1, 2, 3... Change!

I wrote this last week after the elections finished and headlines about the new President were everywhere. I considered sending it as a letter to the editor, but decided against that. I didn't know what to do with it- even though I wanted to do something- so here I am, posting it on my blog. It's just my take on the racial impact, I guess, of the election.


No, Barack Obama didn't win my vote, but that doesn't mean I wasn't considering him for a time. During the primary election I probably would have even voted for him over John McCain. (Oh, what would my parents think if they only knew that?!) Like many other voters though, I am more conservative that either candidate was.

Regardless of who I voted for or my political views, I do think the hype about the race thing is blown out of proportion. Yes, absolutely it is historically significant and motivating that the United States of America has finally elected our first black President. One day, one election, one man however, does not mean that suddenly the world as we know it has changed and we have overcome racism. The accomplishment does not lie in the fact that a black man was elected; he (and other African Americans) were on the ballot. Doesn't that immense success count for something? It certainly should.

To say that after one election racism has been defeated is absurd. Obama himself said his victory is not the change- it is the chance for change. What wise words those were. When there's a chance for something, it means there's a chance for something else too. A chance for increased division and discrimination with the increased focus in regards to race, perhaps? Don't get me wrong, I want there to be equal opportunity for men and women of every race. But I do not want the color of their skin-- black, white, brown, yellow, green, or purple-- to be the emphasis.

The next President of the United States is more than just a black man- he is a human being. Nothings "changed." Time will tell if it does.

Fall Updates

So I haven't blogged in eons. Sometimes it's hard to think big, exciting things are happening when you're just going to school, working too much, living at home.... but things actually do happen when I think about it. If not to me, to people close to me at least.

The following is a list of EXCITING, BIG things that have happened as of late:

• The week before Fall Break I had four tests (and several papers, but thats a trivial detail).... the good news though? I aced them all! Wahoo.
• I FINALLY bought a car. I drove my '98 Mazda Millenia S home last week. Classy, right? The car had great reviews for older cars though and I paid cash so that was nice. Unfortunately the check engine light came on the other day so I'll have to look into that, but for now it still drives!
• Andrew's soccer team won Regionals so they get to play Nationals (AGAIN) in California this summer. My Dad wants me to audition for Disneyland next summer so they can have just one big trip. Views?
• Andrew also has his Court of Honor tonight! It's about freakin time. Good job Mom.
• Adam turned eight on October 19th so he's getting baptized on Saturday, November 1st. My mom asked him who he wanted to baptize him and he said he didn't know because he has soo many choices. I guess with a Dad and four older brothers who could all do it, its gotta be pretty tough. He's excited though
• My amazing, beautiful, hilarious, love-her-to-bits-and-pieces cousin Rebecca Naylor called me the other day and left a great message. "you are so beaut-a-ful to meeeeeeee. Helllloo there! Okay you are weyrd. Well La-ci! I was just calling to catch up on things, see how your life is, hows school, what job you got, how's your house, any boys, no boys? Girls rock. So, umm... I'm engaged. Uh, call me back. Okay, bye" Rather anticlimatic for such big news. I seriously screamed when I listened to her message. She's getting married January 2nd and I'm so happy for her. Strange my little cousin is getting married, but even when we were little people thought she was older. She's always been taller. She'll be the most incredible wife out there. Dallin Homer is a lucky man.
• My best friend, Sara, is doing a study abroad in England this semester so, without long distant cell phones, we've become master emailers. But the other day her boyfriend, Taylor called and let me borrow his mac so I could talk to her face-to-face (kinda) via ichat. Thanks Taylor! It was good to see her cute face and hear the tone of voice in the conversation.
• Just this very day I gained an appreciation for the Singles Ward. I went to my family ward Primary program today (which was excellent), but I don't think I've visited that ward without at least one person, usually more, asking me if I'm dating anyone seriously and wanting to line me up. Which, you know, is fine and everything... but ugh. I'm glad it's not like that at the Singles Ward because we are all in the same boat, more or less.

