Guess what I am....

I'm a NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!  Shae and I won!!!!  I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself!  :)

 Shae, our professor Troy, and myself.

Welcome to KC Troy! :D

As long as I have been around, I have never been able to fully understand myself and why I do some of the things in the way/manner that I do.  For instance, why do I always complain about having to wake up early and being "oh so tired", but I don't make a point of going to bed at a time that could ever be considered early... We had to be downtown for our competition to begin today by 8:30 am which meant that we had to leave the hotel by 7...I've blogged enough about Kelton and early mornings that I'm sure you get the picture... ;)  Haha.  At least after the epic "find-the-room" adventure of yesterday we easily navigated our way to the competition space.  :)

We found out that for our competition, we were going to be going to a "Watch-Party" for the World Cup in Downtown KC at the Power & Light District, where there was a HUGE bigscreen TV facing a large open area that was surrounded in a horseshoe shape by shops/restaurants/etc. almost like the Gateway in SLC, but all on one entire block that was kind of boxed in and not open on both ends.  Anyway, we had to create an NPR style news piece about the event that would attract families to it.  Shae was scared because she didn't know anything about Soccer, but a part of me knew that we had it in the bag!  There were probably 1000 people at the event, the energy level was completely out of control, and the whole thing was AMAZING!  So, we had three hours today to gather ALL of our audio, write our script, and record voice-over tracks, and I think we did really well.  Tomorrow we return to the "hidden" room in the KC Muelbach-Marriott to finish the competition during the edit/production phase.

The competition got over today a little earlier today than we had originally been informed, so were just kind of bumming around waiting for T-man (our Communications Prof.) to get there when I bought a bratwurst from a street vendor, and was then promptly informed by another man selling hotdogs that the stand I had purchased from was set up illegally, and would I please not purchase from said "illicit" hot-dog stand anymore...I pretended to feel bad and just walked away.  It was seriously sooooo funny!

Troy arrived just in time for us to get in line for the free backpack/tshirt/commemorative pin giveaway (I don't really intend on ever using any of these things, but hey, they were FREE!  Haha.)  After this, Troy took us to see the KC Municipal Auditorium that he knew Shae and I would love...let me just say that the Music Hall was BEAUTIFUL!  We went on stage, and kind of poked around the backstage area, and I am still in awe.  The hall had the most amazing acoustics ever, and I wanted to do nothing more than just start belting something out! 

They really just plain don't make theater's like this anymore, and it's a shame.

After escaping the heat-wave-humidity-infested downtown KC in Troy's rented Ford Fusion (the car I desperately want/need to purchase for myself....) we went back to the hotel and changed, and then went in pursuit of some genuine Southern BBQ.  Troy had a friend that suggested we try out Gates Brothers BBQ.  It took us a little while to find it, and the phone call to the restaurant didn't help.  The woman simply said, "Oh, well we're across the street from Fritz's!"  ...Well, that does us no good...WTH is Fritz's!?   We eventually found it, sure enough...right across from Fritz's...Haha.

So we go inside, and are immediately assaulted by this teenage black girl, "HI, MAY I HELP YOU!?!?!?"  Except, it wasn't a question at all, but a statement.  While standing there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do she simply repeats herself, only louder this time, "HI, MAY I HELP YOU."  Finally, Troy speaks up and says, "Umm, I don't know, we've never been here before."  And then it was like we'd just summoned the Fairy Godmother of BBQ, because from out of nowhere, we hear this woman saying in a very loud southern manner, "You never been here!?  Well, let me help you out,"  and she proceeds to take us through the entire menu, until she gets to the "Four Boner".  It was one of those moments where you think to yourself, "Did she just say what I think she said??", and almost in answer to your question she immediately repeats herself.  It took every ounce of my strength to not burst out laughing!  Hahaha.  We decided to order two of these...platters... to share, and we hear her yell back to the kitchen, "SHAREEN!  This gentleman wants an EIGHT BONER!"  Yet another fit of laughter had to be stifled...It was soooo funny!  And then come to find out, the woman wasn't just pronouncing it funny, they actually call their BBQ ribs "Boners".  But don't worry, the BBQ was actually very good.  :)

After our BBQ escapade, we were driving around, (can I just say though that since Troy has gotten here, we have done more and had a more fun time in just a few short hours than we had the two entire days we were here by ourselves...) and Troy remembered this really fun diner place he had eaten at before, so we stopped for dessert...aka the most enormous milkshake ever!

Yes, that is an ARM behind that milkshake.  It was insane, but really good!  And then the Comm Professor decided to give us all a lesson about non-verbal communication...  In short, our waitress was HOTT!  Seriously, ever time she walked by I went all googly, to the point that one time (I don't exactly remember the specifics of what happened, but I've been graciously informed by those who were accompanying me...) I was in the middle of a sentence to Troy and Shae when she walked up to the table next to ours, and I was just staring at her, and didn't even finish my thought to T and S.  And then Troy tells me that when I looked at her my eyes dilated, which is apparently a sign of arousal...uh...yikes?  But she was really hot.  :)

Sorry this post is so long, but there were just to many juicy details of today that couldn't be left out!

