Janae Says...

Christmas this year was much better than I expected. I'll be honest, I've had a hard time this year getting that warm Christmas feeling inside. I tried everything. I tried decorating, listening to Christmas music, having a Christmas party, Christmas baking, Christmas shopping... That feeling that was there even a few years ago was gone. It's hard to create that kind of serenity and happiness living alone, and it's hard to do it at home in California with so much noise and brothers lacking in Christmas spirit and enthusiasm. Nevertheless, it was a REALLY good day without problems or snags of any kind. I received -Pajamas and socks -Musical note wall decor -Dish drying mat -Spice rack -Knives -iPod alarm clock radio -Victoria's Secret undies -A long, brown sweater thing -Magic bullet -Soup bowl -Measuring cups -Scentsy burners and wax -a NOOK!!!! woot And that's just from my parentals. Jared got me a memory foam pillow--I was so happy about

A song entitled "Howl" by Florence + the Machine has a fabulous line that I cannot get out of my brain... It goes like this: "I drag my teeth across your chest and taste your beating heart." Seriously? How awesome is that? I know, right? I wish I could write amazing song lyrics. Le sigh.

You know, I am a believer in that God gave us bodily and natural mechanisms to defeat the health issues we face on earth. I think the body is an amazing self-healing machine, and I think nature provides what our bodies cannot. On Wednesday I had a freak out episode. I do that once or twice a year, where it's that bad. I hadn't even thought of calming myself down, but I should have because I know that every time I freak out like that, I get sick. It's like my stress turns into a little virus ball and immediately spreads out. Thursday after school while I was doing more fruitless laboring on behalf of my students, I could feel that scratchy feeling in my throat. That one where you go, "Uh oh." I was pretty disappointed because I had been planning a little Christmas get together for Friday. I had much work to do and wanted the energy to really enjoy myself. So on Thursday, I took two Airborne tablets. And I had some lemon Echinacea tea (for "throat health&

Normal pizza order conversation: "Thank you for calling (insert name of pizza place here), what can I do for you?" "Hi, I'd like to place an order for pickup please." "OK, can I get your phone number, name, etc.?" OR "OK, order whenever you're ready." Retarded pizza order conversation a moment ago: "Thank you for calling (insert name of pizza place here), what can I do for you?" "Hi, I'd like to place an order for pickup please." "OK." "...." "...." "...." "...." "Do I need to give you my phone number or anything?" "No." "OK, then I want..." Like wow, are you kidding me dude? No, "Order whenever you're ready," or "What can I get for you?"??? Are we really going to sit in silence the rest of the night? Oh, right. The customer has to break the silence created by your insolence.

Perhaps going for a 20-minute run around the cemetery after not having worked out for many moons was not my best idea. --------------------------------------------------- Just some tips for the desperate... If the skin around your eyes gets really dry, itchy, and flaky, there's not a whole lot you can do. Here is a list of things I tried: 1. Cetaphil 2. Neosporin 3. Olive Oil 4. A + D 5. Cocoa butter lotion Of all of the above, A&D works the best. I had this Refresh stuff recommended to me, but it was too expensive and  not exactly what I was looking for. My eyes are still extremely dry. The end

It's time to spill the beans. The love of my life's name is... Neville Longbottom. Seriously. He's my homeboy. I LOVED the new Harry Potter film (which is awesome because 5 and 6 took me a few watches). I saw it tonight in a theater with only 6 other people in it. I had the best seat in the house. And I used my gift card. $0. It ended at a spectacular place for being cut in half. I was so excited and so anxious as the movie began. Because even though it was an anxiously awaited step in the Harry Potter film series, it was also a step closer to the end. Guys, I've been doing this since I was a teenager. I love Harry Potter. I really, really do. I feel like the characters are some of my closest friends and family. Especially Hagrid. I've been through tragedy and triumph with them. I've laughed with them and cried with them. And now it's going to be over. I think my heart will break on the night I see the last movie. Ugh. Will it ever! *sigh*

I tried my hand at Rice Krispie Treats tonight. They came out OK. I couldn't get the marshmallow to spread evenly. Not sure how to make that better in the future. Apparently they only stay good for a day or two tops. So I packaged up two for each of my TAs as a Christmas thank you. Cute, huh? I'm so nice. Pretty sure everyone wants to be my TA. For the last month or so I have really struggled in my faith. I won't get into it suffice it to say that troubles with my younger brother and other personal things have just made it really hard for me. I've felt my heart harden, felt a resistance to repent, felt my desire to go to church waning, felt the Spirit distancing itself from me, felt like prayer doesn't matter, and felt my scripture study decreasing in importance and frequency. I suppose we all go through times like this for different reasons. On Sunday I decided to fast for myself, for a change... To feel humbled, to be able to sincerely repent, to have