One Year Later...

In my last post I asked if any of you remember Garrison. He's the guy I had a one night cuddle-fling with last Summer. Nothing really ever came to fruition with him, mostly due to the fact that he's a bit of an enigma. Also, Aaron popped up and was pretty willing to make out and I couldn't really say no. Sometimes a girl has to let something go in order to make out. Sorry, Garrison. You weren't putting out and Aaron was...

Fast forward twelve months and you have me attending a birthday party. Aaron is long gone, Garrison fell off the map after Spring 2012 and I haven't though of either of them in a pretty long time. In fact, I completely forgot about that night with Garrison. Anyway, I was at a birthday party talking with friends when in walked some guy I didn't know. My thought process went something a little like this:

"Who is that? Oh, I don't know him. Whatevs!

Dang, that guy is almost as tall as the doorway.

He's actually really handsome...

HEY, WAIT A SECOND! I know him!

Garrison!"

That all happened in about 3.6 seconds. I kind of got a little goofy and I poked Bethany to point Garrison out to her. Neither of us have seen him since last Spring and we had no idea he knew the birthday girl. The kid doesn't have a Facebook (What kind of person doesn't have a Facebook? How inconvenient) so we didn't keep tabs on him after the semester ended and we moved wards. But here he was, parading around the apartment like he owned the place. It took him a moment to realize he knew me, but after he realized that he stuck pretty close by. We ended up sitting on the lovesac together catching up. 

I forgot how flirty Garrison is. He was all about trying to tickle me, trying to get me to tickle him, and leaning his head up against my shoulder. I can't say I didn't mind it, but it was something I anticipated happening. I mean, c'mon. It has been about a year since I've seen him. But hey, if he wants to be flirty, I'm all for it. Show me what you've got, boy.

As the night was winding down Garrison got ready to head home. He made sure we still had each others numbers, which was good because I purged my phone at the beginning of the year and his number was among the ones I deleted, and then he left. We texted for a little bit that night, which was really nice. Sometimes it's just nice to talk with someone and to flirt a bit. 

I don't think there's much of a future with Garrison, especially since I'm leaving and he still has several years left at BYU-Idaho, but it could be nice to continue talking to him. He's pretty flirty, sooo... YOLO, right?

Just kidding, YOLO is dumb

Vermilion

Have you seen the episode of How I Met Your Mother where Lily has a sex dream about Ranjit the cab driver? Her face turns a shade of red called vermilion when she sees him and Marshall gets ridiculously jealous. It's a funny episode.

Lily sees Ranjit and Marshall realizes the sex dream was about him

Vermilion Red

It's funny that I watched this episode just yesterday because I had a dream the other night in which I kissed Liam and I kissed Liam good. It was an end of the world apocalypse dream where we were thrust into the world of the TV show Falling Skies, which I've never actually watched, I just know it's about an alien invasion. There were aliens everywhere and the mansion we were at was under attack. Liam and I knew it was the end of the world, so we grabbed each other and kissed. A lot. It was pretty epic. Like, aliens being shot, cars exploding, helicopters with machine gun wielding soldiers flying by epic.

Sort of like this

What does this dream have to do with Lily and Ranjit and vermilion? Well, after having this dream I couldn't stop thinking about Liam and his awesome jawline and those fantastic lips and the way I dreamt they felt. I've had dreams about kissing someone before, but not one that has lingered like this. Just thinking about it I feel my cheeks get a little red, sort of like Lily's face in that episode. When did my face really turn vermilion? When I ran into Liam on campus today. I was walking home and he was walking out of the library. I said hi, but quickly excused myself because of the flush I felt creeping up in my cheeks. 

Now, I'm sure it's not as intense as having a sex dream about someone, but it's kind of the single Mormon equivalent. 

In short, it was an awesome dream. 

Also, does anyone remember Garrison from last Summer?

Let Me Down Easy

I ran into a dilemma a couple days ago.

Bryan and I have had this ongoing text conversation that, let's be honest, hasn't really been going anywhere. I've been feeling particularly bold (still blaming this on the constant state of Spring Fever I've been in) so I've been laying on the flirting pretty thick. I don't even sound like myself.

"Your apartment is full of such handsome guys. ;)"
"I really admire your determination. The world could use more good men."
"Let's watch a movie this weekend! ;)"
"Did you know you're a rare type of guy?"
"Tell me everything about you! You're sooooooOOOooOOooOOooOOo interesting! ;) ;) ;)"

I didn't really say all those things, but it's that kind of silly flirting that I've been doing. Okay, maybe I did say some of those things... The guy would have to be a complete moron to not catch onto the fact that I'm diggin' him like a grave robber.

