Phwooh...I'm EXHAUSTED!

Alright, so I know that it has seriously been FREAKIN' forever since I have posted anything about my life- so please accept this apology and just accept the fact that this is who I am...the girl who is NOT an AVID Blogger! (But I do secretly wish I could be!)
The day is July 8, 2010, and things in my life hasn't gotten any less complicated or less busier than I was hoping they would be when school ended the 1st week in May.
To update you all on what has been going on, here is a brief timeline of my comings and goings:
May 18ish-25ish: Flew out to Milwaukee Wisconsin.
My oldest brother graduated from Medical School! Lets just say...with me in the audience...he definetely had the LOUDEST and LONGEST round of cheers when his name was called! ;)
During this time, my Dad, Mom and myself helped him and his little family pack up and move cross country to Bountiful, Utah for his next leg in education: University of Utah Urology internship. We all took turns driving and made it safe- yet exhausted to Utah. It is up there ranked as one of my LONGEST driving trips ever. I was in charge of driving the Pathfinder...all I can say is, It is a BLESSING I even made it to Utah let alone am still sane! (Random Advice: While driving across country and struggling to stay awake; Turn on some good old EFY music or my personal favorite, "Empire State of Mind" by JayZ, but you MUST have a large cardboard box in the seat next to you to bang on and pound with your fist while singing at the top of your lungs! *Advisory WARNING: Individual MUST NOT be shy or embarrassed if passing vehicals stare or give weird looks while passing vehical that holds the singer/drummer*)

June 2-6: : Washington D.C. National Conference for College Women and Student Leaders!
For ONE full week I had an ALL expense paid- chance of a lifetime trip to D.C. for a college conference. I was chosen to represent Idaho to the world! I met lots of girls from all over the country; Indiana, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and California to name a few. Instead of just telling you everything that I did...I want to SHOW you a few pictures of my experiences: Call Me if you want the FULL details! :)

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June 12th-28th: Adventures in Cat/House-Sitting: Yep...I did it again, I agreed to house/CAT sit for my professor and her family. For a little over two weeks I basically lived at my professor's house and got paid to relax and take care of cats! Unfortunately the first week was spent being sick with the FLU- throwing up and being sick in another's person's home is NOT IDEAL!(But I'm sure you didn't need me to say that- you probably agree!haha!)


June 14th-NOW: Work, WORK, WORK! This summer I am employed by Idaho State University. I am an Ambassador by day and a Movie Usher by night! I give Campus tours and pretty much get paid to talk and entertain (My TWO favorite things to do)! My work life is what we call "chill-axed." I get paid to really have fun and not do a whole lot. Don't get me wrong I DO WORK, but I have never, nor will I ever...have jobs this low key ever again- so I am enjoying every minute of it!
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DATING UPDATE
Okay, so I have been dating Brent since January (he says February...because that is when he says we started "really" dating) but I say, January because that is when we went on our 1st date (which I ASKED him on!) Things have been going really well! I am absolutely head over heels in Love and loving every moment of it! We try to spend as much time together, but that only ends up being once or twice a week...if I had my way it would be every second. For the summer he is at home, working on the farm, which is in between American Falls and Burley and I am in Pocatello. Every week we do stuff together with the families. I've gone swimming and dirt bike riding with his family, and this last weekend he came up to I.F. and spent the 4th of July with mine.
----Overall I couldn't be happier with life, and I am LOVING every minute of it!----

Easter and Conference Weekend

This year for Easter was spent a little bit differently than the usual Easter weekend that I have had since I was 10. Instead of having my Grandmas BIG party (like we usually do) I instead spent the weekend at the Call's house in American Falls, ID. Before I continue on with what this weekend entailed...I might have to mention WHO the Call's are. The Call's are the members of Brent's family. Now who is Brent you may be asking yourself; Brent is the kid I am dating. Okay, so now that introductions are out of the way, this weekend went something like this...
I worked Friday night! :*(
Woke up Saturday and drove to A.F. watched conference, played with three adorable kids (Brent's niece and two nephews) and colored easter eggs.
On Easter morning, the Call family has a tradition were the Easter bunny hides everyones baskets...and well, Brent's mom being the sweetheart that she is, made me an easter baskets filled with delicious chocolates and CORN BREAD! Yummy...MY FAVORITE!
So the picture above is me finding my basket. Okay, in all honesty, I had a little help finding it from Thad (Brent's bro-in-law). Any guess of where the basket was hidden? Under the pool table! It was stuffed up in the corner on the rafters!
The kids were cute to watch as they looked all over the basement trying to find the eggs that we had decorated the day before...It was a very fun EASTER.
Conference was really good this year...I only fell asleep once...or twice. haha!
This weekend was really fun, but I have to say I MISSED MY FAMILY SO SOOOO MUCH! So I decided I would make a list of all the stuff I missed out by not being with my family.
Top 10 List
10. Sleeping in MY bed and in MY bedroom.
9. Watching Conference in the Family Room with the fireplace all ablaze.
8. Fighting with my little sister about spreading out on the couch...pretty much kicking her off!
7. My dad snoring throughout conference
6. Going shopping with my Mommy on saturday.
5. Eating A LOT!
4. Sleeping in between sessions
3. Talking with my family, especially my parents
2. EATING HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS!!!!
1. Just BEING WITH MY family!

