Ann Cannon

Ann Cannon. Love her. The end. Haha....


How did guys get from point "a" to point "b" before they started installing those fancy GPS things in their cars? Did they follow little trails of bread crumbs until they reached their destination? Did they search for hatchet marks carved on trees by other guys who had gone on before?
The answer is "no."
Here's what guys did — they handed off maps to their wives and said, "Honey, help me find a street named Owensmouth."
At least that's what my dad said to my mom once. He handed her a map when they were in Canoga Park and told her to find a street named Owensmouth, after which they drove around in circles for most of the week until my mom finally threw the map at my dad's head and said THERE. IS. NOT. A. STREET. CALLED. OSCARSJAW.
And guess what! She was right! There is definitely NOT a street in Canoga Park called Oscarsjaw.
My husband used to hand off maps to me, too, until he got a GPS, which he loves with all his heart. He loves it so much he even uses it when he doesn't need to.
Me: Dude. You don't know where the church is?
OK. Kidding about the church part.
Still, my husband just loves messing around with that thing. It appeals to the techie side of him, don't you know. I (the non-techie), on the other hand, hate the GPS.
How do I hate it? Let me count the ways.
1. I hate it because it's just one more gadget I can't reliably operate. (See also "my television since we got cable.") At least I really wanted "my television since we got cable." The GPS, however, falls into the broad category of "Stuff I Never Asked for But I Have to Deal With Anyway." (See also "anything that's been overengineered," which includes almost everything these days.)
2. I hate the GPS because while it's more than happy to tell you what to do ("turn left"), it does NOT allow you to ask any follow-up questions, such as, "Which left? This left? Or the next left?"
3. But here's the reason I really hate the GPS: My husband will listen to IT before he listens to me, even though I am MORE than happy to answer any and all follow-up questions.
EXAMPLE: "I'm not sure which left you take! It's not like I've ever been to Canoga Park before!" Then before you know it, the two of us are fighting like a couple of crazy teenagers in love — and also my parents.
The problem is that my husband is good about listening to me. Really good, in fact. Consequently, I am used to being listened to by the main guy in my life. So when he suddenly abandons my navigational input for directions from a machine you can't even have a proper fight (let alone conversation) with, I resent it.
So. Anyway. I'm not sure what to do yet about my rival, but I need to do something quick because we're on our way to California (although not Canoga Park) AS WE SPEAK. And if I have to hear that stupid GPS say "turn left" (especially when I think we ought to turn right) I think I may just lose my mind.
Suggestions are welcome...

I'm in love...with life!!

I'm once again, the happiest person on earth. Seriously! Everything is so good! I have it so good! Today I began my initiative to "get into shape". Now I know you're probably laughing at me right now, but I'm really trying. I "ran" (walked...) my three miles to work today. Hmmmmm? It was okay on the way TO work, but coming back was another story completely. I started running, and realized I had neglected to pee. Needless to say, I started to walk. I also had neglected a little thing called WATER (A.K.A ALLEE'S LIFE BLOODDDD!) so I was seriously dehydrated, thus the facebook status message "sweaty death march home from work". Let's go back a little. Work today was swell. Bree and JD had me laughing the whole time with their "dating" schemes. Good times, good times. Anyhow, I don't have much else to say, but I'm really swell. Really, really swell.

Allee Evensen :))

Silly boys...

You never know what they're thinking.

They like you one minute, and then you turn your back.

They can be sweet and sensitive, or just cruel.

Some have amazing smiles...

Not all are honest, but many are.

They're always out to impress the "older guys"

Divine Intervention

Their eyes say a lot.

Look deeper...

There is a certain one just for me. I'm just waiting for my turn.

Just loving it...

I don't know how to explain how I feel right now. Everything seems to be coming together. Nothing "extraordinary" has happened, but I feel so good. I know part of it is coming from me making an effort. I'm really trying. Try for what may you ask? I'm trying to be a better person. I'm studying my scriptures, and really working on figuring out where things went wrong so many months ago. I love my family more, my job, my friends. (BTW-I'm typing as I think, so this whole thing is in fragments) I've recently discovered how good I really have it. Forget all my little issues, I'm just grateful to have a home, and a family that loves me. I'm grateful that I'm going to get the chance to go to college, which will open a million doors for me. I'm beginning to fit in at work more, not so much as a "newbie", which is really helpful. I'm just enjoying the ride. I can't control every situation, or others decisions. What I can do is change MY outlook. Will somebody make me read this when I'm being a bullheaded idiot? (I would be reading a lot....haha!)

Allee Evensen!

