No date in '08? Go online in '09!

Roses are red, violets are blue, online dating is sweet and so are you. Millions of singles around the world are finding love through the Internet.

Embarrassed to meet that special person online? Don’t be! Online dating has evolved and moved into the mainstream. Type in online dating in Google and at least 38,800,000 pages will come up.

Even though there is only a fifty-fifty chance of marriage succeeding, 90% of Americans still choose to marry at least once in their lives. As relationship expert Franklin P. Jones said, “love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” Will Head, author of Joyfully Single, states, “It is the hope of sharing joy with someone you love that continues to encourage us to take our shot at achieving marital bliss.” Married couples are also healthier and live longer. They are generally more content and satisfied with their overall quality of life.

So how can one find success and their potential soul mate online? Don’t be afraid to be the first to contact someone. That is what’s great about online dating; you can break out of that shell. Be silly, flirty, who cares? It’s not like they know you. The meeting is all up to you. However, don’t try to be someone you’re not.

Kevin Kroger, employee for LDS Singles.com, who has a B.S and MBA in psychology from BYU shares that, “Honesty is the best policy. Don’t be fooled thinking telling fibs will impress that special person enough to get a relationship started…It will turn them off!”

Lastly be smart. Even if you feel comfortable and have developed a relationship online, when meeting for the first time be safe. Meet in public and make sure to tell friends where you’re going. Don’t be afraid of offending your date. If meeting in public bothers them maybe they have something to hide. If all goes well, you can always meet again.

Good luck and have fun!

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Work

I do a lot of random things for work. I work full time at newly called UVU in the Testing Dept. My title is Testing Supervisor. Ring a Ding Ding. But what does that mean? Well I manage the student employees in the New Student Assessment Area, and the Proctor Exam Center, (I have met a lot of fun student employees through the years). I help in training, scheduling, discipline etc.

Another aspect of my job is I administer tests such as the GED, ACT-R, Police Officers Selection test, CAAP, remote compass testing, and a bunch of other tests. There is a whole world out there of tests I bet you didn't know about:) Exciting? Well I'll let you be the judge. I also order supplies for the office, count money, do billing.

Job number two consists of National Testing. ACT, SAT, Praxis, LSAT, ASE, MPRE to name a few. A couple times a month I adminster these delightful tests.

Last but not least I work at Quisnos. I pretty much decided to work there because the food is yummetron and you get a 50% discount when you work there. Also I wanted to fill up otherwise lonely nights. I work there a few nights a week with teenagers, pregnant unwed gals, druggies what have you. It was fun while it lasted. But I recently turned in my 2 week. 70 Hour work weeks occasionally!! Enough is enough. Plus recently my social calendar has been climbing. Wahoo!!!

Come One Come all to Provo's Art Gallery Stroll

Do you like free food, art and funky people? Then today is your lucky day!! Provo has started up their own art gallery stroll. YEAH, it's about time!!! It's right on University Parkway in the coal umbrella, sego art gallery etc. I have been to the Salt Lake art gallery stroll and have loved it. I'm excited to see that Provo has one too. It's usually held the first Friday of each month from 6-9.

Each store has an artist's work displayed. I was very impressed at the diversity and caliber of the art. One artist had a mobile made out of dyed tampons? Strange but true. Another bonus is you get to meet the artist. I must say Provo's got a lot of talent. With BYU and UVU close there are a ton of amazing artist majors.

It's fun to meet new people and eat yummy treats. Yes there is free food. This last Friday there were Mocktails, Hot coco, Cookies, Pumpkin Pie, crepes. The list goes on and on. If you love to people watch as much as I do then come on down, grab a mocktail, take a seat on a vintage couch and watch away.

Life

I just watched the movie Ghost Town.  It was pretty good.  Had the same feeling of, As good as it gets.  It made me think about one thing a lot.  You can spend your life thinking about yourself and being alone, or you can spend it helping and being with others.  Personally I have been the happiest in my life when I have been with others.  Sure being alone is nice every once in awhile. But who really is happy being alone?  If you think you are happy you're fooling yourself.  

I love people and the quirks and wonder of them.  The more people I can meet in my life the better off I am.  I feel lucky to be this way.  Also I have learned so much through those I have known.  They have helped shape me to be who I am today.  Even the hard relationships made me more understanding, appreciating and loving. 

A few years ago Erin and I were talking about all the people on this earth.  You only get to meet such a small amount of them.   Isn't that crazy to think about?  How many people on this earth will you never even meet.  We all go about our lives feeling like we are the most important and our worries and cares are the most important.