I kept asking friends for advice on what to do. Part of me wanted to tell him directly that I like him and throw the ball in his court, but another part of me was petrified of rejection and messing up the good friendship Bryan and I have been building. One friend told me to, essentially, nut up and say, "I've gotten to like you and I would like to go on a date and get to know you better if you're interested." NO WAY, JOSE. I do not want to ask Bryan out on a date. I want to tell him that I like him and then let him decide. I've already explained that I don't want to be that kind of girl. Sometimes I wish I were, but I really just can't bring myself to ask a guy out like that. It feels too unorthodox and weird.

Another friend told me to just wait and see. Really, I'm just impatient. If I'm going to like someone during my last semester, I don't want to waste half of the semester just waiting for something to happen. I want to cuddle and make out, dang it! Get that mouth on my mouth.

Turns out, however, that I didn't have to wait long nor take any action. We were texting one morning and he sent me this. . .

Honestly I have to say that this was really good. Not only did Bryan approach the situation tactfully, but he was kind about it and he let me down pretty easy. I'm not even feeling upset at all. I'm mostly relieved that a. He picked up on the thick layer of flirting b. He isn't crushing on the girl in my ward that I thought he might be c. I'm not going to be wasting any more time. Overall, I wish more guys were direct like this. 

That was my response. I figured I'd put it out there that I am into him. You know, just in case things with this girl back home falls through. Even if I'm not going to be wasting my time by chasing him, I'm still going to flirt a bit (not too much) and continue a friendship. I wouldn't be opposed to a late blossoming relationship with Bryan. 

Whatevs, it's Springtime. Life is good!

2AM Club sings my Summer jams.

Clumsy

I may or may not have celebrated my birthday recently.

Instead of planning my normal themed birthday party, I decided that being as old as I am now, I might want to calm the partying down a bit, so I invited some friends out to dinner. I decided to go out on a limb and invite Liam and Bryan. It can't hurt to invite them to group things, right? Besides, I had already invited most of their apartment. I didn't want to be rude.

Turns out this was the best move I could have made. Liam didn't attend. He didn't tell me he wasn't going to come. Liam? He ain't worth it. All of that beautiful, seductive, entrancing masculinity going to waste. What a pity.

What wasn't a waste? Bryan. Not only did he text me to make sure he knew what was going on, but he showed up and seemed really happy to be there. This guy is hilarious. The more time I spend with him, the more I realize how much more substance he has to his character than Liam does. Sure, Liam is nice to look at, but there's not much else to him. Bryan is a package deal: The looks, the personality, and a testimony. Hello, Waiter. I'll have this one. Check, please!

After going out to dinner and laughing nonstop we all returned to my apartment for cake and games. I'm not really sure how it happened, but somehow while we were in my kitchen Bryan decided it would be funny to wrap his arms around me and hold me so tight I couldn't move. Then, out of nowhere, he bit my shoulder. It hurt. What prompts someone to bite someones shoulder? Don't get me wrong, it was kind of hot in a weird way and I'm not complaining, it's just not something I can say I've either had done to me nor done to someone else. I don't understand that thought process. However, I really don't mind that Bryan proceeded to try and give me a hickie. Yes, that's correct, Bryan put his mouth on my neck and sucked for a good thirty seconds. Let's just say that the appalled look on my face was definitely for show. Inside I was melting. Best birthday? Quite possibly. A hickie never appeared because, according to Bryan, I have terminator skin that cannot be broken.

Bryan stayed over until almost midnight playing games and watching funny YouTube videos. It was glorious. I'm smitten. Spring Fever x1000.

This song is obnoxious and silly...but still kind of true.

You Give Me Fever

Liam. Gorgeous, manly Liam. Here's a guy that is confusing. He and I have talked quite a bit over the past week and every time we're interacting he's super engaged in the conversation. He jokes around with me and laughs when I poke fun at him. At ward activities I'll catch his eye and he'll smile at me, which makes me feel a little awkward and a little enthralled. However I'm not really getting the vibe that he's into me. Maybe it's just that it's barely into the second week of the semester and I'm reading way too far into anything because that's just what I do best.

I tried something last night. At the ward opening social I spent most of the time flirting with another guy in the ward, Bryan, who is also really handsome and funny. He actually might be more fun than Liam, he just doesn't have the jaw nor the voice that dreamboat has. . .Anyway, while I was flirting it up with Bryan, Liam came over and tried to jump into the conversation a couple times, but it was just wasn't organic feeling and felt a little forced. Maybe someone's a little sad I wasn't focusing all my attention on getting him to fall in love with me...

You guys, I'm ridiculous. It's barely into the semester and I'm all over these dudes even though I said I wasn't going to be like this. I blame it on spring fever. It's a real thing and I've caught it. Liam is gorgeous and his voice is so rich and lovely...but maybe my time is better spent with Bryan. Or someone else. Or on no one at all. Ridiculous.

I can't help it. I just want to make out with a guy and maybe cuddle a lot. IT'S SPRING FEVER.

What You Should Know About Rexburg: Take Two

Took you guys a little while to get some questions out there, but I think I now have enough to work with. Many thanks, dear followers.

