Nothing to blog about

instagram from yesterday post red-eye. but i still sort of feel the way i look here.

I'm procrastinating.

I'm procrastinating double checking the office staff list to make sure everyone is included.

I'm procrastinating the grad school research I really need to do so I can figure out my life.

I'm procrastinating going to lunch (weird) because that means when lunch is over it's time for my meeting and I don't want to go to that.

I'm procrastinating going to lunch because I don't particularly like what I have for lunch and would much rather eat out of the jar of candy left on my desk by my boss or out of the box of Lindt chocolates (also sitting on my desk) brought back from Switzerland by my other boss.

I'm procrastinating loads of other things too, each of which are really just stupid to procrastinate: ie. reading my scriptures; writing in my daily journal (which I didn't write in once while in Oregon); figuring out more New Year's resolutions besides eat less sugar; and a handful of work related things.

Things I'd much rather be doing:

1. Blogging. Obviously this one won out.
2. Laying in bed watching stupid and awesome movies like THIS. (I did that last night after I finished unpacking, would do it again. It's a Sense and Sensibility rewrite! Awesome.)
3. Making a cake for no reason.
4. Making cookies for no reason but to eat.
5. Cleaning my room. (That's how much I don't want to do my to-do list.)
6. Learning how to draw from the book I bought last year but have not yet had a chance to read.
7. Shop. Always on the list actually.

Well, there you have it folks. I basically just blogged about nothing. Happy Wednesday to you.

Procrastinator's Delight

When I don't want to do something I procrastinate it.

Example 1: Messy room? I won't even go in there until bedtime because I don't want to clean it.
Example 2: That obnoxious homework? I'll put it off until I end up staying up till 2 am to get it done.
Example 3: Job applications? I usually complete them on the deadline.

Today fortunately it worked out to my advantage.

I hate doing travel authorizations. I have about 20 steps to take and then it has to be approved by a handful of people and it's all obnoxious. So I always procrastinate it. When there are changes to an approved travel authorization it's even more annoying.

So, long story short, someone's travel was changed, he needed more money for the travel authorization. I procrastinated getting it done, and by the time I went to begin the finalizing process the plane ticket had gone down $500 and I didn't need to change anything. It was AWESOME.

This is probably the one and only time procrastination will pay off.

Laurprah = Lauren + Oprah = Oprahfy

Thanks to Debbie, Facebook, and a little bit of procrastinating (ok, a LOT of procrastinating) I Oprahfied myself a few different times this afternoon.

Yeah. I really like Oprah.

Confessions

1. Even though I've loosely keep up with BYU basketball this season, I haven't watched a single game. 
2. I think the cashier yesterday gave me a 20 in change instead of a 5.
3. My legs were shaved today for the first time since November.*
4. I ran almost 3 miles yesterday for the first time in months and it wasn't easy. 
5. Sometimes when I'm listening to my iPod at work, I'm actually listening to a book.

*They were waxed throughout the winter though. Yes, Mother, I still have good hair hygiene.

Procrastinating

I have stuff to do at work. Instead I am dragging my feet and procrastinating on the internet. Why do I do that? It doesn't make me feel any better about my work ethic or my productivity and makes me feel like a bad employee. But, here I am blogging, counting down the last 38 minutes left of work, and half dreading, half wishing for a government shut down. I don't want it because that means I don't work and I don't get paid. I want it because it means a few hours (days?) of vacation I wasn't expecting.

I usually blog when I'm procrastinating, and lately, my main place for online procrastination is the blog I started about six months ago when my roommate left the country for work. I end up posting multiple things a day. It's all random. It's probably the most random blog ever. But, I like it, and its full of pretty looking, delicious looking, and fun looking things. You can procrastinate over there too. Because isn't that what blogging is really all about anyway? Procrastination? Well, unless you actually get paid for your blog. Then, it's kind of your job I guess.

I'm rambling.

But, here's a picture, because everything's more fun with a picture. Right?

We look hard core with our matching dragon tattoos. Place: Galilee, Israel. Who: Peter, Mandi, Me, and a guy whose name I can't remember but he called his girlfriend Baby and we all laughed about it. We were friends, so I should remember his name, but I don't. Matt? Nick? No... hm...CHRIS! His name was Chris. Actually, I think he married Baby...

