth with a bottle of water... and headed to my soccer game. (Yup, I just made a Kesha reference) Guess what, we killed it! I won't lie, we are a little rusty due to aging, and the lack of Virginia here to whip us into shape. Pulling out the "W" with 6-1 felt pretty great, and even better to be doing it with some of my best friends! After soccer, we went to the pool to soak up some rays. Utah weather finally pulled through for the weekend and I received a little more rays than I probably should have. Feeling pretty warm and toasty we headed back inside to just hang out. I even watched tv. I watched 20 minutes worth of an infomercial on the Genie Bra, just because I could. Life at my new apartment seems to be working out quite well, and I'm loving every second of it. Coming up this week: Bowling League, Soccer Practice, Softball Game, Soccer Game and some volleyball thrown in there somewhere. Bring it on!

Little Lion Man

Today I was in the orthodontist office waiting to get my new set of clear correct trays when I was approached by this little creature:

He would run around the area saying, "Rarrrr!!!" or "The Strong lion is going to build a house with blocks." or "The big bad Lion is going to blow down your house!" I couldn't help but laugh, he was so stinking cute! Then when his mom was taking his jacket off this happened. See below. "Mom! My lion paw! I need my lion paw!" haha

Well if that wasn't going to brighten my day, the sun sure stepped in! Finally!! It's beautiful outside, and I can't wait to go on a run tonight! Speaking of sun, last night I was driving home after work with the windows rolled down. While blasting some jammin' tunes I noticed that my windshield was slightly dirty so I thought I'd clean that right up. (This is now an option since my fantastic father fixed my windshield wiper recently. Thank you!) I sprayed wiper fluid, the wipers went, and I got a face full of wiper fluid spray.... Yum! It startled me causing me to jump and now that I think about it, I probably did so with a confused look on my face. Once I had realized that my blonde hair had influenced my thought process I laughed at myself. Looking over, I had a truck full of construction workers joining in to laugh at my stupidity. Love that. Guess what though! I didn't mind one bit because it's SUMMER! The sun is shining, I'm living with my best friends, and life is good. :) So in a round about way, thank you sunshine for shining down and brining summer. I very much appreciate it.

Slightly Stealing....

Okay Ashley was the real one that posted this first.... and I don't want to take it..... but I have to let you all read this! It is sooo fantastic! I shortened it a little since it was really long. Check out her blog here..... or just read below :) Nice find Ashes!

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF PEOPLE OUR AGE

By: Aaron Karo

1. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy.

2. The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

3. Do you remember when you were a kid playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

4. There is a great need for sarcasm font.

5. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

6. I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then make sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really really gets it.

7. How the heck are you suppose to fold a fitted sheet?

8. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

9. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

10. Was learning cursive really necessary?

11. Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud," to "I have nothing else to say."

12. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

13. Answering the same letter 3 times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

14. Whenever someone says, "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart." All I hear is, "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart."

15. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

16. Every time I have to spell a word over the phone for 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss' last name to an attorney and said, "Yes that's G as in....(10 second lapse)... umm.. Goonies."

17. What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

18. While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instictively swerved to avoid it... thanks Mario Kart.

19. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

20. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

21. I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

22. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

23. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

24. Bad decisions make good stories.

25. Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

26. Is it just me or do High School girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

27. If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

28. Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem...

29. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

30. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

31. There is no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to fall after leaning your chair back a little too far.
32. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

33. I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

34. I hate when I just miss a call by the last right (Hello? Hello? Shoot!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

35. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

36. When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

37. I like all the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every 15 songs in my iTunes.

38. As a driver I hate pedestrians, as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

39. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

40. I keep some people's phone number in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

41. Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what to do with it.

42. I wonder if cops ever get mad at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

43. The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag I saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the resaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself.

Muscle Men

The packing, loading, unloading, unpacking routine of moving has become quite tiresome the past week... However, the apartment is starting to look fantastic, and I am loving every second of living with Kaylyn! Soon Anisa and Tycee will move in and it will be a non stop PART-AY! Yesterday it came time to move the TV from my house to the apartment. No big deal right? NBD. Well any normal TV, or even a relatively bigger TV would have been do-able. Na, we like to super-size things around here. :) Remember the old wide screen TVs? Before they made the flat screens that you hang on a wall? Yeah these old ones they decided to make as big and bulky as possible, and as a bonus they weigh a bajillion pounds. Big selling point for more man points I guess? Anyways, my parents were getting rid of their old wide screen TV and mentioned that they might just take it to the DI. Light bulb.

