The Wonderfuls

Wonderful #1

September 25

this little guy came into our family

Weston Robert Clark

(you may sigh)

Wonderful #2

Adam Jeffrey recieved his mission call to Oaxaca, Mexico.

He leaves on February 4 and he will be wonderful.

Bonnie is convinced that after these two wonderfuls in one year, she must have a third in the form of a wedding...I'm not so sure

Part 3: Pray this will be the last one

Because one's company, two's a crowd, but three's a party.

My Child Part 2

Meet Lucy aka Lulu.

It may look like we are replacing Sunny before he is even gone....which we are. Just don't tell him that, it's a sensitive subject.

My Child

Yes it's true...I have a child. I thought it was something that only happened to other, more negligent single people. But no. When it comes, it comes fast and unexpected. I feel all the pains and expenses of parenthood through my aged golden retriever. 11 years ago I named him Sunny because we procured him in Sun Valley, Idaho. (This was before I had the personality to come up with a more creative name) But he has been the best dog ever. The type to run alongside cars entering and exiting the driveway with no thought to his own personal safety. One with a most dangerous ever-wagging tail that has the possibility of knocking out a three year old. And a lovable gaurd dog who would most likely greet a burgler and assist in carrying things out of the house.

My life now revolves around Sunny who has arthritis accompanied by a perpetual limp, infections on his front paws from licking too much, a very suspicious lump on the side of his body, and a thyroid problem that zaps all his energy and inhibits his ability to grow hair in certain areas. So as a loving parent I make sure I am home at two specific times of the day to administer his pills. Which I purchase every 2 weeks for $155! Keeping in mind that if the pills are not given to him in a certain manner, he will spit them back up, causing me to find them on the garage floor and try again. Pills that expensive cannot be wasted. He follows me around waiting for his treats that make his breath smell good. If I am in his sight and am not petting him he paws at my leg until I start. And if I ever touch a cat, he jealously pushes his face next to mine, often stepping on the cat to do so. And on top of it all I take him to the vet twice a month where the other dogs mock my poor baby for his lack of hair and overall sorry presentation. But I love him and will keep taking care of him until he dies...which may be very soon.

Here is where I would post a picture of him but he has already been humiliated enough in real life with his bald spots and cone of shame that I do not want to slander his name on the internet as well. But this is what he once looked like. Love him

My Life

I recently, as in two days ago, moved back from Washington D.C. and now must discover what to do with the rest of my life. I am graduating from BYU, why they let me out so soon is beyond me. People want me to get a "real" job. Certain cities want my sarcasm and charm, certain cities don't. Someone wants me to pick out a new car. Some want me to stay at home forever, some want me to leave asap. All these decisions need to be made...but they are certainly not going to be made by me.

Instead I am going to spend the summer traveling. I have many options: Hawaii, Lake Powell, Europe, California, New York, Havasuppi etc. I am not going to get a part time job nor am I going to apply for any "real" jobs. Why would I want to be tied down? I am going to let someone just give me a car. And I am going to travel from the homestead to friends couches thus eliminating the need for an apartment or a decision as to which city to live in.

Just because I am graduating does not mean I need to grow up. Why start now anyways? I love being faux real!

Why I like the Parents

For those of you who don't know, my parents are pretty cool people. Here are some reasons I like them.

• Bonnie makes me little snack packs so I don't get too hungry while in class
• Jeff will go to McDonalds to get hot fudge sundays (extra fudge no nuts) at any time during the day or late hours of the night
• Bonnie taught me to never leave the house without doing my hair
• Jeff taught me that I can marry more money in 5 minutes than I can make in a lifetime
• Bonnie has been to every significant and even all insignificant events in my life
• Jeff came with her to all those silly events and took pictures
• Bonnie lets me wear her clothes...she's more stylish than I am
• Jeff would let me wear his clothes if I was a boy...he is also more stylish than I am
• They play Ticket to Ride with me and Kelly numerous times a day
• They let me and Kelly (sometimes begrudgingly) crawl into their bed when they are trying to go to sleep
• They always want me to move home

And they are so pretty! I love them lots

Subway vs. Metro

A few reason as to why I love Washington DC's metro system and HATE New York's

1. New York calls it a subway... that just irks me
2. New York's subway is the dirtiest place in the world while DC's is the cleanest... well the cleanest place underground. 
3. There are people who actually live in the New York subway and never come out! If you don't believe me just go down there, you will either see a real subway person or the evidence of their underground life. 
4. DC has little signs that tell you what train is coming and how many minutes you have to wait. In New York you wait for twenty minutes and then if you are lucky an announcement will be made stating the train will not be there for another twenty minutes. 
5. Just yesterday I saw a man who looked like a woman and a woman who looked like a man in the New York subway. Imagine my confusion.
6. You are likely to contract a number of incurable diseases in the New York subway. 

