Spring finals are over!!!

So I have clearly failed at my serious goal. This last week has been SO busy though, which I wasn't going to let be an excuse, but alas, here we are. This week has been the last day of class and then finals, which ended today, and I am done!!! It feels SOOO good to be done with finals, and school in general for a while. Spring semester is crazy! It goes so fast and it was a lot harder than people make it sound. But my classes turned out pretty well, and I feel like I've learned a lot and had some really good experiences and made some fun new friends in the past 8 weeks. And I have 2 more generals done! Yay! I think I only have 2 left. Hallelujah.

Highlights of the week:

work has been good, I actually worked 3 full shifts this week, on Sunday, tuesday, and yesterday (wed). Sunday I worked in enhanced care (EC), covering for Anna, and I was pretty nervous because I hadn't worked on that side (dementia/Alzheimer's side) since before my mission. But the night turned out really great. The 2 other girls working that day were both super nice and friendly and helpful (Holly and Megan), and the activities girl was really nice and fun to talk to, and really good with the residents, she was fun to watch. The funniest part of the night was the new resident, Jane. Poor lady, she just doesn't want to be there, and feels like her family doesn't like her anymore, which is why they put her there. It's sad, but she constantly says, "I hate you! I hate everyone in here! I hate this place!" and at first I was intimidated because people like that are almost always combative, and she was slightly at first. I was worried she wouldn't let me help her with her brief, or into her pj's, etc. But she was actually very cooperative, she just told me, "I hate you!" a lot of the time. Whenever she would say it to me or one of the other PCA's, we would just say, "I know, I know" in a kind voice. She said it so much it started to become entertaining to me. She is great.

Another highlight at work: yesterday I was on top of 2nd, and Fay Perry had just gotten back from the hospital, after being gone for a month or so. I have always been nervous to help him because he doesn't like help, and swears at you telling you to get the heck out of his room. So then he just sits there in a wet brief all the time, but he won't let you help him. But last night, he was on my hall and he was so tired and didn't feel great, which may have been why, but he was so cooperative and so much nicer than usual, I was so happy! He had a blowout after dinner, with diarrhea and such, and after a minute, he let me clean him up and get him some clean clothes. It was so nice, and I was so grateful that he was so cooperative. I felt like it was a tender mercy, that's for sure.

And tonight we had a fun lasagna dinner here, with Emma, Jen, and me, and Tisah and Justin Clayson (Steve's old roommate here), and Justin's sister. It was so much fun, Justin is such a fun and awesome guy to talk to. He is so real and down to earth, and not flirtatious, which I really appreciate. Then Tisah and I watched "She's the Man," which we love, and then I emailed Doug, from EFY (still trying to decide what to do about 4th of July of week 1 of EFY). and then I went and watched the 2nd half of "Sabrina" with Emma, Carcie, and Angela downstairs in Crown 5. Love that movie.

Elder Anderson called during Tisah's and my movie, but we didn't talk long cuz I was watching a movie, but when I called back and left a message, he hasn't called back yet. But it was great to hear his voice tonight. I love that he just called. I miss people doing that.

Anyway, I gotta go to bed, my eyes are shutting. I'm running on about 3-4 hours of sleep, cuz of finals today. And I have NSO tomorrow all day, starting at 8:30, which should be fun. So goodnight!

"Low eighties"

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I got up at a reasonable hour, and even got a decent amount of sleep. I felt very rested, it was awesome! I mostly just got things done here at my apartment all morning and early afternoon, like cleaned, worked out a little, showered, wrote my Humanities arts encounter paper (1 page), did banking stuff online, etc. It was a pretty productive morning/early afternoon. Then I went to work for Jill, whom I love, at 3-10, and work was so good! I drew bottom of 2nd, which has Cherae, my favorite (not). I decided yesterday that I was just going to keep getting that section until I learn to love her. And yesterday, for some reason, we got along so well, and she was actually appreciative of me, and nice all day. A miracle actually took place: she didn't get mad at me ONE TIME!!!! That has never happened to me, ever. Not ever since I worked there in May 2007, I'm pretty sure. A
Anyway, it was amazing. Absolutely miraculous. She even told me that she really liked me and that she wished I could help her every day. Ha! I never in my life expected to hear that from her. She clearly doesn't remember that I'm the same girl she kicked out of her room a few years ago (for something like not doing up her sandal buckles exactly perfectly...). Though, I wasn't the only one she did that to, so I probably don't stick out as much as you'd think, for that reason.
Anyway, also Bob (224) was on my hall of course, and he was also very pleasant yesterday. I think because I figured out that he really likes to be given choices, and the opportunity to make choices, as opposed to being forced to do things, or doing things in a different order than he likes. So yesterday I was all about choices with him, starting with going in shortly after getting there, to change his inevitably wet brief. Usually he will let me, but is not happy about it. So I went in, expecting this same routine, but I guess I got lucky. I squatted down to his eye level and just told him why I was there: to help him to get a dry brief if he needed one, and he immediately, and kindly, said that yes, he needed a brief change. Then I asked him if he would like to do it in the bathroom or right there where he was (by his chair--some residents like to change just right there, if they don't need to use the toilet), and he said in the bathroom, which I was glad about. It's much easier in the bathroom, with the bars to hold onto, etc.
And he was happy with me/liked me pretty much the whole day. Well, except I guess when he felt like I wasn't coming to get him for dinner and rolled out to the elevator himself, though he said he was looking for me and remembered my name, which I was happy with. :) Residents rarely remember (or use) your name, which is fine, there's a lot of us, and they're old. :)
The funniest thing of the shift happened right before I went home. I went into Bob's room one more time just before 10 pm (put him to bed around 6 pm) to change his brief, and normally he is asleep when I go in for that, but this time right after I walked in and turned the living room light on he shouted, "Hello!" Then I changed his brief and everything, as he seemed wide awake, though things he was saying, including wanting to get up and go to his chair in the living room, made me wonder if he was kind of still asleep... So I took him to his chair and got him situated, and he asked me how old I was. I don't usually ask people to guess because age is so hard to guess, but last night I thought it would be fun to hear what he said. I asked him and he looked at me for a bit, and finally, after much thought, he said, "Low eighties." I chuckled to myself, but wanted to be sure that's what he said. I said, "Did you just say 'low eighties'?" And he said yes. Hahahahaha!!! I was dying! I told him I am 23, and he was absolutely floored at my "young" age. It was hilarious!
As I was about to leave his room he wanted to get back into bed, and as I was putting him back in, he was still talking about my age, and couldn't get over how young I was. It was so so funny. I am proud to say I apparently look in the low eighties to some. :) Definitely something to brag about.