Rediscovering

This past week I've been at Girl's Camp. It's my favorite week of the year-by far. Part of it has to do with the fact I have the greatest ward in the world no doubt. I can't even begin to explain, so instead I'm going to type out some of my favorite camp memories :)

My very first year. I can remember feeling more loved than at any other time in my life. I was twelve, and everything everybody said had this huge impact on me, especially the girl's that were sixteen or seventeen at the time. Because my mom was camp director, I got to go up a day early with the fourth years. Our van broke down (of course). I have this vivid memory of being stuck in the middle of a dirt road, and Diana singing primary songs. I actually shared this particular memory with her cousin, at girl's camp this year. She just smiled and said "That sounds like Diana". Haha....

Another memory from year uno was the giant rain storm. Who could forget? Our leaders told us NOT to dig trenches around our tents, so we didn't. Long story short? Many a flooded tent. All of our stuff was soaked, and all of the girls had to move into one tent. Out of one night in a crowded tent came many legends such as the infamous "Cellulite" incident. No details there. One thing I do remember was being half-asleep, and Alisa and Bree hopping around the tent in their sleeping bags in the middle of the night. Why oh why do I remember the strange things?

My second year. Awww the memories. Our van broke down yet again on the way to timberlane. I was once again going up early with the fourth years. we ended up stuck at a truck stop until the bishopric could save us. Laura and Krista just had the see the claw machine. In this particular claw machine there was an Elmo. Not just Amy Elmo. A large, stuffed one with beady black eyes that said "Catch me". That's actually a pretty weird description. Anyway, they decided to try to get people to donate to the "We love Elmo fund". We actually danced around in front of the truck stop and sang. We also asked people to donate. We obviously weren't expecting much, but some guy, either motivated by pity, or was just a dumb guy, gave us four dollars. Needless to say, Laura and Krista never got Elmo, probably because they were fighting so much.

I could say more about my second year, but I'm sure you don't want to hear about the "Wal-Mart" Bloody Chicken, Cathrine Spencer, and my mommy incident. LOL

Last year we stayed at a huge cabin, and went boating at bear lake. I didn't really enjoy it very much in general, but I do remember the boating. Aaaa! I love boating! When we came back from Jordanelle, we were burnt to a crisp. I ended up sharing a bunk with Laura, who was probably burnt the worst of all. It would have been fine, but two *CERTAIN GIRL'S* decided to live up their last night at camp. I would try not to laugh, and in turn, move the bed. Laura would then get angry... =)
This year was amazing. As you've probably figured out, I love memories. This year holds so many. Maybe I'll share a few later....or now

"Cee Bee Esnewws!"

"One bottle pop, two bottle pop....."
(I almost went crazy)

Haily's "Alien Story"

Sisa Booth and a broken nose :(

"Whose underwear are these?"

Four pounds of licorice

The countless hours of phase ten

My sick 'fro
(Really sick actually)

Rebekah's "show" (don't even ask.....)

"Allee, Abbie, Charlotte, Tina, Lisa's Butt...."

Katie, Twit, and I on the fourth year!

"Who's Gordon?"

If I think of any more (and I'm sure I will), I'll post them. Oooooh! I can't wait for pictures!!

So this week in general has been amazing. I know I keep saying that, but it's true. Maybe not so much camp, but the fact that I'm rediscovering myself. It's a tough road, but I know in the end it'll make my life much easier. The way I think of it, I'm split into different pieces. I've got the family part of me, the friends, and most importantly the spiritual. I crave an identity. I want to be confident, and know that through whatever happens, I'll still be me.

As for those goals a few posts back....

I haven't saved any money, Because I'm still paying for my Cali trip
I haven't had the chance to run, but give me the benefit of the doubt. I DID walk up a very larrgggee hill many times (the joy of camp!), and went on two hikes.
I am reading Robinson Crusoe if that counts for anything.
I have NOT had a chance to write anything besides this.
I haven't watched much of anything on TV, so no worries there.
TP'ering? Haven't had a spare second....
I have gotten virtually NO sleep, so yet another failed goal.
I haven't been shopping thus, no new clothes.
I have swum ZERO laps, but I did jump in the pool.
I haven't been home all week, so I didn't go to the library.
Have you seen a car in my driveway? ehhhh no.

Okay, I'm not great at the goals thing. Actually I stink. I'll keep working on it...

I have to share a thought I had today when I woke up today. First I looked in the mirror and thought that I look like like an Indian. Woohoo. Then I thought "Dang you look good today!". Vain, I know. I wore make-up for the first time in two weeks. Silly? Yeah. I had to make sure that it wasn't the make-up that was giving me my confidence. It wasn't. Story of my life....

Allee Evensen

Life is like a box of bittersweet chocolate...

