Introversion: Top Ten Myths and Why People Think We're Weird

I am definitely an introvert.

But that doesn't make me weird.

Granted, I am slightly weird.

But that's just purely because of my personality.

Not because I'm an introvert.

Which is the point I'm trying to make.

Sometimes people don't understand why I do things the way I do.

So here's some insight into the way my mind works.

Prepare yourself.

:)

:TOP TEN MYTHS ABOUT INTROVERTS:

*disclaimer: I found this information on a website written by Jerry Brito. I am simply reiterating it, and adding my own personal insights.

Myth #1: Introverts don't like to talk.

False. We just don't talk unless we have something to say. Small talk holds little value to us. We crave quality conversation. If you get us started on something we're interested in, we can talk for days.....so make sure you have the time ;)

Myth #2: Introverts are shy.

False. Shyness does not equal introversion. They have nothing to do with each other. As introverts, we are not afraid of people. We just need a reason to interact. We don't interact just for the sake of interacting. Honestly, if you want to talk to an introvert, just start talking. Don't even worry about being polite. Just jump right in, and who knows? You may have just made a great friend.

Myth #3: Introverts are rude.

False. Or if they are, it has nothing to do with being an introvert. If they're rude, it just because they're rude. Introverts just want everyone to be real and honest. We don't often see a reason to beat around the bush. Unfortunately, this is not found socially acceptable in many settings, so us introverts tend to feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which we find exhausting.

Myth #4: Introverts don't like people.

Very false. We actually intensely value the friends we do have. We can count our close friends on one hand. If you're lucky enough to have an introvert consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life (Jerry Brito's words, not mine....therefore I am not being conceited). Once you've earned our respect as a quality person of substance, you are in!

Myth #5: Introverts don't like to go out in public.

False. We just don't like to be out in public for as long. We like to avoid complications that are often involved in public activities. We tend to take in data and experiences rather quickly, and therefore don't need to be there as long to "get it". Introverts are ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for introverts. Maybe this explains why I always feel like I need a break whenever I take a vacation before I can get back to real life...

Myth #6: Introverts always want to be alone.

False. It is true that we are very comfortable simply with our own thoughts. We like to think a lot. We daydream a lot. But we can also get very lonely if we don't have anyone to share our thoughts and discoveries with. We crave an authentic and sincere connection with one or a few people at a time.

Myth #7: Introverts are weird.

False. Again, if I am weird, it's just because that's who I am. Nothing to do with being an introvert. We are just often individualists. We do not follow the crowd. We prefer to be valued for our novel ways of living. We like to think for ourselves, and because of that, we often challenge the norm. We absolutely do not make decisions based on what is popular or trendy. In fact, I tend to get turned off a little bit if something is made super popular. If I do something, or wear something, it's because I have decided that is what I like. Purely based off my opinion.

Myth #8: Introverts are aloof nerds.

False. Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to our thoughts and emotions. We are not incapable of paying attention to what is going on around us. Sometimes our inner world is just so much more stimulating and interesting to us. This also could explain how I can evaluate my emotions so well...I take so much time to look in on myself that I can look at a situation from several different angles. This could also explain why I have such a hard time paying attention in class....

Myth #9: Introverts don't know how to relax and have fun.

False. We just typically relax much better at home or in nature, and not in a busy, public setting. If there is too much talking and noise going on, we shut down. For me, I know that when I'm in a super loud, crazy setting, I'm fine to just sit and watch people. And now this is the part where Jerry Brito says something scientific about how introverts and extroverts have different neuro-pathways...I'm not really sure what it meant. So that's all I'm going to say on the matter....

Myth #10: Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

FALSE. There is nothing to fix. We deserve some respect for our natural temperament and contributions. In fact, there was apparently a study that showed that the percentage of introverts increases with IQ. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Only don't really smoke anything.

Because I don't believe in drugs.

So that is who I am!

I hope this gave a little insight to some of you.

If not.........well, at least it was fun to write about it.