Still feel like a 15 year old...

In the event of a tie in any of the SkillsUSA Championships (there are almost 100 or something), the tie is broken by your performance on a "SkillsUSA Etiquette" exam that the entire Utah delegation had to take at seven this morning, and it is seriously the dumbest thing in the world.  "When dining, what is considered improper use of the napkin?"  Exactly what kind of a question is that?  I'll tell you, a ridiculous one, and it had 49 little friends who were all bothering Kelton at 7 am when he would have much rather been sleeping.  Haha.  Shae and I didn't have to be downtown for our Competition Information Meeting until 2, so I spent the morning finishing The Bible (soundeffects version), and regaining the sleep that was stolen from me by a stupid test.

We wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to find our meeting room, so we planned to catch one of the shuttle buses at noon.  I was shocked to realize that the "buses" were school buses!  Yup, this trip is definitely making me feel like I'm only fifteen years old.  Oh well.  I'll live.  :)  I'm definitely glad we planned for the extra time to find our meeting room, because it took forever.  The Downtown Marriott in Kansas City is the most contorted building ever.  It's like it was added onto fifteen or so times, so none of the hallways actually connect to each other.  Here was the process to get to our room (which we're lucky to have found at all)

1. Go in front door.
2. Go upstairs.
3. Go downstairs (and yes, you had to go upstairs first.)
4. Walk past restaurant (where we ended up having lunch.  Not too bad either.)
5. Down more stairs.
6. Walk down the most beautiful hallway ever!  (Beautiful marble and wooden paneling everywhere).
7. Go up gorgeous marble staircase.
8. Go down a very, very long escalator.

And seriously, none of these places were connected to each other in any way other than by following the path I just described to you; it was very, very odd.

In case you were wondering, Kansas City is  HOT  and HUMID which makes it feel even HOTTER.  Like to a ridiculous degree.  Right now it is 93 degrees, but feels like 107.  The sidewalk is 123 degrees, and metal slides are upwards of 143 degrees; a report on the news just said that little kids are actually getting really bad burns from slides.  The ride back from KC to our hotel (about a thirty minute ride) on the good ole' school bus was seriously misery.  I'm back in my hotel room now, and the air conditioner seriously only shuts off for like 30 seconds before it turns back on.  I tried to play nice and cooperate with the heat and humidity, but that sneaky little hoe got the best of me.

Shae and are now going to take the hotel shuttle (NOT a school bus, thank heavens) to find a Wal-Mart, a mall, and some dinner.  Twill be a fun evening!

PS: I would have uploaded some pictures, but downtown Kansas City (at least where we were today) isn't really that picturesque...hopefully we'll have more luck in this department!

Apparently I'm 15 Years Old

So I've stated before that I am so totally not a morning person, like not at all, and much to my dismay this morning began at 4:30...WHAT!?  It was a feat in and of itself that Kelton was up and at 'em that early to be ready to leave.  We had to leave College/Hometown in enough time to pick up Shae in Orem and then be to the Airport and get through security and everything.  Our Communication Professor is currently enrolled in a Doctoral program and won't be able to join us in Kansas City until Wednesday, so we got to hitch a ride with the Welding department who also qualified to come to Nationals for SkillsUSA, and let me just say...what an experience!  The flight was largely uneventful, consisting mainly of me listening to my iPod, coming in and out of consciousness, and trying to reread The Sound Effects Bible in preparation for competition.  The flight from SLC International Airport to the Kansas City International Airport was just under two hours.  Upon disembarking from the plane we were greeted with the commensurate b--ch slap known as humidity...ugh.  Haha.

Shae and I pretending to enjoy the insta-wet humidity.

We then made the journey from the terminal to the rental car agency (which was slightly epic with 12 people trying to get on the same shuttle).  The next stage of our journey (from airport to hotel) in reality should have taken like 30 minutes (according to our Comm. Prof.), but we all ended up getting lost.  Yes, two van loads of Utahns trying to find their way in the Midwest, crisscrossing the Missouri/Kansas State line at least a dozen times for almost TWO HOURS!!  And let me share just a glimpse of the conversation had between us during those two hours...

Welder 1: Kansas, huh.

Welder 2: Yeah, isn't this where that Dolores b--ch is from? (Pardon the insinuated profanity)

Me: ...Umm, do you mean Dorothy?

 ...it literally took every ounce of strength I had not to laugh out loud and appear really rude.   

