gangnum style

My love for kpop and pay just increased tenfold when I googled the translation of his lyrics and read this:

"A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all
A sensable girl like that"

Modest is hottest. Even Psy says so.

misc.

I work with Camie and I like her a lot. She's funny and southern and speaks with a cute drawl at times. 

                                                    

And she shows up at my apartment on Saturdays and drags me out of bed so she can go get Taco Bell and go grocery shopping. Grocery shopping sometimes turns into cactus shopping. And then we spend the afternoon repotting our cute little friends. 

Meet Xiâo Tōng. My cactus. In Chinese, it means "Little Pain."

Have I mentioned how much I have fallen in love with the Chinese language? I've never felt so close to picking up another language as I have with Chinese. Maybe it's from living in China for five months; maybe because there are only 400 sounds involved in Mandarin compared to the thousands in the English language. Regardless, I've never felt more motivated or encouraged about learning a second language as I have with Chinese. I miss it. I miss being surrounded by it and bargaining in it and asking questions in it and actually understanding (somewhat) the answer. And I want to do everything I can to keep learning it.

In other news, I've been on this weird Betty Crocker roll when it comes to cooking. Maybe it's this whole "I am what I eat" kick that I've been on. I'm trying to make a life style change and that involves eating better and working out. Here is my Sunday meal from yesterday: BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, calliflower and a sour dough roll. Pretty dang good for myself, I think.

Have I written about how my best bud and brother I've never had, Geoff is back from his mission? Because he is! And I seriously couldn't be more happy to be able to text him on a general bases, to have his opinion right when I need it and to know that he'll be here in three weeks to keep me company and keep me sane while I get ready to tackle a super hard semester and the daunting task of welcoming Dustin home. 

Things that make me happy right now? Pot lucks at work. "Topless Terri" and "Cortugee" text messages. Books and library cards. Plans to see Julianna. Downton Abbey (I'm in love). White and straighter teeth. Good hair days.  Making money because I'm working hard. Writing letters to Dustin and even better, receiving them.

and the thoughts that have been bouncing around my head? They are still there. But I've organized them a bit better. I understand them a bit more now. And I know what I must be prepared to do; should the time come. 

Random Rambles

Rexburg is a college town, and when that college is on a summer break, Rexburg is empty. Parking is easy to come by, roads are easy to navigate and the line at Costa Vida takes 5 minutes, tops. The town quiets down, minus the constant sounds of hammers and drills at the various construction sites around campus.

I'm in a new apartment complex and have new roommates. New photos hang on my wall, my student's cute faces beaming at me. They remind me of the person who I became while I was in China and the person I want to be. I think about them often; wonder how they are and what trouble they are making. I miss them.

My hair is practically unmanageable these days because it's getting so long. I don't even know how to style it anymore. But I love it. It's a physical, tangible reminder that my past is my past and that I have nothing but a bright and shiny future ahead of me. I am cancer free.

I did almost nothing worth while today. I mailed a package to Dustin, cleaned out my car and took it through the car wash (which didn't do anything to the bug guts splattered across the front). I started to watch the olympics, but then I fell asleep and dreamed about walking in the streets of China hand in hand with my best friend. And I know where my heart lies.

ungrateful

you made fighting easier for me.
and touched my feet without gloves on your hands.

I don't think I have ever said thank you until yesterday.
and I'm sorry.

In Five.

1. Patriots are going to the Superbowl. I get to watch the Superbowl with McKell. Basically, I couldn't ask for a better situation.

2. I'm leaving for Utah this Saturday! AH! I have so much to do, to buy and to pack. But, I'm excited to finally be taking a step closer to getting to China. And, I just found out today, that I have a surprise waiting for me for when I get over there and out of the "no writing" zone. YAY!

3. I have to get a Malaria and Typhoid shot tomorrow. Boo and Bullfrogs.

4. China. China. China. China. China. China. China. China. China.

5. I saw We Bought A Zoo today with my grandfather. It made me cry, a lot. But I loved every second of it.

iPod problems

Who wants to give me a new iPod because mine can't hold a charge anymore and the thought of facing long plane rides and train rides in China without Bon Iver to whisk me away to a magical place scares the snot out of me?