Okay so here are a few pictures of Brent and myself...it would be rude to keep talking about him without you know what he looks like. As a preface let me describe him for you so you know about him.
Name: Brent Evan Call
GREW UP: In between American Falls and Burley on the family beet farm.
Parents: Evan and Kelly Call
Siblings: Brigitte (older sister; married to Thad Crump; three kids) Clint (at USU) Calvin (on a mission St. Louise, MO)
Age: 24
Future Occupation: Psychologists
How we met: In our Singles Ward

Just a Few Thoughts...

What I am about to do is something that I have never done on my blog...no it isn't anything illegal, provocative, or nasty...but just a few thoughts that have been going through my head over and over again for the past couple weeks and I needed to write them down in hopes to just get them off my mind! So what you are about to read isn't something that I want people to concern over or to create a pity-party; it is just me, need a way to vent! (p.s. There really isn't any order to this madness of writing-so don't judge!)
Okay, Spring 2010 semester started a few weeks ago and all I can say is I am in BIG TROUBLE! Two classes are three hours long, loads and loads of reading (I guess that is what I get for being a History major) and on top of all that it seems that I never ever catch up or even finish any of my homework. It is only the 3rd week and I am already burnt out! Monday was the last day to drop/add classes and so I made a rash decision...I once again dropped the same class I dropped last semester. It seems everytime I sign up for this U.S. History for Teachers class, I think I will be able to pull through and rock it...well, lets just say I didn't even comprehend any of the reading- so how was I supposed to write a summary and paper on it! So after dropping that class, I decided to add a class, because why not add another class to my load and while I'm at it another to finish my minor! What was I thinking! Long story short, I am in a class on Anthropology of Mormonism; which is "un-biased" look on the culture and religion. Un-biased, my foot! I feel like I am stepping into an anti-Mormon class! I just sit there, do the assignments and let the comments whiz by me...all the while, while I am singing a hymn to myself and praying that the Lord will forgive me for signing up for this "one" anthro class-sure I could have taken Pacific Islanders instead for my minor but what the heck- why not something I already know...hmm....right?!?
On top of course load for classes, I am busier than ever. Don't get me wrong, I love being EXTRA involved, but when does it ever end? When will I have a moment to just breathe? The last couple weeks, people have been asking me if I am going to re-run for Senator of the College of Education or better yet, telling me I need to run for Vice President of the student body! It is fun to think about those things..but if I thought I was busy this year- just wait till next year as a VP! My only answer to them is that I have NO idea- which is true. Some days I can't wait till my term ends, but other days I couldn't imagine not doing this. I am so grateful for the opportunities the Lord gives me, and all the knowledge and experiences that have come my way by doing practically everything, but I don't know if I am really happy? I get so frustrated when people say that we are supposed to get good grades, be involved, socialize, date, fulfill your calling..and the list goes on and on! I guess I just feel inadequate and burned out in life. I keep thinking to myself- what exactly am I supposed to be doing? I am supposed to be a teacher or work in a Museum or historical site? Am I supposed to go on a mission now or later? If I'm supposed to be involved how am I supposed to find time to socialize let alone date!
Why is it that the older I get the harder life is...or why is it that the more people I know the lonelier I feel?
I guess I'm sorry for the crazily long vent-again for whoever "might" read this, please, this isn't a pity party...I guess I just maybe want some advice...or words of wisdom of what you think I should be doing...And while I wait for any response- I'll just keep fervently praying, waiting for any kind of answer. Alright...this is Shalene, signing out.

Happy New Year Shalene!

Right now, 12:47am. About an hour ago, I rolled over to find myself wide awake! Tonight I went to bed exhausted at 8:30pm. Sadly, to my surprise, my body felt like it was just taking a nap- NOT going to bed. So I lay awake for an hour, pretty much just thinking to myself about life and then I realized I hadn't made any New Year resolutions! So here we go...

Top 10 Goal for 2010!
1) Attend Institute: For those of you who do not know what "Institute" is, it is where one goes for religious classes...I have been lacking in this area for about a year. Don't get me wrong I always sign up (I just don't go). Ooops, intentionally!
2) Nap only ONCE a week! Many know that I LOVE my naps...but I tend to get a little carried away and sleep for hours, then my sleep cycle gets thrown off- thus continuing this bad cycle! (That is probably why I am awake right now) I can already tell this will be my hardest goal-
3) Run another Half-Marathon and/or Triathalon: I just plain need to exercise more, and pick up my running again!
4) Read my scriptures and pray everyday
5) Have a better/closer relationship with my siblings
6) Prepare to go through the temple (if they let me...age might be a determining factor)
7) Learn to say "NO"
8) Socialize more (it may appear that I already do this...well you're wrong...I'm always so busy)
9) Kiss or Makeout at least once this year! (With someone I like) ;)
10) Just be HAPPIER!

Okay, so there we have it...a wide variety of goals that I have set for myself. Obviously some goals appear to be easy- but I have thought, justified, and narrowed my ideas and went with areas that I DEFINITELY need to improve in. I already know this year is going to be AWESOME! Something is in the air and I can just feel it!