And as this proved, I don't really need anyone's approval.

I just hope to open some people's eyes.

Welcome to my life :)

Candles and Fireworks

So my birthday was a few weeks ago, on July 2nd, and I finally turned the big 21!!!

Exciting, eh?

Sure.

I'm used to not having a birthday, since it's so close to the 4th, and my mom would just say "well, all the family will be here on the 4th, so we'll just celebrate it then!"

Unfortunately, Independence Day will now always be viewed in my eyes as the ultimate ADD celebration.

Meaning my birthday pretty much got skipped over every year.

I think my scars are finally starting to heal.

No worries.

And even though turning 21 is supposed to be kind of a big deal, I didn't really think too much about it.

Therefore, not much happened.

A few friends and I did go to the new water park they built here in Rexburg.........

That is a "Birthday Girl" pin that my roommate made me wear all day.

As you can see, I resisted immensely.

So the water park was slightly small, but it was still a pretty good time!

We stayed for about 4 hours.

And I got the nastiest burn ever.

Lasted for quite a while.

I couldn't sleep for about a week.

And I'm still peeling to this day.

Worth it?

Sure :)

So that was pretty much my birthday...

OH!

I did get a free Jamba Juice because it was my birthday.

But don't try ripping them off for a freebie by telling them it's your bday...

I did have to show them my driver's license as proof.

Anyways.

Then we just watched Whip It at my apartment.

Pretty good fun for a birthday I suppose :)

Then there was the 4th of July!!

I was planning on just staying in Rexburg for the weekend, just because I figured not very many people in my family were going to be in Burley, so I might as well hang out with all of my friends.

But then Monday morning came around and I got suuuuuuuuuper homesick for the Fourth of July in Burley.

Because there is NOTHING better than celebrating the 4th in Burley.

So around 1:00 I just up and drove home!

It was definitely worth it.

Even though I missed out on the parade, Mexican food, and playing on the river.

I was there to hang out with the family that was there.

And eat hot dogs.

And watch fireworks.

I honestly can't think of much else I'd rather be doing than spending time in Burley on the Fourth of July.

It is the best thing in the whole wide world.

And I love a lot of things.

So saying this really means something.

Sooo......Happy Independence Day, everyone!!

Now I know that next year,

regardless of anything,

I am going home to Burley for the 4th of July.

Cat or Mouse?

I bought this little cat statue as part of a gag gift for my Mom's 50th birthday. Well, I had a bunch of stuff in a tupperware container, and as I was opening it, I looked down and saw this statue in there. And I screamed. I honestly thought it was a mouse. I have quite the history with mice. I reeeeaaaaaally hate them, and I am now terrified of them. So...I look at this cat, and it doesn't look anything like a mouse. But it still managed to scare the crap out of me. Go figure. My friend caught me in the midst of my scare and made fun of me for the rest of the night. I guess it was pretty funny :)

Lilacs and Summer

Lilacs are a big part of my life.

We used to have a big lilac bush in front of my house.

Then it got torn out due to a miscommunication :(

They have always been my favorite flower, mostly because of how they smell.

I have a temperamental nose, and I usually can't smell stuff very well.

But I can smell lilacs before anyone.

I have been smelling them all over the place.

And I can't help being happy the very second I smell them :)

Lilacs are the epitome of my summer.

I am happy.

I had a dream...

So I had a dream last night.

I was in a place that looked like a mixture between roo

m 101 in the Kirkham, and a church building.

But it was actually a jewelry store.

And one of my former photography teachers was a salesman there.

Weird.

Random.

(So I thought...my roommate just informed me that that teacher actually used to sell wedding jewelry...freaky)

The kicker is that I was there looking for an engagement ring.

Even though I'm 100% single.

Nope. Not even in my dream was I engaged or even dating someone.

But it was still fun to shop around in this strange dreamland :)

These are some pictures that are as close to what I can possibly think of what a few of the rings in my dream looked like.