Daily goal

So I have made a serious new goal to write in my journal every night, and since I have created this eJournal, hopefully my goal will actually be attained. It's so much less daunting to think of writing in my journal when I can just get on the internet and type it.
So I was going to write a whole great entry, that I'm sure would have been long, about my recent crush in my English class, Daniel Smith, and Elder Anderson updates, how I'm pretty much over Steve, and whatever else, but due to getting sucked into facebook just now for about the last hour (it's almost 1:30 am right now), I am going to go to bed. I changed my sheets to not-so-wintry sheets and bedding tonight, and I am really excited to go get in them, and hopefully not wake up roasting anymore, like I did today (I still had my flannel sheets and corderoy comforter...yeah, it's June.).
Anyway, life is good, today was a good day--I went to school, we gave our group presentation on our collaborative paper, I sat by Daniel all class and he is so funny, Humanities was good (despite falling asleep, of course)--we got our 2nd test back, and I got an A-!!! So much better than my first test C-...I was thrilled. Then I came home and got called to work, so worked half a shift from 2-6, which was great, I really like all the girls that were working, I'm getting to be better and better friends with them. Then came home, went running and worked out for a bit across the street at the Liberty Square workout room; then came home and Emma and I watched "Clash of the Titans" later, for a Humanities assignment I have. And I think I've decided to go to Stadium of Fire...and Elder Anderson will be coming if I do...! That will be SO fun. I just love him.

Elder Anderson is "home"!!

Elder Anderson called me tonight!!! I'm on such a high!!! And I need to be doing TONS of homework...oh well. :) He is not technically home yet because he is touring the mission with his parents for a few days, but I got to talk to him tonight and it totally made my day. I had just sat down on the cement "curb" in the middle of campus and started reading for Humanities when my phone rang, and I didn't recognize the number so I almost didn't get it. But after just a couple seconds of saying hello, and he said hello, I first thought it was Elder Treu, cuz he got home this week too. But then I realized it was Elder Anderson, and I couldn't believe it. We had a really great conversation, he is in the surreal stage, poor guy. I don't envy him at all for being on his way home. That was the hardest time of my life. But we talked for like 25 min, and conversation came so easily. I'm on a huge high from talking to him again, it did not feel like it's been more than 8 months since we last talked. I just love him, it was so so great to talk to him. I know I already said that, but man, it was. I so wish he was taller..

Joe Boyer, secret crush

So I ran into Joe Boyer today on campus, and I can't really stop thinking about him. I have told no one about this, but it was so good to see him and talk to him. I had just come out of the JFSB, heading toward the SWKT to take a nap on the grass, and he was coming the opposite direction. We haven't run into each other in a few months I think, and it was so great. We hugged as soon as we got to each other, and it was the first time we've ever hugged. And I don't know if I am just in masculine-touch withdrawals or what, but it was such a good hug. It was significantly good, really. It felt kind of like it felt when I first started hugging Steve for real. Just so comfortable and so right. I can't really fully put into words the feeling, but yeah, there was something about hugging him that felt really right. Then we ended up chatting for a little while, maybe like 10 or 15 min, about school and the future, graduation, the campus ducks (which we both think are hilarious, previously, it was great), how guys with wife-beaters look really weird on BYU campus, who I was recently dating, who he has been dating (a girl who is now on a mission in Paris, and a girl named Paris, who is on study abroad in Paris, and both know each other now..that was funny.), etc. Whenever I talk to him I always laugh so much, and he is so easy to talk to and joke around with, it's so fun. He is so comfortable to talk to and be around. He thinks I'm funny, and he's funny too. I think we make a great combo. And as always, he made a remark about us hanging out, but no actual invitation or definite plans. This time, he was like, "we need to party it up this summer." I would love to hang out with him, but it makes me wonder if he would really like to, or if he's just saying that, cuz he always says something like that, but he's never done anything about it. Is he just seeing if I will make a move? I dunno. But it's okay, because I would love to even just hang out with him, he's so much fun. And he's older (26), which is very nice. So I want to invite him to do something, next time we do something fun with a group...when that will be..? No idea. I don't have time for things like that right now. Probably after this Spring semester ends, which thankfully is in about 2 weeks--holy cow, that's so soon! Yes! But I just really like talking to and joking with him, it's so fun. And I feel like he is someone I could really talk to for hours. Anyway, I feel like I needed to write about this.
And to add to the subject of Joe Boyer, I haven't found anything I don't like about him. He even dresses the way I'm attracted to, including how he wears athletic shoes a lot (I love that). And he's a good size/build for me, a good height. Anyway, I'm going to get back to my homework now. :)