At Last! I Have Returned!!

I'm back!! Finally after a several month absence (really I'm just NOT sure what happened there...) I am back! I'm back to blogging and thrilling you all with my excessively descriptive posts of what exactly is going on in the life and mind of an average 18 year old (well, average if you consider my situation average...it is true that I may have more stories about what new and hilarious thing such and such child did than the average 18 year old, but that's ok! We'll just enjoy the term 'average' being applied to me for once :-) )

Anyways (see what I mean about the boring- I get off track so easily- it's a wonder to me that you people can stand to read this at all...) life! Life has definitely been there! I really have to say I have learned so much in the last 4 months!

Stuff about me, stuff about decisions, stuff about things I like, people I like, things I can do, things I definitely CANNOT do, things I can stand while retaining my sanity, and things I can stand- but only if I'm willing to sacrifice of bit of my mental health. Stuff about family, stuff about being an adult- really it's been a 4 months full of 'stuff'

So, quick (and I do mean quick) recap! In March I graduated from the UCMT and got a job working for a chiropractor, in May I moved up to Washington and got a job working at a spa/salon (although if you want to get technical it's still slightly illegal since my Washington Massage License is still 'pending' *curse you Washington government!*) and right now that is where I am, but I don't plan on being here long.

I plan on moving around, seeing more family, seeing more country, making more decisions that are probably wrong, and hopefully making some that are right. I plan on falling in love at least once and maybe having my heart broken. I plan on living paycheck to paycheck (if indeed I even find a place that gives them to me :P) and mooching off sisters that love me so. I plan on knowing what it feels like to be dead broke and knowing the joy in paying a bill all on my own, and hopefully in the spring or next fall I plan on starting college (real college this time :-) ) I plan on having no real plan for the next little while. I'm 18, I'm young, I'm in love with life and life is in love with me!

Quick Update

Ok, I'd just like to point out that this quick update was actually written in early early February-- the reason it's taken this long to get to you all is because, well my blog hated me. And recently it has begun to like me again so, let's give this a go. 

Well, let’s be honest. It probably won’t be that quick :D but so many things have happened! However, I can pin point all things that have happened into 3 different categories—School, work, or home. This is both good at bad—it’s good for you because it’ll shorten and compartmentalize my blog that you all feel obligated to read (:D) it’s bad for me because it shows the drastic boringness of my life.

So, I would say let’s start with the most boring first, but really all three of them are pretty fascinating to me- occurrences in each that don’t normally…occur…

First we have work! So on Friday morning I went out to breakfast with my boss, Lisa. It was so much fun and we had such an absolute blast! At first I was afraid that I would run out of things to talk to her with and it would turn into one of those awkward things, but it totally didn’t! There was never a want of conversation, the food was fantastic, and it was so much fun to get to know Lisa a little better and have that quality time with her- she really is the best boss ever. And as we were leaving this guy stopped and starting talking to us and telling Lisa how pretty she was and how her daughter (me apparently :D) could be compared to a rare precious sapphire. (I was quite flattered although I couldn’t find out how someone would link me to a sapphire…) But Lisa and I had to stop ourselves from laughing out loud because we so obviously don’t look like mother and daughter but what can we say? If I had to pick someone to be my surrogate mother Lisa would be right there. :D

Second to come is home. This one was kind of an unexpected surprise but it happened on Sunday night. (Some of you may be familiar with Operation Bring out Your Dead) I was sitting there complacently doing my Russian Protocol (actually I lied, I wasn’t be complacent- I was getting really really pissed off at the protocol) when a phone call came from Val. 2 or so hours later I was packing up to go and drive up to Colfax and pick her up. She was really, insanely sick and she needed some TLC from Mom (tender loving care) and some TLC from me (tender laughing craze—and when anyone questions that I’d just like you all to repeat to yourself that laughter is the best medicine) So Mom and I drove up to Colfax, picked her up and then turned around and came back to Utah so I could make it in time for Tuesday classes. It was certainly an adventure and I have to say it is a blast having Val here!

Third is school! The funniest thing ever happened! A friend of mine (who wishes to remain anonymous :D) and I were partnered up in Russian and I was giving her a massage and she was completely out! I mean, OUT! And so the massage ended and I was trying to wake her up—nothing. She was gone. So I shook and shouted and shook some more and nothing. So I turned to the Russian teacher and tentatively said, “Mike, I think I killed her” He takes a step back and looks at her for a second and goes, “Nope, she’s still breathing!” So he starts laughing and he comes up and does some tapotment, and starts talking to her- still nothing. He squats down so he’s down at her level and just starts talking to her. I firmly grip the sheet on either side of her shoulders (knowing that when I wake up and am startled I try and move and I didn’t want her to do that- seeing as how she had nothing on at all) So I’m firmly gripping her sheet, Mike is trying to wake her up, and finally she does! She looks at Mike’s face and screams and tries to move. I, laughing, grabbed the sheet tighter until she calmed down. And then Mike, calm as can be says, “Oh yeah, I’d scream if the first thing I saw when I woke up was my face too” I was laughing SO hard!  Ah, it was a good day! :D Well, good times have been had by all!

Hope you’re all doing well! Much love!

Imposter!

Turns out somebody has hacked onto my blog...suddenly there are posts by somebody other than me...which might be a good thing because at least now there are posts right? The sad/scary (or funny from the view of the imposter...) thing is that you will never know who is posting at any given time...
(fade out with creepy Twilight Zone music)

Fulfillment of a Life-Long Dream

Ok, I can't even tell you how happy I am right now! Ok, I know that I'm going to get laughed at- and I know that most of you probably won't understand- but today a life-long dream has been fulfilled.

