24 years and those who made it happen

Hi everybody, or basically the three of you who read this blog. I turned 24 on Saturday. It is kind of crazy for me to think that I am now 24. 24, still single, still working on my bachelors degree, still having to stop at the parental's once a week, still playing practical jokes on people (for my latest one I have to apologize to my friend Brianne at work for.....it was pretty funny though, I am glad you laugh about it now, and I am glad you didn't call me at six in the a.m. when you mysteriously had your alarm go off on a Saturday morning,) and even inspite of still being as immature as I was at 23, I am still your average rockstar. I am glad that being one year older hasn't had any dramatic effects on me yet. It is kind of weird though. I always thought I would be two more steps ahead of where I am now when I used to think about what would happen when I would be 24. I thought I would be graduating this fall because 18 credit hours would be easy, (Ha ha never have taken more than 15 with two of those credits always being tennis classes) thought I would be married or engaged (this is not even close to happening, and right now I don't feel too bad about it), I don't think I will ever stop playing practical jokes (you may just never want me to see your cell phone again, it was such a funny practical joke, sorry again Brianne) and I will probably be a rockstar when I am 80. Thats it, no new profound explaination on the new age, no sudden new plans, no new resolutions.
With that said I do have to thank all my killer friends for making my bday an awesome weekend. First, Friday afternoon my awesome friends at work had a small bday party for me. Thank you Erin, Blair, Mccall, Jenni, Kelly, Wendy, Jesse, Will and everyone else at work. Then that night Christa and Amber took me out to eat at Stoneground, one of my favorite restaurants, and then we met up with Sheldon and saw the Reader (I will blog about the movie later) and then went back to the APT for brownies and ice cream. Then Saturday I went up to O-town to celebrate my birth with my friends up there. They took me to the OG, and then we went back to Missy's for an Office Marathon. Thanks Missy, Kriddy, Chelsie, Tyler, Lawrence, Heather, Brock, Briann, Kellie, Mike, Chiara, and Chantastic. I got a pass to do the I-fly at the Junction (indoor skydiving) and a few other goodies. It was awesome. Thanks.
Then Sunday was the fam's time to party. Both sets of G-parents came over, and my whole family was there (minus Katie who was on a trip and said she will make it up to me). It was a lot of fun. Made out with some loot from the the Parentals and the G-parents, and got some good flicks from the siblings, and the best picture from my buddy Jax. All in all an awesome bday.

Thanks!

Season 8 of American Idol

So as you all probably know I am an addict of American Idol. Lame I know, but I love music and it is cool to watch people who don't have the opportunities that others have to make it into the business. Anyways I guess I don't need to defend myself, even though I kinda feel like I do. Well finally tonights show has given me a favorite. Her name is Lil Rounds. She rocked Mary J Blige's Be Without You. Awesome. I finally have someone I am really cheering for.




Lil has got some pipes. She is my favorite.












Here are some others that I like.



Danny Gokey: I hate on him a little bit because I think Fox has been exploiting the death of his wife to make him as popular as he is. He has been shown more than any of the other contestants, which again gives him an unfair advantage. Can he sing-yes in the whole Bryan Adams kind of singing. Don't get me wrong I like him, I am just not buying the hype that has gone into making him what he is. If his wife was still alive would he be as popular?-probably not, and it is shameful of Fox to exploit it. I do not give out pitty votes. That said he sooo deserves to be in the top 12, unlike the blind guy. He is sacrament meeting good, not I wanna listen to him on any other day but sunday kind of good.













Ju'Not rocked Hey Delilah. Changed it up enough to make it different but left the important parts the same. He was the best guy of round 3, I hope he makes it to the top 12.













Kris Allen suprised me by doing a classic MJ song and doing it well. Who would have thought a white boy from Arkansas could authentically do Man in the Mirror? He is pretty good.










My Wild Card Hopefuls: Those I want them to bring back.


Megan Corkrey is hot. I kind of have a crush on her, and maybe that is why I am hoping she makes the wild card picks. I know her style of music is limited but I think that it represents a new era of music for women who can't do the powerhouse vocals of Alicia Keys, the hip of Beyonce, or the rock of Pink, but don't want to fall into the dumb pop genre. It is a throwback to 60's jazz/r&b mixed in with a bit of British invasion that is cool, soulful, and chill. Think Amy Whinehouse, Adele, Duffy, Corrine Bailey Ray, or Norah Jones. She has potential.





I kind of have a weird crush on Jackie. She is goofy but she has an awesome soulful rock voice that reminds of Janice Joplin mixed in with Pink when she is actually singing and not being goofy/angry. She has potential and I hope they bring her back even though i think it is doubtful.