Except for a couple of them...which had some kind of fabric surrounding them, which covered my entire hand/arm.

Don't worry....I didn't even like those ones in my dream state.

Thank heavens I have some kind of sense while I'm sleeping....

Before you even ask, I don't really know if these are anything like what I would want when I do get engaged someday.

It was just a dream.

And I felt like blogging today....and my dreams are about as exciting as anything else in my life.

Especially since I rarely remember my dreams.

So just laugh with me and enjoy feasting your eyes on these shiny pictures :)

-New Car Smell-

I bought a car!

I feel very responsible now.

And like I'm on my way to being a real adult.

Weird.

Anywho.

The car I have been driving (which is really my parents) died.

Just stopped working.

It was some technical problem under the hood.

Which means I have no idea what was wrong with it.

So my car was stranded in Idaho Falls, and I had gone home for the weekend.

So me and my dad went on a rescue mission to get it.

I could swear he was looking at me with the eyes of one who's been betrayed.

I felt so evil just strapping him down to the trailer like that.

Poor little Rico :(

And this is the last time I've seen him.

And then just a couple short days later...I bought my new car.

Okay, so it's mostly just new to me.

She was first bought by my brother off of Ebay.

Then my sister bought it from him.

And now I just bought it from my sister.

So it's a used car.

But it's been used well.

I named her Lokelani.

Because I have a Hawaiian lei hanging from the rearview mirror.

And she's bright red.

So we figured she could pass for Hawaiian.

What do you think?

Note: It's now 2012, and I decided Lokelani just wasn't sticking....so instead I named him Louie.

Suddenly I don't feel quite as horrible about leaving my old car...

Dancing My Way Through the Lone Star State

Disclaimer: This isn't necessarily the most interesting post. Mostly just informative. So if you want to know a little bit about how my dance tour went, then this is the place to go. But maybe go watch a sitcom afterward or something, if you want to be entertained. That's all. Happy reading.

- Sunday April 10 -

We met at the Kirkham at 6:00 am...waayyy too early to be meeting on a Sunday morning. But, we had to get going. Too bad our tour manager was an hour late...we didn't pull out until 7:15. But....we still had to drive all day either way. The best part of the day was lunch...when we stopped I went with a bunch of people to In 'n' Out :) And later, for dinner, we were stopped in Cortez, CO where they took us to this restaurant called Tequila (on a Sunday, I know!). Such good, legitimate Mexican food! And after a total of driving for about 12 hours, we made it to Durango, CO, where we stayed in a gorgeous hotel! They even gave us huge, fresh, warm, chocolate chip cookies :)

- Monday April 11 -

Today was just another day full of driving....for 12 hours. Again. We got a little stir crazy today. Started playing games (like trying to balance in the aisle while the bus was moving, without touching anything), running around outside anytime we stopped somewhere. We also watched a bunch of movies, some of which included The Princess Bride, Tron (I mostly slept/read through that one...it was hard to watch on the bus), and Penelope. Everyone told me I looked like the girl from Penelope after watching that. (It wasn't until after I acted all offended that they said I look like her after she doesn't have a pig nose anymore...) So we finally made it to our destination...at 10:30. We were supposed to be there in time for the single's ward FHE. Oops. At least they still fed us though! Our first taste of Texas BBQ......

They sent us to our homestays, and as I was laying in bed, I realized that I hadn't gotten rid of my "bus legs" yet. As in, I still felt like I moving around like I did on the bus.....

- Tuesday April 12 -

Our homestay fed us waffles and sausage....it was 100% delicious! Then, we got to the stake center, where we got on the bus, and they took us to WalMart...for about an hour and a half. I'm still not really sure why that happened. Anyway, then they took us the the Petroleum Museum. It was...pretty interesting. We got a few good pictures though. After that, they were going to take us to see George Bush's childhood home, but it was too full. So instead, we went to this random little shop full of purses, jewelry, and hats. I got a way cute, bright pink purse :) I wasn't too sad about not being able to go to the Bush home...