There's no crying at work

Embarrassing moment confession of the week. Or rather of LAST week.

Last Friday was a really quiet day in the office. I was sitting at my desk reading blogs and Whitney posted a video that made me cry. I was crying so much in fact that I had to keep stopping, pausing the video and collecting myself. But finally I decided that I just needed to finish watching the video (it is good, I promise). So I watched it longer than usual, stopping only because I had tears rolling down my cheeks. (I know, I know, I'm a huge cry baby.)

Right as I try to collect myself-- knowing that my cheeks are probably a little tear stained, and I know my skin is probably blotchy red (because it does that when I cry), and my eyes were still definitely watery-- the really really good looking intern in my office walks up to my desk to ask me a few questions. All I wanted to do was laugh and explain (because I'm an over explainer like my mother) but he left as soon as the questions were answered and vacated the vicinity of my desk. Oops! That's what I get for taking a break from work and procrastinating!

It also reminds me of a time from my mission when we all went around the circle saying what we liked about a missionary who was leaving and I started crying because I was going to miss her. When we were all done going around the room one of the elders said to me, "Wow Sister Richey, you look like you just got dumped!" (He was really tactful... nope.) But, I ran to the mirror to see great mascara streaks all the way down my face. (Luckily there was no mascara with the intern incident.)

Neglector

I've been committing serious blog neglect lately. I'd apologize but I'm not really sorry. I don't know if I've grown tired of this blog and wish to start new? Or if I'm over blogging? Or if it's just because it's not that interesting to write about how my days consist of pushing snooze too many times, getting ready, running to the bus, working, gchatting, running stressful errands, going to the gym, trying to motivate myself to clean my room, watching Grey's Anatomy (which we get sent via Netflix), making dinner, or doing a myriad of different but not really exciting things. I'm frequently tired because I stay up too late, and by too late I mean 11. And it's been really hot. Too hot. And humid. My hair looks like a lion's mane it's so big.

I'm trying to get in shape for Jess' wedding in September and frequently get frustrated with myself because I didn't start getting in shape last July. I even went so far as to tell Jess it would be much more convenient for me if she got married next summer. That way I would be skinnier, and I'd make the wedding line look better. She told me I was ridiculous and selfish. (I was only joking! Mostly... Besides, that extra year would give me time to find someone good-looking and male to bring as my wedding date... Jess didn't think it was a good idea and is still getting married Labor Day weekend.)

Stole this puppy from Facebook. I think I look like I'm naked. But I assure you I was wearing both a suit and cover up.

Since I live where it's really hot, it's been really convenient to have a friend with a boat. I'm working on my summer tan and future wrinkles and probably skin cancer. Not that I want the wrinkles and the probable skin cancer but I just assume everyone will get it anyway so why not just use your sunscreen try to prevent it if you can but suck it up and jump in the lake. The good news of the last visit to the lake however was that I finally stood up on the wakeboard. And then fell...

Highlight of this week:
Well, I have two highlights.
1.) Lacy came to visit from Arizona. We were roommates at BYU after meeting in Poland. See evidence below:

Warsaw Zone Conference

Roommate picture Fall 2007. Natalie was also in both pictures, but she didn't come visit this weekend, so she doesn't get a post. BUT she has a baby so that won't happen anytime soon...

2.) We went to Zumba on Wednesday night for the first time, loved it, and now we're in the process of teaching a certain roommate (who will remain nameless to protect her identity) to do a body roll. She's going to get it. And she's going to be good at it. And she's going to use it frequently.

And that's about it.

Lifetime to do (Post 7)

I was talking to a friend today about how he liked my lifetime to do posts. Which reminded me that I've been neglecting those and my blog. (Actually, that's pretty presumptuous of me to assume that any of you actually want to read these either. But here ya go!) As I sit here and think of something to write and procrastinate filling out a taxi voucher for my boss I realize that what I'd really rather be doing here is the next post on my list.

Number 7: Be an art museum tour guide. 

(Or just tour guide somewhere cool.)

 
(Painting from Belvedere Museum in Vienna but I got the picture from THIS blog. Found via google image search.)

