How to Finish Summer: Special Edition

Have you ever arrived at the end of summer and thought to yourself, "I need to finish this with a bang!" Well, thank goodness I didn't because otherwise I would have needed a gun instead of a knife.

Yeah. I stabbed myself.

"Kelene. Stop being melodramatic. It's just a scratch." 

Really?

Really?

Are scratches an half and inch deep? 

...Okay, yeah. It's just a scratch. But I did sever a bit of a nerve and it hurts like the dickens to do anything. I also have the gripping strength of a toddler. And it bled a lot. My brand new apartment looked like something out of a slasher film. Don't believe me?

It's not fake. Turns out blood is a bloody pain to clean up #doyougetit?

I really should have stitches, but I don't have money for that, and my liquid bandage is holding up just dandy. 

ANYWAY.

Second thing to do to end summer like a homeslice (haha) is to look at how much your textbooks are going to cost and cry. A lot. Like a fool, I offered to pay for my books this semester (who on earth wants that kind of responsibility?) and at first it wasn't so bad. $50 for the first two. ....Then set it up for $60. Then I got an e-mail telling me I didn't need to buy the $60 book. Then a confirmation. Then one much later that was all like "Oh, PS you freaking need this book". Thanks for telling me AFTER I bought the Star Fleet class ring. Still not so bad though. Another $60. 

And then *drumroll* a brand new spanish book with online connect for a whopping $150! Congratulations! You just sold your soul to the campus bookstore. 

Moral of the story; don't take classes that aren't required for your major *coughspanishcough* they will suck you dry. 

Exsssccuuuussseee me that I want to further my academic mind.

ANYWAY.

The final thing to do to complete your summer is actually pretty cool.

Fold ONE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES.

Yep. I finally did it. 1000 origami cranes folded by me alone, named, numbered, and flocked together. 

Now I get to make a wish.

Right?

That's how it goes?

I don't even know what to wish for. 

Not having to pay for textbooks?

My hand to be better?

A fabulous semester with good friends, good grades, and a good job?

Nah, better stick with the Unicorn.

Dear Boys; Take One

This post is only because of my wonderful friend Elizabeth. Who writes great blog posts. Basically I like her. Dear boys....

Dear Ladder,

Thanks for being taller than me.

Likewoah.

It's really fun.

Love,
Kelene.

Dear Hip Replacement,

I still like you.

Get out of my head.

Jerk.

Somewhat angry,
Kelene.

Dear Sir,

So I decided I kind of like you.

And you're living near me next semester.

Too bad you're going on a mission.

Maybe I'll write you.

Love,
Kelene.

Dear Implosion,

You're basically perfect.

And you should know that.

So man up.

Go talk to girls.

Seriously,
Kelene.

Dear Wolf,

I haven't forgotten about you.

Just wishing you would communicate with me.

You write amazing letters.

Let's hang out.

Next summer.

Love,
Kelene.

Dear Mystery Man,

I talked about you for two hours the other day.

Apparently I should meet you.

Let's meet.

I hear you make a great singing Jew.

I'll be the judge of that.

Sincerely,
Kelene.

Take Two

Take Three

Take Four
Take Five

Take Six
Take Seven

One Year

One Year Ago.

One year ago, I was sitting in Thatcher, Arizona. High School was over and done and I was preparing to enter the great big world of College. I didn't know what was going to happen. I thought I would make some friends, take some classes, date a bit, and overall life would just go on.

And it did. But not quite the way I expected.

My first semester I made some friends. And by some, I mean one. The best :). I was still pretty lonely. Then in the spring, I met the most amazing group of people. People who were just as crazy and random and hilarious as me. Actually, more so.

I went swing dancing.
I stayed up until 6am.
I was friends with boys for the first time in my life.
I grew in the gospel as never before.
I was really actually amazingly happy.

Then summer came. And my friends moved away. To work. To home. And once again I was alone. Because for the first time in my life, my friends left me, instead of me leaving them. It was like someone had ripped the soul right out of my life.

Then I got a job. Then I made friends. Then I went on dates.
Then I ate ice-cream and watched Doctor Who and Skyped my old friends and Facetimed my family. And it was good.

One year ago I thought everything was going to change. And guess what? It did. But it really didn't. I never put myself out there. I never took the step off the cliff.

"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided." -Tony Robbins

I finally made a decision. It's time to stop caring about what other people think. I still care about the people, but it no longer matters if I feel like painting for 5 hours or go running at 6 in the morning. They can all just ignore me for all I care. It's time to live my life for me. It's time to drop old desires and empty wishes and meaningless songs. This is my time to live. And I'm taking it all for myself.

One year ago I was just beginning to be me. A friend pointed out that we've spent the last two decades learning how to be adults. And then we spend three times as long actually being one. Consider this my new birth. I'm ready to enter the world. As me.

Questions, Part XIII

61. What quality do you have that you hope your kids inherit?

           Umm... loaded question. I hope for the sake of my sanity that my kids all have the same desire as I do to get into trouble. AKA none. If I knew that all of my kids would seek out as much trouble as I did, my peace of mind of would forever be at rest.

62. What's your favorite memory with your childhood best friend?

            This one goes out to Liz Gunnell. Either swimming all day every day, or playing 'Houdini' with a billion blankets, pillows, etc.

63. Which of the 7 deadly sins are you? (anger, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony)

            This is kind of ironic because I've had a story running through my head the past few weeks that will be based on the 7 deadly sins. And the human condition. And heaven help me if I ever try to write it down. Anyway. 

      I'd say it's a toss up between sloth and pride. My sloth is more apparent (to me), but I think I have a pride problem (like 99.9% of humanity). 

64. What was your favorite hiding place as a kid?

              I would hide in the vines that completely covered our grapefruit trees or under the massive leaves from the squash plant in our garden. Inside the house it was either that nightstand that opened up to a cupboard, or the washing machine. Hide and seek was my favorite :) 

65. What is your favorite/go-to YouTube video?

             True Facts about the Tarsier. Best Cat Jump Ever. Guy on a Buffalo. Mom scares kid to death while singing brittany spears. Ghost in the Stalls. How to eat an Oreo. Llamas with Hats.

        Some are tasteful. Some are not. I'm not ashamed (ok, a little bit about the Llamas one, but it's so darn quotable!)