Anyway, we finally found the hotel where we were provided the most entertaining debriefing of my life by the Utah State SkillsUSA Organization...in short even though I'm almost 21 years old and in college, I'm being treated like a high school kid.  Curfew is 11 pm.  11!?  What the crap!?  And then the infamous "no boys in girls rooms or girls in boys rooms EVER".  Umm, hate to break it to you SkillsUSA peeps, but I've gone on a few "Co-Ed" roadtrips where everyone slept in the same room the whole time...oops!  And furthermore, I know you're trying to avoid sexual promiscuity, but guess what, I'm over 18!  I'm legal!  (Not that it matters, I have no desire to do anything, but a part of me likes throwing the facts back in their faces...haha.)  This week has the potential to either be the best or worst ever.

Tonight was mostly lounging around the hotel (in Kansas City, KS), but tomorrow we're going into Kansas City, MO (where competition events are being held) for some information meetings and such, so much more exploring will take place and will be documented!  

My room isn't too shabby though.  :)

Oh, hello. And you are?

Dude!  My life is running away from me so quickly that there is no way I will ever catch up!  Or will I?  Ugh...I sure hope I do.  Seriously though people, my car is disgusting and has needed to be cleaned for months, my bedroom is a complete disaster area, and it is all driving me absolutely insane!!!  I work almost everyday at the wingy, and whenever my dad is around and I'm not at Winger's we're working on the house (in case you're wondering why there haven't really been update posts about that, it's because we're not really any farther along...there was a minor setback where we had to move the location down the street a bit, so we had to move the sewer and electrical connection and stuff, but we're back on track now and should pour footings by the end of the week.), and on top of that National Radio Broadcast competition is next week, and I'm starting to get a little nervous about it.  I just want Shae and I to do an awesome job while we're there...

I feel like so much has happened lately that I haven't really posted a thing about!  One of my besties, Whitney, (who has promised me that she will start a blog in the near future...) got married recently.  The Saturday before her wedding Meg, Fa'ah, and I took her to dinner at a way nice restaurant and then seriously stayed up until almost five in the morning talking (poor Whit had to work at eight...haha).  It was one of the best nights EVER.  It was so nice and refreshing to sit and talk with your friends and to realize the importance they hold in your life.  Friendship is so amazing people, don't ever take it for granted, even if it only exists in the smallest, quirkiest way.  The day of Whit's wedding was actually a little hard for me, because a couple of months ago she had invited me that she wanted me to get ready and go through the temple around the same time as her so that I could go to her sealing.  In short, I was completely flattered, because that just meant soooo much to me...unfortunately now I will always regret that I didn't do the things I new I should have to be able to be there and share that special time with her.  At the reception, (which was absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous btw) she gave me the sweetest letter ever that means more to me now than she will ever know.  I seriously love this girl so much, she is the best friend anyone could ask for!  She and her new husband are the most amazing people ever, and luckily I'm in OChem with him this next year, so hopefully I have a chance of passing.... ;)

My good friend Bre also got married recently, and her reception was absolutely beautiful. They had it in their yard, and I kid you not, these people have the most amazing yard ever.  It was beautiful beyond description.  So amazing.

Tomorrow I am going to seriously tackle the problem that is my bedroom.  I am then going to practice for Nationals with Shae, and then if I can go up to Provo for dinner and a movie (Tucano's anyone!?) with Meg and my Fa'ah the Beast.  :)

After writing this post that started out a little whiny, I've realized how completely blessed I am.  I am surrounded everyday by people who I love and who love me...at home, work, school, and play, I am soooo blessed.  I love it, and I love my life.
:)

It WORKED!!!

Well, as if you couldn't notice for yourself, but I tried the Kevin and Amanda Post Font thing again, and it worked like a charm!  I LOVE it!  I really don't know what I did wrong the last time, but I don't even care because I'm so happy and ecstatic about the results.  It is a GOOD day people!  :)

Here's my latest edit... :)

Darn...

So, I have this really bad habit of not posting for what seems like FOREVER, and then I just keep not posting, because I feel like soooo much has happened, and I don't know how to update life very well...haha.  But, I decided tonight that I would just buckle down and get to it!  Haha.

Well, as you have probably noticed, the blog got a minor overhaul, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  My favorite part is the new blog signature, of which I may or not be a little obsessed...I'll let you be the judge... ;)  I failed at an attempt to change the font of my post titles, post dates, and sidebar titles as given by the tutorial over at Kevin & Amanda, but I'm so obsessed with fonts, that I quite possibly might attempt it again even though I really don't think my sanity could cope with another fail.  But now, only two days after my overhaul, Blogger has come up with this new template generator that I'm not sure I like...none of them are as clean and simple as the old ones were, and yet I'm sure noone really cares what Mr. K's opinion on the matter was anyway...Haha.

Right now I am needing to get to a Wedding Reception for my friend Bre, so this post will be continued later!