Guess what? I've finally came to terms with the fact that I am good. I've finally realized that all of this stress is going to pay off in the end. In the past three months I've single-handedly (well, not completley-God gets a lot of credit) managed to get a new job and work 20 hours a week, be sick for more than 2 weeks of the school year, and kept a 3.85 GPA. Yeah, I'm not going to lie, my friends all have 4.0's but ya know what? I've done my best, and that's okay with me.

This weekend, all I've had is social. Party, Work, Journalism. More parties, more work. It's been kind-of and "Out of body experience" though. I don't know what my best friends are thinking. If they want to treat me like this, are they really friends? Of course they are, but sometimes I'm not myself around them. Am I the bad friend? Why do I feel pressure from them? Is that even supposed to happen?

On the way to the do concessions at the U, Whitney and I got lost. Actually, we didn't know where we were going in the first place. After emotional breakdowns, her car almost litterally breaking down, and about 27 phone calls to Jen, we finally made it. It's wired how emotions tie you to other people. We did well (even though we had to follow Wessman to make sure we didn't DIE!)

So latley foe one reason or another, I feel like I haven't fit in. Part of it's me, I know that, but it's still tough. I know I don't like to get outside my self a lot, but I'm working on that too. I have figured out, I do a whole lot better in small groups than I do in large ones. I like talking to people personally, where I can foucus on them rather than a huge, confusing disscussion. Right now I'm just kind of looking inward. rediscovering myself. I like that. Rediscovering.

I'm trying not to make these post so sad sounding, but it's not working too well. I'm just super tired. After virtually no sleep last night, and working all day today, I'm beat. I just need to follow my own advice-breath a little.

Quick Note

My Schedule over the next two days...

Friday: 11:00-get licence
Get paycheck/cash it
2:30 P.M-11:30 A.M Saturday
Saturday: 11:45-4:15 Work
4:15 Meet @School for ReAl game
9:00 Yet another party

More than a little jam packed eh?

Summer Goals

Yes, I'm going to be one of those dull people that makes a list of goals, then actually accomplishes them. I love lists. Crazy?

[]Save 20% (at least)
[]Run at least three times a week
[]Finish 10 books on the "college bound" reading list
[]Write, Write, Write
[]No more than 3 hours of TV a week (not including sleepovers :)
[] Toilet Paper no less than 10 times. Hehe...
[]Get a fair amount of sleep (as stupid as this sounds, it wouldn't be if YOU were getting up to go to work at 5:15)
[]New Wardrobe
[]swim 50 laps a week (In preparation for swim team??)
[]Find my way to the library once a week
[]Get a car
[]Don't die

I'll keep you updated. Hopefully weekly?

Breathing...

This is all hitting me so hard. The end of everything. Yeah, it's just my sophomore year, but still. I just need to write for a while. I feel like my life is spinning out of control. Not so much "out of control" I guess, but I'm struggling. I feel like I'm always putting on a mask, like nobody can see the real me. Almost like I'm not allowed to be sad. Keep a face all the time, that's me. I try so hard, but it builds up. Someday I'm just going to explode. Somehow, and I really don't know how, I ran into Marissa Week's blog. It's not like I know her or anything. I mean her picture's on the wall at school so everybody does, but you know what I mean. Anyway I was reading through it and it just hit me. Everybody goes through this. Crazy yes? You always tend to think that people above you lead amazing lives. They have tight friends, they have tons of friends. They throw great parties, they're confident. I should know it's not always so, but it's just a natural process of thinking. I'm trying so hard to be happy, and I don't know why I'm not. I have great friends, a supportive family, what's not to be happy about? Where does happiness come from? I should know this. I mean, I go to church every week, I'm enrolled in seminary. It's just frustrating. I try to talk to my parents and they just don't understand why I'm having such a hard time. It's not all the time, but when it hits it hurts. Bad. I was pretty fine all day, until I came home to an empty house. I think I just need to breath a bit. This school year has been tough, but somewhere along the path I realized I am too. My biggest problem is that I can't see my future. I mean, nobody can, but how am I supposed to make choices? You know what I want? I want to go to Northwestern University on a Scholarship and get into their Medill program. Or maybe I don't. I just don't know! Most of all (of course) I want to be a wife and a mommy. How does this merge with Northwestern? There's my problem. Chances are I'm not going to meet some nice, LDS, returned missionary in Chicago, so where are my options? I'm just confused. I need a good long prayer session, but it's so hard for me. Why do I resist so much?

On a positive note, I'm way excited for journalism next year. I'm going up to sell hot dogs on Saturday, hoping maybe I'll get to know the staff better before I jump into it. I think I will join swim team next year. Nothing for sure yet, but I'm feeling good about it. How am I supposed to handle swim, journalism, a new instrument, and two AP classes? Not sure. We'll see.

Peace Out
Allee

What a great day...