Alright, that list kind of strayed. So maybe its more just a list of things I've thought about lately. Or something. I don't know. It's just a list of Fall updates. By the way, I love Fall! There's little better than Fall. With good friends. And Canyons. Love Utah.

a Dream is a Wish your Heart makes...

Well it's certainly not much, but at least for now, a few pictures are better than nothing.... The sitting down one is in the beautiful Castle Suite. And yes, it really is quite elegant, but the toilet happens to be more time appropriate for Cinderella. I was amused-- a reflection on my age, no doubt-- so I had to take a picture on it. The other ones are just pictures of playing. A cute guest who did her hair "just like I do my hair sometimes in the morning." I wonder if her bird friends helped her do it. I'm certian her Fairy God Mother made her orange dress though because it is the very color of my pumpkin carriage. I think it's completely wonderful. The pictures with Ariel, Belle, and Princess Aurora were just some of my cute friends in Florida. I know I've said it before, but sometimes it really does feel like just a dream.....

just a dream

Can summer be gone before it's even started? Apparently so. Well I made it home from Florida in no time flat with Becca-- and no, we didn't speed (too much), we just drove basically non stop for days on end. Perhaps the first night when we couldn't find a hotel room in the middle of the night we weren't the happiest, but other than that it really was great. I adore her.

It's been good to be home... really good. But it makes everything seem so weird. Kind of like my summer of adventure never really happened and perhaps I just imagined it because not much changed. At the same time, so much changed. I have friends getting married left and right (or so it seems) and I couldn't be more excited for them, but it solidifies the changes life brings. And, lets be honest, some part of me is jealous. Just because they don't have to date anymore. Ugh. Oh well, that is an adventure to enjoy all on it's own, I suppose.

I've stayed busy at home playing with Matt, car shopping, dominating job interviews, and hiking (sort of). I train Monday-Wednesday to be a Peer Advisor at the U and Thursday-Saturday to be a Abnormal Behavior Analysis (ABA) Instructor. Then, all of the sudden, school starts again... so here I am, back in real life. When push comes to shove, though, not even playing the part in a Fairy Tale can beat home sweet home.

Down to the Wire

Oh, my goodness.... the countdown is on. I can't believe my time at Florida is almost coming to an end. Granted I still have a few weeks until I actually get home, but this upcoming week is my last real week here. My family gets here a week from tomorrow (Yay!! It'll be the first time we've all been together ever!) so I figure I'll basically go on vaca to FL that week... even though I will be working a few days still. Then, in two weeks, I start driving home with my amazing, hilarious, crazy-as-me cousin, Becca. (What are our parents thinking?)

And as holds true for most things, the end always seems to make me reflect on the experience.

What an experience it has been! I know I've been really bad at blogging (I totally warned I would be), but I really have loved it. I've learned a lot and grown more into the woman I want to be ultimately. I've simultaneously met friends who I will truly miss and created moments I won't forget.

Some of the most memorable in the past week or two include the 3 year old little girl who had to forfeit her ziplock baggy of pacifiers over to Cinderella so she could be a true Princess. The lessons were short, but she also learned to twirl and curtsey quite nicely. (My mom liked this moment lots too since I had a fettish for binkies myself... it was rare I didn't have three in my mouth at one time- or so my mom says.) Also memorable was that guy who grabbed me because he needed a kissing picture with a Princess. Of course I pulled away and referenced Prince Charming, but that was the first time anybody had actually grabbed me. Of course there's other moments- like the note from the Princess so grateful for the balloons I put in her room before I invited her to dinner (parents are great), and Victoria who spoke Spanish to all my Princess friends 100 mph, and didn't mind at all that we were replying in English, and Bailey from Scotland.... oh Bailey. Bailey is the sweetest boy ever and seriously the biggest Disney fan alive. His family comes from Scotland every year for six weeks so he can go through the Character lines over and over again. And he is so thankful to his parents- it's amazing. One day his hair was spikey so he ran up to me explaining, "CindaRAILa, yo Ugh-ly STEPsistas, AnaSTAJa and Druzella said I should BASH me HEAD inta ya! (laughing hysterically) They're soo fonny! They CRACK me up!! (continued laughing)" He really is a sweetheart. The other night, Princess Aurora said something along the lines of how he needs to come back in ten years and work for Disney (he could be a Prince-- he is very handsome) and he got soo excited and said, "Then I could GO thru the Princess Line EV'RY day!"