At BYU I took the docent class at the Museum of Art. I wanted to be a tour guide. Actually, I took some career test in a class my freshman year at BYU and it had a few options of things for me to be. Only two really stand out right now. 1.) Counselor 2.) Tour guide. I crossed counselor off that list within the first month of taking psychology. It was terrible. I hated that class so much. But being a tour guide has always kind of stuck with me. Yeah you'd probably have to deal with stupid tourists and people who don't really care what they're looking at because they're only at the National Gallery to see "that one famous painting that their coworker told them they should see" blah blah blah, but you'd also get people who love history or art, who are so excited to finally see a painting by Monet or DaVinci or see the chair George Washington sat in. (you get me right?) Unfortunately these jobs are volunteer. Meaning I don't want to work 40 hours a week and then spend my Saturdays volunteering. But I can't exactly quit my job either to do it. 

I don't love my job right now. I don't hate it either. It's kind of like, eh, it's my job. People don't always love their jobs. But I'd rather have a job that I love. But being a tour guide would probably get that way after a while too right? 

Maybe I can just quit my job and start making books again and sell them on etsy. Or maybe I could figure out how to be an event planner who specializes in weddings. (Do I even have the organization skills for something that involved? I don't even know.)

This is now a jumbled post. 

And if you want to see funny pictures go to Google image search: tour guide. For some reason all the Asian ones are extra funny. See:

But, I might have to wait to be retired to do this one. Makes sense why they always seem to be old...

Jumping Pictures

(Emma)

We have a family Smugmug account. And I was looking through pictures of my family.
(1. Because I love them and may be a little obsessed. and 2. Because I'm bored and am procrastinating.)
Anyway, I found these fun pictures that were taken last summer when I had already moved out east.

Jumping pictures may be all the rage, but only Rach can do the leaping ones. And I'm jealous.

(Yes my mom used to be a cheerleader.
And yes Ellie (the dog) must be wondering what has overcome my dad, he usually doesn't do stuff like that.
Must have been a lot of coaxing.)


(Rach)

(Also, photo credits go to Emma. Except the one of her of course, that was probably my mom.)

Remember how I'm a procrastinator?

Well, I procrastinated taking a document to another office for a day. That day turned into a week. And now it just bit me in the butt and I'm feeling really pretty terrible.

I hope your day is better! At least it's Wednesday afternoon, meaning the work week is officially over half way done.

Procrastination

I feel like I haven't procrastinated for a while. This is mainly because I'm no longer in school. But then I realized, I procrastinate EVERYTHING. I feel like Scarlett O'Hara. "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." Thank you Scarlett. You have taught us all how to procrastinate.

I have a handful of stuff I need to do on my desk. I don't want to do it. What I really want is a treat. There is a desk that has a bowl of M&Ms on it. I just got a small spoonful. I want more. BUT, if I go get more, I'll give myself away and everyone will know I'm back for more. I'll wait until the desk owner is gone.

I have a handful of stuff I need to do on my desk. I don't want to do it. What I really want to do is to learn the Flags of the World. That's right. You read that right. I want to learn the flags of the world. And yes, I am a huge geek. Have you ever visited the website Sporcle? Well, it's premise is "mentally stimulating diversions". Perfect. I mastered the countries of the world a few months ago, and then decided I would move on to another something to master. Flags of the World. But first I'm starting out slow. I'll master the flags of each region/continent before I make the jump to the world. Because, let me tell you, I'm bad at it. But I'll tell you this, once I learn the Flags of the World, I'm thinking I'll come in really handy for Olympics watching parties...

I have a handful of stuff I need to do on my desk. I don't want to do it. What I really want is make my grocery shopping list for the week. I should really have gone to the store on Tuesday after getting back from New York, but I didn't. Now for lunch today I brought a can of soup. And only vegetable soup for that matter. Nothing exciting like, White Bean Tuscan Chicken or something. Meh. I hope it's a little good. But my hopes aren't high.

I have a handful of stuff I need to do on my desk. I don't want to do it. What I really want to do is sleep. I have a new daily regimen which includes waking up early and going to the gym. Last night I stayed up too late to watch Persuasion. (Yep, after blogging about Captain Wentworth, I had to go watch it! Besides, my roommate hadn't seen it yet.) Worth the missing sleep time but I'm still really tired now.