Then we got to the high school where we would be performing that night. We performed in their dusty, dusty gym...it was a good experience :) So we got back to our homestay, and when I took a shower....I was sure I was either going to be either raped or murdered. I had to go through these tiny hallways, down a narrow staircase, and into this obscure corner of the house...and it was this sort of trashy bathroom, with no lock, and with a gaping hole in the ceiling. And the water only came out in a drizzle...never had I wanted to get out of the shower so fast, and it took a good 5 minutes to just get my hair wet....so horrible.

- Wednesday April 13 -

So after driving a couple of hours to our next stop, we stopped at the Stake Center where we tied quilts for the victims of the hurricane in Japan. Then we just ate our lunches while sitting on the gym floor there. It was pretty chill, which was nice. Then we went to a dance studio there, and taught two workshops: one contemporary, and one swing. I decided I didn't want to dress down, so I did the swing workshop. There were probably about half of us in there...and there was only one couple who showed up to take the workshop. But it was still suuuper fun! And then we went to our venue....it was at a bowling alley. We were performing in this tiny, tiny little conference room they had. We did cut out two of our numbers, but we still had a lot of numbers that had all of us in them. It was really close quarters...I got punched in the face. Twice. I definitely got a bloody lip. And then I got knocked over during a cartwheel. It's a good thing I wasn't upset about the situation :) I think I was laughing the whole night...

After the show we went to our homestay's and one of their little kids (Brent) did some breakdancing for us! It was adorable!

- Thursday April 14 -

We drove for a couple of hours today to get to San Angelo, where they set us loose for about an hour and a half! There were some cute vintage shops that I went to for a minute, and then some of us went back to the venue and ate lunch. Then they took us to Fort Concho so we could do a couple of hours of service...we split up into groups and did some different things. One group was picking up trash outside (mind you, it was suuuper hot outside...), and my group got to muck out some horse stalls....super great. We got super gross. And there was no way we could shower before the show. Someone didn't think that one through. But it made for some great memories :) So, after that we went to the San Angelo Civic Ballet studio where we took a modern workshop for an hour. It was actually really fun! I thought I'd be way too tired to enjoy it, but it was nice to be able to dance just for dance's sake. Then we went back, ate some more BBQ, and performed. Our venue was soo cool! It was an outdoor theater, right in front of a river! And there was no back wall on the theater, so nature was our background :) It made crossovers a little difficult...we had to duck all the way across, but it felt really nice to perform outside with a slight breeze.

And then we went to our homestays....oh my heavens....I had the hardest time getting that stinkin' shower to work!! I got in there, and the knobs were all broken, but there was a pair of pliers sitting there, so I was trying to get it to turn on...I finally did, but I managed to get the cold handle stuck on "off". But I was sooooo desperate for a shower after this day, so I took ascalding hot shower. Then after a little bit it turned lukewarm. Then frigid. Of course. I almost started crying. But then I decided...I had been needing this shower, and I really wanted to shave, so I was going to! Even if it was freezing cold! So I did. I was pretty proud of myself :) Then when I went to turn it off, I accidentally switched it to the tub faucet, and when the water came out, it looked like blood!! Freaked me out...I know it was just rust, but my shower experiences haven't been so grand so far on this tour, so I couldn't help my reaction...

- Friday April 15 -

So, apparently someone had told our homestays that they could take us to the stake center anywhere from 7-8...so ours took us at 7:30. The bus didn't get there until 8:00. The church was closed. It was cold outside. Oh the things we put up with. But, when we got to our next stop, we had 3 1/2 hours before we could even get into the venue, so they took us to the mall where we went to a movie! Most of us went to Hanna...crazy, crazy movie!! I enjoyed it. Then we made it to our venue...it was a nice auditorium! So nice after our last couple of venues :) The performance was fine...I got to do my solo tonight, so that was fun! Our homestay's house was soooo nice! Although, my bad luck continued here....I managed to step on one of my performance earrings. It went into my foot pretty deep...I had to pull it out, and then my foot started bleeding. Yup...it hurt. Makes for a good story though, eh?