"Could.... I have the TV?"

"If you can find some big buff guys to take it to your apartment, sure."

Excitement started to build inside of me as I thought of how many conversations I'd be able to start with some strapping young men, such as: "Hey, what's your name? Handsome Rob? Great, I'm Hailey, and I have a big screen TV." Instant connection. Genius right? Besides attracting big TV loving men, it'll be great to fill up some of the space in our big living room, and it'll be awesome to watch my shows on the big screen! Well I was able to round up Karlie's strapping husband Jacob, my strong pops and Kaylyn's dad brought his man strength along with the truck. They lifted that large mass with their super strength like it was no one's business, we tied it down and were off! Trent met Kaylyn, Jake and I at my apartment to help get it to the third floor. Oh yeah did I forget to mention that? Weird, I seem to keep forgetting to tell people that kindly agree to help me move heavy things that I live on the third floor...

Well the first flight of stairs went fantastic! The second and third we took a little slower but even then they lifted better than any National Weight Lifter I've ever seen. By our rest stop on the second floor I was so racked with guilt for putting these men through this and I was trying to come up with something that could repay them for all their hard work. Coldstone? Dinner? A new car? After a few more grunts and hoists we made it! It fit perfectly in our apartment and again the excitement came back for all the future movie nights we will be hosting.

I blog about this for two reasons. The first being to document that the previously impossible feat of carrying a massive TV up 3 flights of stairs is in fact possible, and secondly to publicly thank Jake, Trent, and the two dads for all their muscular man-ness. These guys are great! I am so grateful for your willingness and quick thought to serve. Hopefully you will get a lot of blessings in the days to come for this.

Movie anyone? :)

Happy One Year Anniversary!!

Today is the one year reunion of my knee surgery! I can't believe it has already been an entire year... Besides ruining my chances at becoming a famous knee model which was bound to happen eventually right? ;), this surgery has blessed me time and time again. This little knee of mine has held up stronger than I ever thought it would and I couldn't be happier. At the rate I'm going (Soccer League, Bowling League and Softball League) most would expect to see me back in the OR for my second tear. However I figure the stronger I keep it, the less chance I have to tear it again! What doesn't kill us makes us stronger right?


So.... How am I going to celebrate this special day? MOAB! A bunch of friends are heading down to Moab tonight for a nice little camping get-a-way complete with hiking, tenting, laughing and chillin' (literally... lows are suppose to be 34 at night). I've never been to Moab so this should be quite the new adventure :) I can't wait! Dirt filled pictures and posts to come!

Account Balance = 0

Today is a glorious day!! I have a beautiful view of some nice blossomy trees and the light snow falling (yes. SNOW.) from my office window, I'm wearing a contradictingly spring outfit, I started moving in to my new apartment yesterday and last but not least....... I just sent the check to the bank to pay off my car!!!!!!! Huzzah!! Hailey is debt free! It's a pretty fantastic feeling, and I have the good ol' tax return to thank for it. I feel as if I should hand deliver it and do a little celebration dance! Anyone else in for a debt free jig?

A Little Privacy Please?

For a long time now I have had this guilty feeling when I listen to cute, lovey dovey, mushy love songs.

Allow me to explain.

Artists create music for the public to make a living, right? However, the lyrics and music must come from somewhere, and usually they come from the artist's personal experiences. So when there is a particularly great song like "It's your love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, I can't help but feel like I'm stepping in on something private when I listen and love every second of it. I wonder if the woman these men sing about ever feel a little slighted that 4 million couples have this as "our song." I have a lot of respect for artists in that not many other careers broadcast their diary secrets nationally. I'm pretty sure that if someone wrote a song specifically about me and a month later I overheard a couple declare that same song as "their song" I'd be a little upset.

Not only do they expose their love lives, but they expose their family issues, personal struggles, triumphs and weaknesses. Yes, "Sara Beth" by Rascal Flatts makes me cry for the girl with cancer, but is Sara Beth embarrassed that her personal struggle has been broad casted? When a singer speaks of his alcoholic dad does the dad feel like his son/daughter has betrayed him by uncovered his 'secret' in front of the entire world? In all honesty, I usually don't think twice about the subjects in these songs...but now that I have started to, I can't stop.