I have Kelly to thank for the discovery of Sporcle and the ensuing obsession--eh hem, love of games found there.

whoa

it's 1:30 in the morning and my room is an absolute disaster, as am i. tomorrow i'm leaving provo and all i want to do is watch gilmore girls.

EIGHT DAYS!

Every good long study session needs to start with a good strong procrastinative blog post. So, here it is!

I have 8 days left as an undergraduate. Eight. E.I.G.H.T. I can't even believe it.

And I'm really excited about it too.

Eight seems to be the magic number today. I have eight hours to finish a paper due by midnight. I have one page down and 8+5 pages to go. It's about Edgar Degas. And somehow it evolved to be mainly a study of his misogynism and his depictions of nudes. Appropriate for BYU? Debatable.

I had a dream

I had the craziest last 24 hours or so. I procrastinated my entire final project for my Southern Baroque Art class and the final project was due about an hour ago. I stayed at the library till 2 am last night. The best part about that was they played Clocks over the loud speaker. I can't remember the last time I stayed at the library until closing. When I lived on campus maybe? But it's pretty exciting to hear Clocks played over the loud speaker in the whole library. It was definitely worth it. I probably shouldn't have been procrastinating so much at the library last night. It's always a bad call to take a "quick" perusal of the 5th floor. But I came home and went straight to bed after I had finished maybe 2/3rds of my project.

I planned on waking up early this morning which I did, I took a shower, got dressed, emailed myself my project so I could finish it on campus. I was running late to work so I drove and parked in the visitor's parking by the Law Building. No one asked if I was a student so it was perfect! As I walked across the street to the Wilkinson center I realized I forgot my computer and really didn't want to use the computers in the computer labs so I turned around to go back to my car and I couldn't remember where I had parked. Then I ran into Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen. We chatted like old friends and I told her I couldn't find my car. She said she'd help but we stayed where we were sitting and chatted for a while. (By now you've probably figured out that this is all a dream.) But we sat there and talked for a while when some guy with blonde dreadlocks came over and kept staring at us. He offered to help find the car too, but then all of a sudden we were in some random room. I walk out the room and we're in a huge warehouse wehre people are learning how to be architects. Some random guy from my ward was there. I was confused. Dreadlocks boy comes over to help me find the car. I have no idea where it is. I realize I'm going to have to tell my boss I'm going to be late for work.

I woke up really at 8:15 instead of 6 like I planned to finish my paper. I was supposed to be at work at 8. I didn't go in because I didn't have my stuff finished for my class. I realized too that some pages I had copied and then quoted in my paper didn't have page numbers on them. I spent 45 minutes in the library trying to track a stupid book down that was in the library (according to the computer) but not on its shelf. I was so annoyed. I didn't site page numbers.

But. I'm done. And I just have to write another paper for Monday and then all I have are finals and art projects left to do.

Oh, and 13 days.

Blah

I feel like I'm having a blah day. I have a huge paper due tomorrow and what am I doing? Blogging. Wow. I'm a horrible procrastinator. It's awful when I know I'm probably going to be up all night writing a paper about Georges de La Tour and sifting through terrible articles reviewing a collection of paintings for the most recent exhibition and French articles that I cannot understand. I offered to cook dinner for someone who was too stressed to do it their self, not knowing that I was going to be gearing up for a long night. But I don't really want to change my paper topic to something perhaps more accessible because I like La Tour. He has really cool paintings. See:

Clockwise: Christ with St. Joseph in a Carpenter's Shop; Education of the Virgin; Dream of St. Joseph; Adoration of the Shepherds

See, they're really cool. I'm discussing the use of light and it's connection to spirituality in the Counter Reformation. Boring right? But I don't want to do something else either. Bah. I should be working on it right now.

Another reason I'm having a blah day is that we started intervieweing people for my job. That means I really have only a few days left. 14 to be exact. I only have 14 days left in college. Wow.

A few years ago right before the sixth Harry Potter book came out my family took a trip to Seattle and went to the Experience Music Project museum there. You can get your picture taken to make you look like a real rock band. We named our band 14 days because that's how many days it was until the next book came out. So now all I can think of is Jess's wailing during our recording session singing "Fourteen daaaaayyyss-uh". There were other lyrics too that the musical genius' wrote (Emma, Cami and Jess), while Rachel and I attempted to do back up sounds. I can't even listen to the CD because I sound so dorky.