That leaves one more spot in the wild card and I hope it goes to either Anoop-Dawg or Kai. They are both really good and I like both of them.

Some of my fave SNL stuff

So it is probably no big secret that I love SNL. Here are some of my favorite ones with the exception of recent Tina Fey Sarah Palin skits-those are fantastic but I couldn't just choose one. Sorry some might have brief commercials.
Beyonce, JT, and Paul Rudd- Single Ladies

justin timberlake snl beyonce single ladies video

Debbie Downer


Anne Hathaway-Mary Poppins


Natalie Portman Raps (Warning bleeped out f words, maybe inappropriate for minors. Haha)


Angelina wants more babies


Really with Seth and Amy, Really


Sorry, couldn't sleep so I was playing around online and thought you all could benefit from it.

Living for yourself

Apparently does not include school work or cleaning your room. At least not on a daily or a weekly basis. Putting off school work and room cleanage for five weeks means a lot of fun, a trip to San Diego, and did I mention a lot of fun, but these five weeks have finally hit a crossroads. My room is literally a giant mess and I have three papers due in a week and a half. Do I know what these are on?....no. Have I read anything to get me ready to write them?....no. Do I even know when the are due?....not really, just in a general sense, I remember looking at my syllabi (that is pluaral for syllabus, right?)at some point and making a mental note that a lot would be happening in February, somewhere in the twenties. Last time I checked, and then was reminded every where I went today, it is apparently February 13, well it is after midnight so I guess it is V Day. (Side Note, my friend's coworker wished her a happy VD, then had to have it explained that if you want to shorten Valentines Day, call it V-Day, VD means something entirely different....As a further sidenote I submit calling February 15 VD Day, because I am assuming that is the day you find out that maybe Valentines day isn't such a good idea.)
Anyways back to the point at hand, I gotta get my schooling on, and fast. Also I guess I have to do a class presentation or something on Tuesday, about contructivist theory in international relations, yeah pretty intense, and am not even sure if I spelt constructivist right. And get this, teach wants me to give her an outline by tomorrow night, on what it is I am going to do. So I get to spend V-Day making up an outline and then VD Day figuring out exactly what I am going to present on. Lame.
I guess life has to eventually catch up with you right? Even though my V Day and VD Day are going to suck, I don't think I would take anything back that I have done over the last five weeks. It has been fun. Living to make yourself happy has been the best and only resolution I have kept this year. I am not so worried about what others think, I beginning to care less about it. Instead of getting worried when I think someone is mad at me I say boo on them. Treating other people the way they treat you is kind of theraputic. Thinking you know what, they really don't care how you feel when they treat you this way, you should care just as little, as bad as it sounds feels kinda good. I am experimenting with this new way of looking at life and those who I interact with, and it is kind of interesting. Those who treat my like crap, are now all of a sudden mad that my backbone is showing again. That I am not saying thanks serve me up another junk punch and keep em coming all night, please. Those who treat me like they should probably don't notice too much of a difference. This goal of not being the proverbial doormat, is paying off. I feel less stressed, less self-cautious, and am getting back to being me.
I want to thank a few people, who have been really awesome to me lately, and for no apparent reason. First my work friends. You know who you are. Thank you for making work a place I don't dread going, no matter how much someone is trying to make it be that way. I do have to say that I have always had awesome friends that I have made from work. Then my roomie and the girls upstairs. Even though this weekend (actually doing homework) is going to suck, the past five weeks have been killer. Thanks for keeping me occuppied. And the others of you, know who you are, thanks.

Coming soon in a future post, the family pictures that were three weeks in the making, and a movie update.

PS: I didn't know how to incorporate this into my post but feel the need to tell you all about my bad luck day on Thursday. All in one day I broke my phone, a copier (literally a door to it fell off after I closed it), and a blender all in a day. All not on purpose, all corresponding with the first letter of a swear word I wanted to say. Lame day huh? I dealt with it better than I thought I would. Weird.

The Real World

"This is the true story... of eight strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World."



So, I have decided to do a throwback to 1998 and watch the new season of the Real World. I haven't watched the Real World in seven years, but this new season with two people from Salt Lake, I thought I would give it a try again. And it is awesome. Maybe I mentally never really graduated high school, but for reals guys, it is good. I would check it out if you haven't already. Here are the members of the house with my commentary.

Chet


Chet is definately in my top four favorite of this cast. He is a pretty cool, funny, chill mormon dude from slick city. Remind you of anyone? Ha ha. He is a little full of himself and a little to quick to start a fight, but I am a fan.




Sarah



Sarah is definately the nicest person on the show. She is the go to person for everyone on the show. I think that she will be the one who causes the least amount of drama for others on the show but has a a ton o drama in her real life. Sad. But she is def in my top three as well.