Now these artists may be strong enough to open their heart to the world, but do you think they are ever prepared for the criticism they receive? "Here let me give you a piece of me and I'll let you tell me how I should crawl in a hole and die my song is so bad." I understand that there is bad music out there, but the meaning behind this music is still real. People are still producing this stuff, not robots (yet).

So now I'll step off of my soap box, but before I do I just ask that we become a little more conscious about our criticism. I'm making a goal to work on this and to try and value everything I hear for what it is - expression.

On a lighter note, I'm obsessed with this song. :) Take a listen, and then listen to it again. Hear it twice and I have no doubt you'll be bobbing your head and tapping your feet. Yes, it is a country song but at the very least Jerrod Niemann is pretty good looking so that should keep the females entertained for awhile.

Elder Jordan Tyler Francis

Today was the day that one of my best friends left his family and friends to serve the Lord. Last night Jordan was set apart as a missionary and that was a really fantastic experience. I wasn't going to be able to make it at first, (but then I realized who is in charge) and randomly my class got out just in time for me to speed down to Mapleton. He has turned into such a responsible and confident man and I am so proud of him. Of course for some reason my body associates the feeling of pride with crying, and so without my control there have been some water works the past few days. Luckily I've been able to keep my cool and not have to deal with gasping sobs. That in and of itself is a blessing for anyone around me.

All last night my mom went through Jordan's whole suitcases and explained detailed instructions for usage, dosage and washage for everything she had packed. It took about 4 times longer than it probably should have due to sarcasm and humor, but nevertheless it was still entertaining to sit and watch. After, Jordan and I went through his room and 'de-junked.' Or in our house that means, "give to someone else so that it may clutter their room instead of mine." I scored with all my new treasures!

This morning the whole family went to Cracker Barrell for breakfast after finally convincing Jordan that he could in fact leave the house as a missionary. Breakfast was great, and we had fun, but those stupid butterflies would not leave my stomach. After taking a bunch of pictures, it finally came time for us to pack up and head to the MTC.

I couldn't bring myself to talk much on the way there, because the pit in my stomach just wouldn't allow it. We drove in, parked next to a bajillion waving missionary hosts, unloaded, snapped a few pictures really quickly and left. Of course, not before I got a final hug. Again, I felt sooo proud of my little brother for being brave enough to venture off into the MTC and then off to Albania. And again, pride equaled tears.

I love you Jordan.

P.S. For my own selfishness I'd like you to hurry it up and come back already, but I know you will be the best stinking missionary Albania has ever seen. God be with you till we meet again.

Lamanites?

Once upon a time there was a fashionable shoe that in the last year or so has filled women's closets like no one's business. Recently, a co-worker was wearing this type of shoe and I attempted to compliment her on them. The conversation went like this:
Me: "I really like your shoes!"
Fellow co-worker: "Oh thanks! They are a little different, but I like them too!"
Me: "Yeah, I don't know why, but they always remind me of Lamanite Shoes."
Fellow co-worker: "Lamanite? Uh.. you mean Gladiator shoes or something?"
Me: "Oh right, of course..that's what I meant...."

In my defense, I've been reading in Alma for the past long while... However, the first thought that came into my head after this conversation was, Hailey you live in a bubble and you're such a Mormon.

Oh well, they do look like Lamanite shoes.

"I Got A Tick-Tock Rhythm Runnin' Through My Veins..."

4 points to anyone that can guess the song and artist of this post title. :)

One week ago today Kaylyn and I attended a fantastic concert held at the Complex in SLC! Runner Runner, A Rocket to the Moon, Go Radio, Valencia and Anarbor were there for a smashing time and they definitely delivered! Runner Runner was my favorite, for their music and for their faces, and A Rocket to the Moon was a close second (mainly for their music though, they look like they are little boys). I was able to touch Ryan Ogren on the shoulder as he passed me and after he said, "Hey, nice shirt." Oh that smile... He was inadvertantly complimenting himself as I was wearing a Runner Runner t-shirt (yes I looked like the typical concert junky teen... sadly enough), but I didn't mind. I could exaggerate a little and say that we had a nice conversation he and I, which I just might if I met another Runner Runner obsessor. I highly recommend you check them out. They only have one CD so far, but in talking with Nick Bailey (yeah... we also chatted) they are already working on their next album. Hooray!! It's been awhile since I've gone to a concert, and after this one I am starting to get antsy for the next! Warped Tour is coming up in August, but I don't know if I can wait that long. Here are some pictures, we are pretty nasty in most of them... so enjoy! It's not a good concert unless Stino is there!!