- Saturday April 16 -

We had a 30 minute drive to just get to the stake center this morning...but it was abeautiful drive! We're getting into the gorgeous part of Texas...I'm really starting to like it here! Once we got to the church, we had a little "morning-side" for the youth. It was kind of a "they ask a question and one of us volunteers to answer it" kind of thing. It went pretty well though. Once it was over, we drove a couple of hours to get to the botanical gardens in Zilker Park. It was pretty. Then they took us to the Texas State Capitol. It was here that I went from being 95% sure to being 100% sure that Texas is the most conceited state ever. But it was still pretty cool to look around the capitol. Did you know that their capitol is 14 feet taller than the nation's capitol? I didn't. But they made sure we knew.

Our next stop was the Dell's Children Medical Center, where we did a lecture demonstration for some of the kids there, then we handed out toys and treats for them. It was heartbreaking...I talked to one little 5 year old boy who was in a wheelchair. I asked him what he likes to do, and he responded with "go home". I almost cried. Then there was this tiny little 5 year old girl (she looked like she couldn't be any older than 2!) named Isabella. She was cute, and we were having fun, but then her mom said she needed to go, because it was time for her treatment, and she started crying and freaking out...I felt sooo bad! Little kids should not have to go through that kind of stuff :(

Then we went to the stake center where they fed us...and they decorated the crap out of that place! Totally Easter-fied. They even had an Easter egg hunt set up for us! Sooo many treats, sooo many toys...I got a Pez dispenser :)

Then after the show, we took off with our homestays. Let me just say that....my weekend homestay was easily the best homestay I've ever had! I loved them! They had a beautifulhome!! We got to sleep up in the loft...the view was great, the beds were cozy...it was nice :) I absolutely LOVE Austin, TX!

- Sunday April 17 -

This was such a wonderful, needed Sabbath day. First of all, the bed wassooooo comfortable!! It was this huge, king-sized bed that I was sharing with Laurin. We got to sleep in until about 9:00, which was way nice. We left for church, and had to pick up a neighbor of our homestays. She was a character...she was suuuper pregnant, has epilepsy, and the way she talked made it sound like she might not live through the pregnancy! Then our homestay was telling us about her life after church...it's so crazy. I can't even remember details, but I just felt bad for her. Church was good...there were a few other DA members in that ward with us. After church, they made us a legitimate Italian spaghetti. He's Italian. It was delicious. I was stuffed. Then we took a 2 hour nap...she came up to make sure we knew what time it was. Haha, oops...but then she made us some chips and queso, and we just ate it UP! And then we ate some more Blue Bell ice cream (that's a famous brand there...like the Tillamook of Texas). Loved it! Anyway.....Tina and Tony (our homestays) were so incredible. They were the cutest older couple ever...you could just tell that they were best friends. I was so sad to leave!

- Monday April 18 -

So, we got on the bus at 7:00 this morning, where the Austin coordinators gave us even more treats...including a Texas-shaped cookie. Everything there is shaped like their state. Slightly ridiculous. Yet highly entertaining. Then we drove to Brenham where we went to the Blue Bell ice cream factory. 'Twas fun and delicious. Then we went on to Houston, where they took us to NASA. It was pretty cool...it wasn't what I expected...it was just a museum. Which was still neat, but I guess I was just thinking I would see where they launch the shuttles and stuff. Which is kind of ridiculous, now that I think about it. Welp. We got some good pictures out of it! Also....we are now in the humid part of Texas. It wasn't unbearably hot yet, so I actually kind of liked it!