Now, I don't know how many of you have ever heard of Jimmy's Flower Shop, it's a little flower shop in Ogden- On Washington Blvd. Now everyday Jimmy's has a sign on their billboard that says, "If your name is ______ come in for a free rose" and as long as I could remember I always longed to have my name on that sign. But of course it would never happen- they always had names that seemed common enough but you never actually knew anyone that HAD that name!

Names like Myrtle, Ethel, Steffania, Bobby, Victor, etc...I knew they'd never have my name. The same way my sisters knew there would never be a Steph, a Val, a Kim or Pam, especially not a Dieuwke. We knew that no matter how much we longed for it it would never happen to us.

Well, today it did! It happened to me!!! I was innocently sitting in my Professional Development class, trying really hard not to go to sleep as the teacher talked about the IRS and I felt my phone go off. At the first chance I got I checked it for whatever text it was and it was from my friend Jess. The text was telling me that the first chance I got I had to go to Jimmy's and get a free rose! I was so excited I couldn't even contain it! I texted my sister immediately telling her of my good fortune and together we rejoiced until we found out that it closes at 5:30- there was no way I'd get there in time!

Talk about a kick in the pants-- One of my dreams is fulfilled and I can't even reach out and grab it. I was quite dismal and disappointed until my sister mentioned that I should go down and take a picture of the sign before I went home. I completely saw the wisdom in that suggestion- I mean, roses can fade and die- but these pictures, they will stand the test of time. I will always have photographic evidence that I, Bonnie Stohel, could have gone in and gotten a free rose from Jimmy's! Jimmy's chose me!

Ah, bliss! Complete bliss! I never knew how exhilirating it would be to have a life-long dream fulfilled! This is nice!

The Longest Time

The title of Billy Joel's wonderful song pretty much describes how long it's been since I've last posted! Over a month and I'm sure some sister is chaffing just a little bit since I keep telling her to post more frequently and then I never post myself.

This week is really going to just be a barrage of studying for final after final after final. Right now it's anatomy, then pathology, then shiatsu, and then finally structural and I'll be done for two blissful weeks! Thank heavens I've already gotten sports out of the way.

My most exciting news I just HAVE to share is the fact that I am going to a Michael Buble concert with my lovely sister in April! If I only ever go to one concert in my life I am so completely ok with that one concert being Michael Buble!! Words can't even express how excited I am!

Anyways, this is just a quick update to let you all know I'm alive! I promise I'll blog more after finals--if I survive them all that is!

Casual

Do you ever wonder how casualty came about? I do. I mean, when did it happen? How did it happen? What different things happened to make casuality in all its varied forms come about?

What happened to the guys in our society? When did it become that a girl was expected to pay for her share, or all of it if she asked? I went on a date on Friday and he was a complete and total gentleman. He did the whole opening the door, assisting into and out of the car, etc...and when he pulled back a chair for me it didn't even enter into my mind that he might have been doing it for me. Because of the normal guys I'm around I assumed he was pulling it out for him so when I sat down at a different chair and he just stood there looking at me I felt so silly- but it made me think.

When did it happen that guys became so casual? I mean, the reason I thought the chair was for him was because I've been conditioned that guys act for themselves. A guy get a chair for me? That happens? Wow. It was nice to know that those guys still exist. That there is someone out there--besides my brother because I have very intensely trained and taught him how to act. It's nice knowing that he makes the world a little bit of a better place : ) -- that knows how to treat a lady.

It makes you think, how did it happen? When and how did guys start to become lazy and lacksadaisical? There's really only one thing I can think of- we let them. I'm not sure if we felt like we needed to be independent so we refused their help or if one day a guy didn't hold back a chair and the girl just let it slide or what? I'm not sure how it started, but I think it's our fault it's gotten as far as it has. We should change it. I'm sure guys will be willing to be more chilvarous if they knew that's what we wanted. That they would give more respect if more was required.

Anyways, I don't know. It could be that I'm just insane, or that I'm just spitting my mind out onto this page with no order and no real meaning. I don't know. Have a good day!!

Halloween Costume

Ok, I did it! I finally got my whole Halloween costume put together! I know that all of you are so proud of me! I went dressed up as if I was going to a masquerade ball (well, it was a little less formal than that...) and I think it turned out beautifully! I am going to fomally apologize to Val beforehand though- I'm sorry my hair isn't curly, but I still think it turned out rather well. So here it is-- the costume that I wore a grand total of one time, for a grand total of 3 hours! Happy Halloween everybody!!!

I had to take some pictures by myself because Pam had left to go pick someone up, and I'm not the best at taking pictures of myself...as you all see! :)

Is it a sad thing that when I see that picture I automatically think, "Oh, that is not good for my posture- 20 more minutes like that and I'd be the one getting the massage, not giving it!"

Here is the whole ensemble (well the one that is the whole one is the one I'm talking about...) complete with mask, boa, fishnets, and thoughtful look. I'll tell ya right now, wearing those fishnets to the ward party did indeed cause some talk!

My hair--not the best shot, but the best shot we have of it. It was quite gorgeous really

And for some reason this is my favorite pose so this is the one I saved for last! :) All in all it was a great night, full of chili, random comments, and lots of driving!