Anyway... thats long enough for now. Mostly the point of this is that I really have loved being at Walt Disney World. Chances are slim I'll come back because it's not too practical (though I did audition and get fitted for a new Disney friend named Rosetta-- check her out online-- and that would be awesome to experience), but either way, this summer has been a good opportunity. Now I'm eager to get back home to my family and friends who I love and miss so much and to start the next of life's adventures!

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Thunder storms, lipstick, official pre-planned dates with established boyfriends, facebook picture comments, Cafe Rio Barbacoa salad and tortilla soup, ice cream, my parents, mountains, trees, my brothers & sister-in-law, Blimpie, earrings, decorated houses, cooking, hiking, pictures (and all that they entail ie: posing, reviewing, scrapbooking, remembering, etc.), reading, WWII stories, Tuesday Movie Night (I miss that), beautiful dresses, baby smiles, little boys, colors, chocolate, happy people, church activities, biking, running, clean houses, eyes, ambitious & creative straight men, dance parties, best friends, cousins, cuddling up on the couch in a blanket, feeling exhausted after a good day, planning something, clear skin, polite people, a boyfriend (not that I have one currently, but I really love them), my first car, good food, string cheese, Driggs Idaho, wakeboarding, kisses on the cheek, cheesy (but somewhat sincere) lines, oil pastel drawing, going for walks for walks with someone I love, hot chocolate, hot popcorn, making something yummy, watching people I love play sports, winning, stunting, getting mail, veggies, collar bones, traveling, knowing someone misses you...

Last Week's Highlights

I don't have any specific story pressing on my mind, but I do have a lot of extra time this Sunday evening so I thought I'd make a list of the week's highlights....

• Cinderella's Suite in the Castle (I got to go up there yesterday and wow! The lights and art and bath tub are so beautiful! And the glass slipper and crown-- my goodness! They were completely wonderful! And I'm not just quoting the movie; they truly were. I was able to take some pictures up there, but haven't been able to load pictures on my computer for a while... when I get it fixed hopefully I'll get some up here)
• Brandon, a Down's Syndrome adult Prince who visited me this week
• A deaf family- I'm talking Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, Dad, and Son. Mom could talk a bit and the two little girls could hear, but it was very cool to be with them.
• Wall-E
• Fantasmic
• Gas tank miracle (maybe I haven't driven as much, but it's been over a week and I still have a quarter tank!)
• Pizza Hut with Shannon
• Phone calls with Utah friends
• Talking to my parents
• Box from home (I love mail!)
• Church
• Text from Sara (She's not dead!)
• Anna's Birthday-- it was fun to play with my roommates for the night
• Helping Michelle move. I love having her here! I wish we were better friends in High School because she is amazing; I'm glad I've gotten to know her
• Epcot with Shannon and her cute cousin, Katelyn
• My car CD player working
• Seeing an alligator in the pond across the street from my house
• Email from Eden
• Email and call from Daniel before he left for the MTC
• My first Cindy purchase-- a blue throw pillow with the velvet silhouette of Prince Charming and Cinderella that says "Happily Ever After." I sleep with it every night. Judge me

When Life Gives You Lemons....