Just a couple of things:

1. I like emails from friends. It's almost as exciting as real letters.

2. Turns out I really like painting walls. I spent five hours painting the main entrance hall at the Kelly's beautiful 1970's restored Tavern home and I loved every minute of it.

3. My flight for China is booked! I got my itinerary yesterday! AHHH! And I get the added bonus of seeing Seoul during a 9 hour layover between LA and Weihai. I'm beyond stoked. I'm really going to China, people.

4. I'm leaving for Utah on the 28th to see Julianna and Jordan before I leave. I'm trying to get up to Rexburg to see Symone and to see my team at work as well. And, I just found out that I have the fantastic bonus of seeing my roommate and NFL buddy, McKell, in time for the SUPERBOWL (that hopefully my Patriots will be playing in). So, yay for that!

5. Tomorrow I get to go paint, go grocery shopping for Mom, go get my wisdom teeth looked at, go visiting teaching with Mom and somehow cram in all my homework. Busy bee=happy camper.

On a lighter note:

Let's talk about these rad sunglasses I got from Forever21 the other day for 5$

Or about this classy watch that my Auntie Renee gave to me five years ago when I got sick and it was too big for my wrist and how my dad took it to work today and used his super high-tech aerospace machine to take a pin out and make it smaller so it now fits my wrist!

OR ABOUT HOW BATH AND BODY WORKS CAME OUT WITH A WHOLE NEW SCENT COLLECTION CALLED "INTO THE WILD!" (blog title, ya dig?) AND HOW IT ACTUALLY SMELLS FANTASTIC AND HOW I GOT THIS SPRAY ON SALE FOR 4$! I now smell like my blog. so cool. 

Also, Sister Chen (A sister missionary serving in my church from Taiwan) taught me how to each with chop sticks. I'm now completely prepared for China.

This was an awesome hair/bang day. I wish it cooperated like this every day.

So long. My hair is getting to be so long.

Let's talk about this song, which is currently stuck in my head and how I'm totally okay with it, because it is brilliant (and this music video is awesome):

And how today, Bruno Mar's "It will rain" was playing on all four of my favorite radio stations. At the SAME time! ENOUGH, PEOPLE! I've had ENOUGH of that song.

And finally, let's talk about how great it is to open my photo booth up and see this lovely surprise that Jillise must have left me during Thanksgiving break.

She's so cute! I like her a lot.

Happy MLK day, people. I spent today with Kaleb and Jack while scraping wallpaper glue off a wall at the Kelly's, taking Cazz for a long drive up to Merrimac to pick up my camera charger at my Auntie M's and then taking a nap on my grandparents' couch before coming home to a warm fire and a lovely family.

And you know what else?

In a couple of weeks, I get to start writing to my best friend again.

<3

A few things

1. Criminal Minds is addictive. And when there are marathons on, it typically means that I stay up late and get nothing done during the day. But I don't care, because I'm on vacation and my mind is still mush from finals week and it's nice to sleep in and not have to wake up stressed.

2. I'm so excited to be in China. Like, beyond. I can't believe I'm actually going. That being said, I'm frustrated with ILP. They still haven't booked our flights to China and keep pushing our departure date back. Now we aren't leaving until February 3rd, but that isn't even set in stone. How am I supposed to book my flight out to SLC to see Jules and Jord and Misao without having a set departure date? Exactly. I can't. UGH!

3. I love leggings. And I love wearing them all day and not having to change out of them.

4. I finished reading The Help this week and I highly recommend it. Highly. I gave a copy to Juli for Christmas and I only give Juli the best books for Christmas. I love having all the time in the world to read what I want. Next on my list is Life of Pi.