Anyway, after NASA we went on to Galveston! This was a section of Texas that got hit pretty hard by Hurricane Katrina, and where some of the oil spillage was. So anyway, since it was our day off, we got to stay in a hotel, so they checked us into our rooms, and then we went out to the beach to have lunch and to swim. I finally got to swim at a real beach!! I've been to beaches before, but never swam....I LOVED it!! I would go to the beach all the time if I could :) Anyway...then after the beach, after we got all cleaned up and everything, a bunch of us walked around downtown to find a place to eat some food, so that was fun. It was super windy, but it was still pretty darn warm! It was a long--but really fun--day.

- Tuesday April 19 -

Breakfast today was at McDonalds. Brother Hillier took our orders, and got everything for us. It was alright. I love their hashbrowns! So then we went off to the Houston temple! Such beautiful grounds! We went and did baptisms (or those who were endowed did a session). It was really neat, because my grandparents had mailed me 15 family names that needed done, so a couple of us got to do those. It was a really neat experience. After the temple they took us to a mall for lunch and a bit of shopping. Let me just say that.....I love Forever 21. Then they took us to the venue, where we set everything up, then went to the stake center where we did an uber short fireside (very similar to the morning-side we did earlier), ate some tasty Mexican food, then went back and performed. My homestay tonight was the Stake President...I got my own bedroom and bathroom! It was nice to have a little bit of solitude for a night.

- Wednesday April 20 -

Our homestay made us french toast today. With real fruit, powdered sugar, and syrup. 

And there was bacon. Oh heavens how I love breakfast. Our drive today was 5 hours, to get to the University of Northern Texas. Our show today was shared with a bunch of 

other dancers. I'm not sure if they were schools, or studios, or what...but it was bound to be neat. We were the special guest artists, so that's pretty cool! Anyway, after laying the marley floor we went to a school for people with special needs, and did a little 

performance for them, just doing a few of our numbers for them. Then we went to the 

stake center, had some more BBQ, and went back to the venue. We only performed our 

hip hop, ballet, and cajun numbers, so it was nice to have a more relaxed show! Then we went to our homestays....I stayed on a ranch!! It was a huge place! We got to have this whole huge apartment to ourselves while the family went back to their house, which was just a couple minutes away. We went exploring for a while :) I even to to pet one of their horses! It was fun...until it was time for bed. Then it was a tiny bit frightening. But, I 

did still sleep pretty good. How could I not?

- Thursday April 21 -

We had to be at the stake center at 5:45 this morning...yup, pretty horrible. We did 
another morning-side, and we sang our musical number. We sang I Feel My Savior's 
Love, and I got to perform my first ever vocal solo! I really enjoyed it! I think I forget 
how much I absolutely love to sing, because I'm just always dancing. Anyway, then they fed us breakfast, and we got back on the bus for another 5 hours. We got to Gilmer, set 
our stuff up at the Civic Center there, then they took us to an old folks home, where a 
few couples performed our swing number, we sang I am a Child of God, and then we 
just mingled with the residents there. Then they took us to the stake center for dinner...
and guess what? No BBQ! They had soups and sandwiches for us! I was soo happy. 
They also had pie and ice cream, so they could make pie shakes for us! They were so 
great :) Then we performed...then went to our homestays. Our homestay made us these 
yummy smoothies, which was super nice and refreshing. Also, it felt like my bed had 
plastic over the mattress...like it was the resident of a frequent bed wetter or something. Odd.

- Friday April 22 -

Our homestay today made us biscuits and gravy, along with bacon and eggs...why do they have such great breakfasts in Texas?! Love it :) Then when they got us to the stake center, our homestay gave us a bag filled with a bunch of mini snickers, gum, and a signed Texas flag!! So funny, yet adorable of her. Then we got to our final venue of tour! We met with the Longview Dance Team (they're a ballroom team), and watched them rehearse a few of their numbers after we laid the marley. It was pretty fun :) I think they're mostly (if not all) high school students. Also, this was the place that they said had asbestos...but they also said it wasn't bad enough to be concerned about. But then they said we probably shouldn't walk around barefoot if we could help it. Which is weird, since I'm pretty positive asbestos is an airborne kind of thing. Anyway, we had quite a bit of time to just hang out, and we sat outside in the sunny warmth. It was quite blissful.