The new schedule dropped Saturday night and I was eager to find out when I'd be working over the Fourth of July. Things were going well and I'd been scheduled good shifts with plenty of hours the week before. I also knew lots of people had asked for the fourth off and, since I wasn't going home, I wanted to work as much as possible. Well you can imagine my disappointment when the only times I was scheduled were Friday and Saturday night 7:00 pm- 1:00 am. Ten hours?! I was bummed, to say the least. Furthermore, I didn't really enjoy the girls I was working with at the time. They either didn't talk or talked about partying at PI (Pleasure Island) or gyno issues and honestly, I just don't care. For a minute, I wanted to go home. I missed my family and my friends. It was Saturday night- I wanted to play in Utah. I longed for the mountains and wake boarding. I missed-- PAUSE! Suddenly I recognized I was pouting because I'd been gived an awesome opportunity. How seriously skewed is that?! So I'll try to pick up shifts and if I can't, it looks like I get to play and explore Florida- let the fun begin!

To My Mom

I love kids. I always have. I particularly adore those who I feel as if I can make some difference in their life, if only for a moment. Although I'm not much older than a child myself, I've had so many opportunities in my life already to work with kids from all walks of life. I've always admired their never ending zest for life- their big eyes open so wide in awe and their perfect (and sometimes toothless) grins.

Only recently though, have I noticed something else very special about them. While I've been playing at Walt Disney World I've met many young friends who come as brave cancer patients or in wheel chairs. Children who come without arms or the ability to talk. I've met children who come with cleft lips and Down's Syndrome and Autism. And in each of them I've seen what I love so much about children. A few days ago, I noticed something more though: I noticed the mom who stood strongly in the background. I realized the stress and absolute heart ache she must have endured. It hit me so strongly I almost wanted to cry on set.

And then I thought of my own Mom. My family has been blessed and she hasn't had to endure watching any of her children suffer like my special friends, but, as a Mom, she has felt stress and heart ache for her children. She feels my pain and she lets me make wrong decisions. Through it all though, she lets me learn and lets me dream. She and my sweet Dad support me in all I ever do and I could never thank them enough. I also have a Heavenly Father who has felt pain on my behalf. How loved we must all be to have parents- both on Earth and above- who want the very best for their children. If I could be half the mother my Mom is, or have a fraction of the strength the mothers of the children I met have, I would be an incredible Mom indeed. Thank you, Mom, for all your support and your superior example. I love you!

A Little Princess

As most of my family and friends know, I recently left Utah to play princess in Florida. Before I left though, a sweet lady in my home ward told me her niece was coming to Disney World with 'Make a Wish.' Little Alyssa was six years old and had cancer. From her precious picture I could see she'd lost all her hair from the treatments, but had a beautiful smile. Well her Dad called me last Thursday and said the family was in Magic Kingdom for the day. I, unfortunately, was in Animal Kingdom and, because it was so last minute, couldn't really do anything. I called Guest Relations at the Magic Kingdom, but- long story short- little came from it. A couple days later however, her Dad texted me and said they were going to stop at Magic Kingdom again for lunch and to visit the Princesses one last time, and he asked if I would be there. This time I was! I begged the manager to let me do something for them, and with the help of a lot of people, we were able to set up a 'Magical Moment' in a special VIP room. Cinderella doesn't get to do these anymore for the most part so it was particularly special. When Alyssa walked in the room I could just tell what a sweet girl she was. We talked about her favorite Princess, her favorite color, her favorite animal; we danced; we learned how to be Princesses and had her kiss her baby sister, Mom, and Dad on the cheek; and we spent a very special half hour together. Her dad filmed it so hopefully that will be something they can cherish in years to come. More than anything, I was blessed to spend time with such a beautiful Princess. She really was a Princess in every definition of the word. It's opportunities like that that make my experience in Florida so worthwhile.

My Virtual Journal

I did it! I finally caved to Blogging.... and I'm actually really excited about it. I can't promise absolute quality or consistency to anyone who reads this, but I'll give it my best attempt for something that's not being graded. Here goes nothing!