*I'm finally getting my Licence*
*My GPA IS AMAZING! (I haven't got it this high since 7th grade!!)*
*It's almost summer*
*I gotsa 2 parties this weekend*
*And a ReAl game*
*And work*
*I just really super-duper happy*
The only thing that could make this better would be a burrito....
mmmmmm.....
JOHN SCHMIDT IS MY HERO!
Holy Random :))
(Plus Matt Lusty got points for bringing us dounuts)

Here's my sluffing story...
Alyssa and I thought it would be great fun to just walk out of math class. So we did. We spent about 2 minutes outside, realized how boring it was, then went back in.

Wow!

Dylan is a turkey.
He failed english.
And has big hair

SMILE!

That's the way the cookie crumbles

Somtimes life doesn't go the way you want it to. Actually, a lot of times it doesn't, is that so bad? I've had a lot of dissapointment latley, but tons of really amazing days too.
It's so weird how I can think of stuff all the time I want to write on here, but when it comes down to it I forget everything. Gag.
I can't wait for summer, but I'm actually feeling kind-of stressed. I've never really had a job in summer before. I'm working everday, and it's all so new to me. Last summer, I litterally sat on my butt and watched Gilmore girls. The WHOLE summer wasted. There was so many things I could be doing, but I can't change anything now, so I'm not going to try. Summer really shouldn't be stressfull, so I'm going to enjoy it, and just have FUN!
I was actually thinking, if we could get a bunch of people, we could rent out he pool for a night. If you got a hundred peopleish than it would be like $5 a person. It would be a blast to. What think ye?
I am in shock that my Sophmore year is over. It seemed to go by so slow, but I definitly think I'll be more involved next year. There are so many memories...

Amy, Jessica, and I in chior, taking crazy pictures. One of my favorites of the whole year :)

My math class, definitlly. Making up fake people for projects...haha. My teacher probably wouldn't think it was too funny though. Me, Allysa, Marlene=Super

Journalism. Wow. Crazy class. Wayyy different than I thought it would be, but like I said above, not a bad thing. We started out the year with 15 people, now were down to around 8. It's wired how fast you get to know people in a class that small, even if you don't want too. The scariest thing for me was going into the normal journalism class on thursday. Haha...didn't handle that very well. It's just hard going from a little class to a fairly large one.

Going to california. Highlight of my year, absolutly. Just read the post from April something or another.

While I'm going on a little journalism kick, the Lit Mag. Okay yeah, I got something in there, but some of the stuff in there was amazing! Jaron is my hero...the end.

My seminary class, both terms. The first one was great because we had lots people. Peter, Shmitty, Jameson, JESSICA!, Celeste, Zane, Pretttyy awesome class if I do say so myself. The class this term, we've had about 5 or 6 of us that some regularly. Me, Steve, Andrew, Tad, NiKole. It at fisrt it was hard, but for the past little bit, it's actually been kindof fun.

I have to say, Choir in general. T having her baby. Crazy Ms. Webb. We had a great time though.

NOT CHEMISTRY. I HAVE NO GOOD MEMORIES.

The time we were in the lunchroom throwing cheerios, and the principal walked by as Alec was throwing one, and when nobody else was. Pricless.

Making new friends. Hard, but at the end of the year, it's a good thing.

Liz being able to tolerate me haha...

Vice-Versa

Me, Jon, and Mallory in World history, Kregear being the crazy that he is.

Learning some boys are not all thier cracked up to be...

and some are.

Not making graces. Sad, but it's a memory.

Also, not making senate was hard, but I'm over it.

Mitch Steed...confusing boy.

And more...I just don't want to think of them right now.

So at the end of the year, I've also virtually stopped waering make-up. Why? I don't know. I guess, I'm starting to not care so much what people think, which is s good thing. Right? Hopefully. I go through phases. If you know me, you know that.

I would love to tell you a little story now...
Once I went to work. It was terrible. All guys, big egos, Ugggg. Nobody would even talk to me becuase when you've got almost all guys on a shift that happens. Then Tanner smiled. For the record, that kid has the hapiest smile ever. Anyway, SUPER! Like a burrito.

I love burritos, they are amazing. My parents wont let me eat them eveyday because they think I'll get fat, but I still love them nevertheless. I also love ramen noodles, which also make you fat. Hehe...

I think I'll go get something to eat. Maybe a turkey sandwitch....

My writing blog is up, but I'm not posting it yet because I don't have much on there, but keep watching.

Don't have much more to say. Except this song that's stuck on my head by Onerepublic....

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I don't know where.

Here's a better idea...



Oh, I decided to change my college choice again I'm going for Northwestern, Chicago Campus. Am I crazy? Yes. It's just another one of my far-fetched dreams...