Ryan

Ryan is the funniest one on the show. Ryan and Chet are the pranksters of the show and are hilarious. He also can sing pretty well. Check out the first episode if you want to see it, don't judge it just by the tampon song.




Baya

She rounds up my top favorite four. She is pretty cool, at first I was a little skeptical of Baya. I didn't buy her love for hip hop dance in the beginning, but after thinking about most peeps wouldn't think I live hip hop music, but I do, so I let that one slide. But as the season has continued I have started to like her more and more.




JD

I really liked JD in the beginning, but his drinking problem gives him a totally bad case of drunk foot in your mouth itis. He is really rude to the others in the house and to random strangers when he gets his liquor. Sober JD pretty cool for the most part, drunk one of my least favorite.




Devyn

Boring. Boring. Boring. I had some high hopes for her, but her lack of doing anything exciting has made her the second most boring member of the house. Sorry Devyn the acting and singing career just isn't gonna happen. Go back to school. Harsh deal of reality, but I gotta say it like it is. She is nice though. Also get over Scott. That also is not going to happen.




Scott

And here goes the award for the most boring part of the whole show. Scott, Scott Scott, who let him on the show? Honestly, the only person he can have a conversation with is Devyn and that is because she loves him. Dude lay off the juice and pick up a book or.....I don't know a dictionary so you can learn words and then ask someone to show you how to put them together to form sentences. Ask Devyn, she would be more than willing to help.




Kaitlyn

I will be the first one to admit that I am completely ignorant when it comes to the transgender lifestyle and don't quite comprehend what it is that makes people want to do that, that said, I think she needs to be honest with everyone in the house. She should have came out the first day they were all there, and even more so with those that she dates. If she wants to be taken seriously as a transgender she needs to be honest about her lifestyle. Lying about who you are is never a good thing, especially about this. Anyways she creates a lot of drama on the show which keeps it entertaining.

So there it is, that is the house, someone watch it so I can have someone to talk about it with.

Top Ten Tuesday - San Diego Version

So as ya'll probably know this past weekend I went to San Diego. It was my first time going there, I have been to LA area a lot, but never ventured further south than Aneheim. I freaking loved it. San Diego has got it all. It is a semi-big city, with a cool downtown area, it has awesome beaches, sweet parks, mountains (well big hills), perfect weather, and most importantly killer sunsests. It has everything I could ever ask for in a city. Why did I come home? Because I am poor. Sad, because if given the option to stay there, I don't know if I would have came back. I probably would have, the parentals would not be too happy about that, they still think they have me for a year before I move for law school, and leaving early would have been hard, but on the opposite side they would have a fun place to come and visit. I didn't want to leave. Sad face.
Anyways I haven't done a top ten Tuesday in a long time so I thought I would do a throwback to the top ten days with my top ten fave pics from San Diego.

2009 - The Year of B-rad

2008 with its ups and downs has taught me one thing: that I have got to live for myself. I have spent a good deal of my time trying to live to make other people happy. I don't know if it was out of obligation or just trying to be a good person or to have others believe that I am a good person, but I have learned especially lately that I cannot do that any longer. It feels good to make other people happy, but I have learned that you, well at least I, cannot find real happiness in just trying to make others happy.

2008 was the year of Brad the doormat. Me and a friend were talking about some of the happenings in my life and she said Brad don't let yourself be the doormat. Probably the best advice I have gotten in a long time. During some serious introspection at the typical end of the year resonance period and due to some things that a different friend said that really made me question who I am. I have always thought if I was one thing, I am a good and loyal friend. I am the person people feel totally fine calling at two in the morning to talk about a problem, the person that takes someone out of town when they just need to get away and escape life, the excuse someone can use to get out of a bad date, an unwanted family event, etc. The person that if you tell a secret to and asked not to tell will take whatever it is to the grave. I am a vault.

What I have noticed is that I have spent way too much time trying to make my friends happy that I really have started to lose some of the qualities that I need to have to make myself happy, since I have learned I can't make my friends happy all of the time, I should just focus on what really makes myself happy. With this new plan don't worry ya'll, if you need to talk at 2 in the a.m. I am still awake, give me a holla, and you know I am always up for a spur of the moment vacate, but I am going to do things differently. I am not your doormat anymore.

This is the year where I get my life back on track, the year that I live my life for me and not for anyone else. I need to rediscover who I really am and not define myself by what ya'll think of me. Recent events in life have kinda shattered the one thing that I thought I was good at and it has really got me thinking of what I really need to do in life. I need to get comfortable in my own skin again. I kinda lost that this past year and I miss that self assurance that I had in who I am.

So here's to 2009 a year to redefine, reshape, and be happier.