5. I am not a fan of snow. That being said, it hasn't snowed once in New England all winter, save the freak Nor'easter in October. And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want it to snow! I want a day curled up in blankets and hot cocoa and books in front of my window while it is snowing out! I mean, I can do that now, but the snow adds a certain magical element that I love.

6. I love being on vacation. Even though I'm taking a couple online classes, I love. being. on. vacation.

omegle

I like people who are passionate about things. It means they know what it's like to be alive.

winter time.

late nights filled with falling snow.
I am almost home.

Lesson Learned

Being productive is good for me.

Epic

I'm going to do my homework in five minutes, I promise.
but first, I just want to say that the "epic soundtrack" radio station on Pandora is rocking my world.

turn down the tv, Jake!

thank you, creepy Native American chanting for keeping me up way past my bed time. i actually have to get up tomorrow morning!

grow

And the artist uses brown to create the ground first,

before the magentas and the cyans to paint the flowers.

this morning

I woke up with the single thought that my life is anything but ordinary.
and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If people were rain, many live as a drizzle.
I choose to live like a hurricane.

Links and Logs

it is hot hot hot today and the weather channel says it's supposed to stay that way for the rest of the week. I love summer here, but I could do with a little less humidity, please and thank you. I keep on thinking about the missionaries in the New England area when the weather is like this, and I hope that mine is staying hydrated while doing the work in Massachusetts.

I worked out today for the first time since my knee replacement and boy oh boy, was it a reality check on how out of shape I've become and how much effort I need to keep putting into recovery. I'm not going to lie, it was a little frustrating and discouraging to get on the eliptical and only be able to handle seven minutes of it before my knee started to get tremors (nasty muscle convulsions). But, my iPod knew exactly what song to play as I started to let those emotions get the best of me. Thirty Seconds to Mars reminded me to keep fighting this fight, because my recovery is an ongoing battle. Okay knee replacement. This Is War.

Super empowering.

In other news, I had the super awesome opportunity to guest blog for Paige about New England, so you should go check it out. Paige was one of my guest bloggers last month during the opening weeks of Zion's Camp and she wrote an awesome letter to her 16-year-old self, so if you missed out on that, go read it here.

also, in the coming days, I will be doing a major blog redesign, so hold tight while I get my head on straight and figure out what I want to do with my life/blog.

and finally, my contact for my housing is in and the deposit has been made. I'm living in the newest apartments in Rexburg this semester (though it was not by choice) but I'm excited, none the less. I can't wait to have my own washer and dryer, because I had to roll all my quarters to pay for my cell phone bill this month. As much as I love having a summer to just focus on recovering, it is a pain to not be making money!

About Hair Colors

My name is Chelsie, and I have a problem.

Hair Dye.

When my hair was long enough for a pony tail, I whipped out hair dye faster then you could say "you have hair again!" I was determined to do whatever I wanted with my hair while I had it back-being bald is no fun at 16 years old! So I dyed it. and I dyed it. and I dyed it.

Five years later, and I'm still not sure what my natural color hair is anymore.

I recently blogged about going blonde for the summer and how fun of a change that was.

It was fun. But my mother absolutely hated it and after hearing that every day for weeks on end, I decided I would put it back.

Turns out I was meant to be a brunette.

I've decided that I need to take a break from the dye. My hair is getting that terrible "fried" feeling and if I want to be successful with growing it out, I need to calm down on the chemicals. 

So, here is the plan: No more hair dye for the rest of the year.

On another note:

I am currently digging plain white v-neck t-shirts. I think it is so refreshing to wear something that fits well, but is simple enough that I can play up my accessories without over doing it-like today! Butterfly earrings that my brother gave me for christmas and a pink bow in my newly colored hair! Add a pair of dark denim jeans and cute flats and ta-da! A simple, but awesome and flattering summer evening look.

It's Summer

And I have an itching to go blonde. =]

I just realized...

that I have been home since April 11th and I haven't had gone to Dunkin' Donuts yet. 

unacceptable.

this will need to be corrected ASAP.

also, there are creepy men digging up our septic and I am home alone.

I think I will take a nap now.

<3