Is there a health food/whole food organic type of grocery store near BYUI?

The only place I can think of in Rexburg that is along the lines of a health food store is Nature's Nook. This place is tucked away behind the Subway on N 2nd E (the one with the drive-thru and the coolest employees) and sort of by K-Mart. I've only been in there once and it was awhile ago, but from what I remember they've only got dry goods, so if you're looking for organic fruits and vegetables (which, nutritionally speaking, are no different than non-organic produce yet fiscally speaking statistically more expensive) you're going to have to either settle for what you find at Broulims or Albertson's. Or go to Idaho Falls. Sorry, kids. What I know Nature's Nook does have: bags of dried herbs and spices. Seriously, they have a huge bag of poppy seeds for $11 or something like that. Poppy seeds are expensive and that's an awesome price. Poppy seed muffins for everyone!

As far as other grocery shopping, most people shop at Broulims. It's expensive, but it's not as expensive as Albertson's, although Alberson's has better produce than Broulims. Actually, I'm pretty sure any grocery store has better produce than Broulims. In my opinion, the produce at WinCo makes the drive out to Idaho Falls worth it. Most of what I buy at WinCo is produce and then I chow down on fruits and vegetables until my heart's content. 

Is finding a job easy?

No. Let me tell you a story.

Toward the end of Fall semester 2011 I started hurting for money pretty badly. I knew that I could either go home during the coming winter semester, my off track, and work at a job out in California or I could stay in Rexburg with my friends and get a job in town. I started filling out applications for every place in town at the beginning of November, got one interview, nothing resulted. I ended up staying in Rexburg because my gut told me that I would be better off there than in California, even if I had no money, wasn't in school, and was unemployed. I continue to apply for jobs, calling to follow up on my applications. Nothing. 

Out of the blue toward the end of February I finally got an interview with a restaurant in town that had kept my application from November and finally decided to call me. I walked away from the interview with a job, which was validating and awesome, but at the same time I was pretty bummed that it took almost FOUR months of constant job hunting to find a job.

Moral of the story: It's not easy to find a job in Rexburg. However, good things come to those who persist. Finding a job here isn't easy, but it's possible. And if all else fails, there's always Progrexion.

What activities can help me meet new people and make new friends?

• The Ward-One of my favorite places to make new friends is in my ward. I have a pretty spectacular ward and it's got a lot of new people in it. My roommates and I leave our door open and people just walk in and suddenly we have new friends in the ward. I went to ward prayer last night and ended up at someones apartment playing games until midnight with a bunch of really fun guys and gals. It was such a blast. 
• Activities on Campus-Have you ever been Country Dancing? Latin Dancing? Horseback riding? Played battleship in a canoe in a huge pool? Sometimes I forget that the school has some really fun activities! Take a look at the activities page and see what piques your interest. Make it a goal to get out there and do some of those activities. Make sure you introduce yourself and get to know someone new while you're out having fun!
• In class! I used to think it was obnoxious when people would talk to me in class. I figured I was in class to learn (sort of) and as obligation to my status as a college student, not to make friends. However, I made some of the best friends of my college career last semester and they were in my classes. As soon as I got over myself I ended up talking to the people that I sat around every single day and I made friends. And they're awesome.

Basically you just need to get out there and meet people in any way you can. Maybe you need to try doing things you wouldn't normally do. Maybe you need to practice getting out of your comfort zone. Maybe you need to smile at people and strike up conversations. Get out there! Don't sit in your apartment waiting for something to happen, be the something to happen to someone else!

Which apartment complexes are the most down to earth?

I went into a bit of detail in my previous post about Rexburg  as far as complexes go, and not much has changed except now The Willows is open, which is yet another place for the stuck-up girls to go to. Also, I recently spent a bit of time over at Baronessa and I realized that the girls there are freaking rad. Of course you get your socially awkward ones, weird ones, and annoying ones, but you get them everywhere you go. You can't escape the different groups of people because every complex has it's own groups and not all of them are likable.

Well, that's it, folks. I've got homework I need to finish. 

Enjoy!

BYUI Apartments-What Do You Want To Know?

The most popular page on my blog is the post in which I went into detail about BYU-Idaho and how to prepare for things like classes and apartments. I've gotten some comments and tweets asking for more posts on this kind of information, but I don't really know what ya'll want to know. This is where I ask for you to take time to comment and tell me what you'd like to know about!

Apartment complexes
Activities
Jobs
Where to Eat

These are just a few categories to get your minds running. Leave questions! Get specific! The more questions you guys ask, the more I'll be able to write something that will be useful for you. You can also tweet me with questions because I LOVE Twitter. @MormonSkank

Ready. . .Go!

EDIT:
One comment? Really, guys? I know you're reading this. I can see the pageviews go up. I KNOW YOU'RE LURKING!