Day 37: smile

I saw this link today and it made me actually laugh in class.
Whoops.

Today I am thankful for this pick me up, it brightened my day.
Enjoy!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/its-impossible-to-look-at-this-post-and-not-smile

Day 36: thunder cake

"Grandma looked at the horizon, drew a deep breath and said, ‘This is Thunder Cake weather, all right. Looks like a storm is coming.’"

Today we had our first real rainstorm in months. Seeing the dark clouds and hearing the wind and the rain against the window reminded me of when I was a kid during monsoon season in Arizona.

 For those of you who haven’t ever experienced Arizona’s monsoon season, put it on your bucket list. Every single afternoon during the end of summer the dark stormy clouds roll in and the thunder starts rumbling, rain starts pouring, the winds are howling, and lightening lights up the sky every few minutes. It’s very dramatic.

It was one of my favorite things about my hometown.

When I was a kid there was this book I had called Thunder Cake. The book was about a grandma helping her grandchild overcome her fear of thunderstorms by gathering ingredients and baking a “thunder Cake” every time the storm rolled in.

I loved this book. I remember always begging my mom to read it and make Thunder Cake with me. I thought it was great not only because we were baking, but the cake also called for tomatoes which I thought was the weirdest thing. But it was so good, and it made thunderstorms that much better. 

I loved having that special thing I did with my mom.

Now every time I see those clouds rolling in, it takes me back to those days in our kitchen baking with my mom to the sounds of thunder, wind, and rain. Every time it makes me smile.  

I am thankful for my childhood.  

I am thankful for thunder cake.

Day 35: a picture is worth a thousand words

Okay, so I got a little Pintrest happy. But sometimes you find quotes that say what you want to say, only better. I love quotes. Today, I am thankful for them. 

I wanted to share a few, I hope you love them as much as I do.

Day 34: so fresh

I love the morning after you do laundry.

You have tons of clean clothes, all fresh and hung up and in order. Whenever I do laundry, I also clean my room and organize. I knock it all out in one and feel so productive.
It's so satisfying to wake up to organization because, if you're like me, it won't last long.
I also am thankful that we have a washer and dryer in our apartment. Makes life so much easier.

Ilovemyapartment <3

Day 33: click it or ticket

I love my friends, but some of them terrify me on the road. Nothing specific happened so no need to stress out, but you all know those people who get behind the wheel and you just pray that you make it from A to B? Yeah... 

I’m extremely tired and have too much to do before class tomorrow so I’ll keep this short and sweet:

I am so thankful for seatbelts, I'll take any protection I can get. 

Don’t worry Mom, I got home safe and sound. 

Day 32: go cougs

I love being a cougar. My university is awesome.

At the NWNATA conference, I had the privilege of presenting research with three other classmates at the student forum. The student forum was the same time as two other presentations, which I’m sure were a million times better than the ones the students were participating in. there were 6 other groups presenting as well, and of course none of us are professional presenters, so we weren't necessarily moving the crowd.

Needless to say, it was boring to watch.

But even though it was boring, almost all my classmates that came to the conference came and watched us present. They had seen us present multiple times as practice and were probably so sick of us, and we were the second to last group so they had to wait a long time, but they did it anyway. They stayed to support us.

The next day was Quizbowl. Quizbowl resembles jeopardy; each school with an entry level athletic training program in the northwest had a team of three students to represent. The question was read, the teams conferred and clicked in their answer, and points were awarded as such.

Once again, not necessarily thrilling. And once again, it was during the time of other presentations. But once again, our whole entire program showed up to support. Not only did we sit in the crowd and support, we were the super obnoxious group that cheered ridiculously for every right answer, shouted GO COUGS at random intervals, sang our fight song, and basically annoyed the crap out of everyone else.

We were proud of our classmates, and we wanted them to know how much we supported them.

Our presentation didn't get first place, neither did our Quizbowl team. But we absolutely were the undefeated fans, which comes as no surprise for anyone familiar with WSU.
So shout out to my classmates, I'm thankful for the unwavering support we all have for each other. 

Go cougs. 

Day 31: Riley

Four months ago I had a wake up call.

It was like someone threw ice-water on me to shake me from my haze.

It’s amazing how a phone call can change your life.

It’s amazing how we never realize the role others have played in our lives until they are gone.

Riley was a good friend. At one point in my high school career, I considered him one of my best friends. He was like a big brother to me; he called me out on my crap, annoyed me daily, but in the end was always in my corner. He was my sarcastic partner in crime for goofing off in back of the advanced classes and roaming about the school when we were supposed to be in fashion or student council.

But then he graduated, and we both dated people in different crowds, so we drifted apart. There wasn't a falling out, or a defining moment that ended out friendship, we just simply grew apart. I would still see him at parties or around town and we would say hi and chat, but our lives didn't overlap anymore. Then I moved away.  

It’s the same story you've heard a thousand times.

I hadn't talked to Riley, really talked, in probably four years.

It’s hard every day to know I wasn't there for him when he needed it. He was a good friend during some rough times in my life. I never returned the favor.

I never realized the impact he had on me as a person until I couldn't call him up to say thank you. Until I couldn't bridge the gap between us and reconnect with my old friend.  

I wouldn't be the person I am if he hadn't touched my life, even though it was years ago.

He was smart and sarcastic. He was stubborn and childish. He could make you laugh or drive you crazy in a matter of seconds. The Riley I remember was happy.

He was a good person. He simply lost his way, and chose to wander alone. And somewhere along the way, he forgot which way was up.

I wish I could have been there.

In a roundabout way he reminded me to do what he couldn't, or wouldn't; to live.

He reminded me to tell people I love them. To appreciate life. To wake up every day and remember why it’s all worth it. He also reminded me to let people in, and let them help.

Here is a short clip of the boy I choose to remember, the boy I choose to emulate. The one that was a good friend, and a great person.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9p8UrJ5xaRw

This one is for you Ry. I’m thankful for your life, and all the ways you have helped me, and all the lives you touched. I’ll miss you for the rest of my life.

We all will.