Needless to say, take a taxi when in New York. Don't risk your personal health and sanity. 

Faux Real

Obviously I have recently renamed my blog. Let me offer a little explanation for those who are not accustomed to this term. Amongst my family and close friends I am not seen as an adult/"real" person. It's been this way since I can remember and I hope it stays. Here are the facts.

• I am 22
• In 2 months time I will graduate with a bachelors degree
• I moved out of the parents house at age 18
• I have held a job all through my college years
• I am currently living in Washington DC

I believe these events would constitute any normal person as "real." But not me, oh no there is much more to me. No matter how old I get or the numerous adventures I undertake, some things will never change.

• People will always be shocked to find that A. I am capable of working, and B. until my recent move, I have had the same legitimate job for 3 years.
• Although I pay for the majority of my life, my dad always ends up funding things like new shoes...sometimes without his knowledge.
• All my siblings take good care of me. This may be bold but it's possible that I am the darling of the family.
• I am what you may call a young spirit. So in the mindset of those closest to me I am more 17 than 22.
• No matter how old I get the parents will always want me to move back in with them.

So you see, by normal standards I am a "real" person but this does not suit me. It is much better to continue shocking everyone by accomplishing what "real" people consider normal life events. These life events may be normal but when you're faux real they're extraordinary!

Inaugural Weekend

This last weekend I joined in on the Obama-Rama that swept over the entire district. It is highly likely that I was the only one participating in the festivities that did not actually vote for Obama. However, I dawned my Obama shirt and stood in every crowd I could find all weekend. All my digits were completely frozen and it is a small miracle they are still in use today. It was incredible to be able to be part of such a historical event though. It was one big frenzy and completely out of control but I enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the concert on Sunday on the mall where some of my idols, i.e. Garth Brooks, performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and the concert on Monday night which included Nothin but Strings, Aretha Franklin, and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. If you are thinking a concert with Aretha would be amazing because finally you would experience "Respect" live, you would be dissapointed. This was more like "chirch" as they call it, with a little bit of socialism thrown in there. But the music was amazing! I do love a good gospel choir. Oh yes, and the actual inauguration was great too.

One section of the mass of people at Sunday's concert.

A student at the school where I teach designed this. I just couldn't resist.

Washington DC

I finally made up my mind and moved out to Washington D.C. I am student teaching at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. For those of you who know me personally, a school of the arts is the perfect place for me. The students just love to entertain! Life out here is very different from Provo but so far incredibly enjoyable.

• I live with seven other girls in a penthouse in Arlington, VA. Now penthouse conjures images of grandeur and class--while this may be true, no matter how big an apartment is, eight girls is a whole lot.
• Without a car, I am becoming very adept at using the metro and bus system. However, after numerous attempts to get to school by myself the other day I ended up on completely the wrong bus and the driver had to take a different route just for me. Sweet old man.
• We have an amazing mall nearby that harbors my mother ship-Nordstroms, and finally we found a grocery store just on the other side of said mall. Yesterday, on my way home from the grocer, laden down with shoes numerous bags, I decided it a perfect time to spend an hour trying on shoes at Nordy's. The groceries occupied an entire couch, but how convenient that all my basic needs can be met in one trip!
• I caved to the liberal atmosphere that surrounds me and bought an Obama t-shirt. As a justification, this is one of a kind and was designed by a former student at my school. I had to support--don't judge
• As it turns out I should have had a T.B. test before moving out here. So I spent an evening running around a sketchy part of town looking for someone to shoot me up with a small amount of consumption. Success! I have concerns about what disease they actually injected into my arm.

It's only been a week but it has been a long one. It is getting close to inauguration so I am frantically trying to find a senator's son to invite me to one of the balls. If not, I will just proudly don my Obama shirt and join the masses at the parade. This is definately an adventure.