Speaking of dorky. I got a package for Easter yesterday from my mom. She's fabulous. There was a big Easter egg filled with candies and edible grass. I liked the grass, it had a slight apple flavor:

Other than the edible grass, the best part of the day was mission letters from my sisters! Yay! (Updates to come later.)

Hooray for procrastination!

Good news, good news, I finally have a thesis for my paper! So in celebration I'm writing about my fabulous weekend. (This coming weekend is going to be equally great because I'm going home to Oregon!)

Miss Amy came to visit from DC--she's the one who would have told me about my fly had she been paying more attention to me like she should-- and we had a wonderful wonderful time. I spent all Saturday morning preparing for her coming by cleaning and organizing my room while watching past episodes of House on Fox.com and avoiding doing the pressing homework for Monday which I knew wasn't going to get done anyway because as soon as she got into Provo it was going to be an Amy filled day and night so I was just being helpful so that when she did get here I would be ready to give her all the attention she deserved instead of waiting for me to do my homework. I'm so thoughtful. So she got here and we went to the bookstore and got matching BYU sweatshirts. (Ok, they aren't matching exactly, but pretty dang close.)

That's us sportin' our sweet Cougar gear, eatin' our blue bunned J-Dawgs (which were only $1).

When we got to the game we decided to watch the team run by us. Amy was mostly excited to see Mr. Fui Vakapuna because he incidentally told her she was cute (twice) while she was skipping class once last year. (She doesn't even remember what was happening that day in class, or what class it was for that matter, but, who cares? She has her diploma, and a real life grown up person's job.) But her memory of Fui will go on and on.

This is us waiting for Fui with Brybry. He was really excited, but I couldn't tell if it was the awesome company or the fact that he was back at BYU, back in Cougar Stadium living the Provo Dream. (Or maybe he just really really likes football. It's the football definitely.)

That's him! That's Fui Vakapuna! #1! He's #1! He's #1! And, he almost touched her hand! Just a few more inches, and you and Fui would have meshed skin cells together Amy. (If that even works! Meh, I have no idea. Bio 100 was not my strong suit, but let me tell you about Edgar Allan Poe...) You should have put it out there a little farther Amy!

Here is another good picture of our sweet matching Cougar Gear. I have my excited face on.

By the end of the game it was freezing. Amy had conveniently invited her young and innocent cousin Michael to sit with us and then used him for his deliciously warm blanket! I have my hood on. It was warmer that way. Lindsay J was roughin' it in just a puffy vest but she does look more stylin' than me in my hunter's jacket. Lindsay S is looking warm and comfortable in her hat and puffy coat. Michael although looks happy is just wanting his blanket back.

Unfortunately there is no photo documentation of the rest of the night but it included a Cafe Rio trip and a wild game of Catch Phrase. Adam and Eve-- Gethsemane, Sacred Grove! Junk yard dog! Basement! Beyonce!

Love you Amy! Thanks for making my weekend! And now I'm going to go back to writing that paper. Three pages minimum. I think I can, I think I can.

Spring is in the air

Provo is wonderful in the spring! Classes are smaller, the weather is relatively sunny (although we’re having a little cold episode now), and best yet, there is hardly any traffic. I left my house for the gym giving myself about 10 minutes for travel time. I was there in less than five. I thought maybe I just drove really fast, then it happened again and I wondered ifmy lead foot was getting progressively heavier, until I realized there weren’t as many students on the road anymore. It is a beautiful thing.

I love starting school again because it’s a fresh start. Every new semester or term I vow that I am going to be the most dedicated student. I’m going to be on top of things, going to do my assignments and papers early, I’m going to start studying early for my tests, quizzes etc. I update my ical and color code each class and update my to-do list according to color and date and add in alarms. (All of which I did yesterday afternoon.) But by about the second or third week I have succumbed to my old habits and find myself not ahead but doing everything at the last minute and barely treading water. The other night, instead of getting on top of my schooling which would have been smart, I borrowed a book,

and read the WHOLE thing. I suppose I’m just getting an early start on my procrastination. But then I decided to rededicate myself and update my calendar and was distracted yet again. This is now my third post, and I’m two for three on procrastinating homework. Maybe I’ll get around to reading The Odyssey tomorrow…