Then we had a matinee show, where we just did about half of the show, combined with the dances from the other team. Then we ate dinner, and then we were called into the auditorium...there were a few members of our team who put together a spoof, I guess you could call it, of all of our dances put together. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen!! Then our show was about to start, and the Longview dancers did all of their numbers as a sort of preshow for us, then we performed our show for the very last time! It was a really good show.

Funny story time: I got to do my solo tonight, and I have a super fast change to get into my costume. Well, once the lights go off on stage, it's pitch black in the wings, which normally is manageable, but I couldn't find my chair! So finally my friend Shanae found it and handed it to me and I went on stage and started dancing. It wasn't until probably 30 seconds into it that I discovered that it was this nasty, tan, beaten up folding chair that wasn't even ours! It definitely threw me off for a second, but it was mostly just really funny...

The rest of the show practically went without a glitch. Then I started bawling during the second to last piece while I was watching it, and I just couldn't pull myself together. During the whole closer I was just sobbing. I wasn't even sure why...it wasn't because I was sad. But it was just happening. So after the show, and after everyone was done crying, we finally put all the costumes away, and took off with our homestays.

- Saturday April 23 -

This is the day we got to go home!! We had to meet at the stake center at 5:30, so we 
could make it to the airport in time. Because guess what, people? I got to fly for the first 
time!! This was a really big deal! And everyone made sure I remembered how exciting it was :) We sat in the Dallas airport for a while, just chilling, looking around the airport, 
listening to Elizabeth and Katie play the ukelele. Then finally....we got to board the 
airplane! Everyone was so excited for me :) Once we were seated (yes, I did get a 
window seat :) even if it was right next to the wing...), everyone kept looking back at me to see my reactions to the plane. It was really funny because I was toward the back of 
the plane, so I would see all these faces just turn around and look at me. I felt really bad for this one guy who was stuck in the middle of all of us...he looked super annoyed. But especially once we started taking off....I almost had a hard time knowing how to react, 
just because everyone was expecting some sort of amazing reaction from me, hahaha. 

But I really did enjoy flying!! I really love it, actually! I want to fly all the time :) So, it was a 2-3 hour flight, and I just read Harry Potter/slept the whole time. When I wasn't 
just staring out of the window, that is. Haha. But then we finally landed (and again...I got a bunch of stares) in SLC, and we got on another charter bus to take us back up to 
Rexburg. There were quite a few people who took off from the SLC airport though, and 
there wan't any equipment on this bus from our tour, so there was a bunch more room, 
and I got a whole two seats to myself. So I managed to take a real nap! And the next 
thing I knew, I was back in Rexbug, back in my apartment! This was a much different tour from the one I went on last year, and honestly it was a little bit harder for me for some reason, but it was still such a great experience! I have thoroughly enjoyed this year on 
DA, and have fallen in love with eastern Texas.

This is the earring that pierced my foot

This is Kevin and Nate

They are great

This was the outdoor theater next to a river

Our incredible bowling alley venue

That one time I got a bloody lip from getting punched in the face.

Twice.

Jesse and me dancing together at the swing workshop

Showing off all the items made with petroleum

At the Petroleum Museum

Who knew I had an ancestor who was in the oil biz?

Just posing...at the Petroleum Museum

Starting off tour while we're still fresh and rested

The view from my hotel room at Galveston

WE'RE AT THE BEACH!!!!

Cleaning out a horse stall at Fort Concho

Taking a break from cleaning to play on the wagon

We are angelic

Tying quilts for the Japanese hurricane vicitims

Kevin, me, and Bethani

Hiding from the asbestos...

Oh Texas....

I LOVE SUNSHINE!!!!

I don't have any costumes left!! The show's over!! :(

Chilling in the airport...playing the ukelele

My first ever plane ticket!

Walking down the tunnel into the plane

Look how excited everyone is for me to fly on this plane :)