Proposition 8

Nationally acclaimed pastor Rick Warren announced his support in favor of Proposition 8, California's Protect Marriage Act.

Proposition 8 will restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.  

Warren, founder and senior pastor of saddleback church is considered one of the most respected and influential pastors in America, and his support of Proposition 8 is unequivocal.  

"There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population," Warren wrote.  

Click here for the protect marriage page

Life Goals

• Be happily married to the man of my dreams.
• Have children and be an awesome mom
• Keep God in my life
• Graduate from college
• Be thin- Keep weight off
• Be athletic
• Open my own business- Mandy's Hamper anyone
• Figure out who I am politically
• Have a photography gallery
• Get out of debt
• Travel the world
• Have life long friendships
• Tour in a band
• Be kind to others
• Develop charity
• Drive across the country
• Live in another country
• Learn another language
• Be a good daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother and friend.
• Learn to actually do my hair
• Stop drinking soda
• Be a Narwhale expert, and go on a Narwhale exhibition
• Stop taking myself so seriously
• Learn about my ancestors
• Never stop laughing

Mr. Fish

Once upon a time there was this Fish named Mr. Fish. He lived in a pond in the heart of St. Louis. He loved to be among his friends and feel the slithery warmth of their bodies. But he longed to see the world.

One day there was this human girl with purple cat eye glasses that looked at him for a long while. She smiled at him and he felt this burst of electricity. He new that she was the one to set him free. He asked her, "What is your name?" She looked at him turned white and fainted.

After a long while she came around and he asked again, "What is your name?" She looked at him in wonder and said, "You can talk? This is wonderful my name is Mandy." He was so happy that a human responded so well. This was the first time he had ever spoke to a human. He then asked, "can I go with you?" Mandy opened up her pocket and said, "hop on in."

Communication

You know what is crazy about communication? Well 70% of it is non-verbal. With cell phones, texting, and computers we only use 30% of good old communication. I think with texting you only use like 5%. Crazy isn't it. I once had a texting relationship with this guy for a few weeks. We texted constantly. I felt like we had a real connection and was excited to meet. Once we finally met I had no interest in him. We had no connection nothing really.

I know that texting can be easier at times to say something hard but remember that it is not really communicating. I have noticed that meanings can be misunderstood and lets face it IT'S JUST PLAIN OLD LAZY!!! Our generation is so spoiled. Don't get me wrong I think texting is great but try to have serious conversations at least on the phone or in person as much as you can. You can tell so much with body language, facial expressions etc. As technology gets more and more advanced don't forget good old face to face communication. It's amazing what can come from it.

Love is all you need

Have you ever noticed that almost every song there is has a love theme? This past week I noticed. Sometimes it can make you want to float in the air, or drown in the water.

Love is such a big deal. It's what makes life worth living. Many look for it their whole life. Hollywood really plays with our mind considering love. It seems so easy and no work is required. However there are so many facets to love. Love takes patience and putting others before yourself. It is more then just a feeling it takes hard work. True love takes a lifetime to master. Selfish people have a hard time ever really experiencing true love.

New love is wonderful but can quickly become old. You have to be careful to be realistic in love which for the most part is impossible. But still must be acheived.

Sometimes love is only felt one way. That can be the hardest when someone you love doesn't or can't love back. But you must never give up on love. It is out there.

Big Decisions

I have a friend who is going through a messy divorce. Lawyers, kids the whole shebang. So much pain and stress. It makes me think back to my divorce a few years ago. I was so lucky to have it end so easily. The whole thing took only 2 weeks and cost under a $100.00. Easy divorce online made the process take less than an hour. Enough time has passed that mostly I don't even feel like I was ever married to a crazy Hungarian, rather like a had a bad dream.

Life has taught me that Marriage can be a gamble a lot of the time. You never know what life will be like with that person 20 years down the road. I know some people are happily married and I say good for them. I hope to find that someday. My question is how can you really know who a person is? People can pretend to be a caring compassionate person and turn out to be a creep. I guess one thing you can do is give it time. Don't rush into a marriage like you are in a race. Take time to know the person. Go on a trip. Do random things together. One big thing I always do is imagine what would it be like living with this person. I have to be careful though because when I do this I often get scared and end the relationship. You must somehow find the balance and make the right decision.

The joys of Landlord Ship

This is a photo from a photo shoot with my awesome roomate Diantha. Amazing. I love her so much.

It was bound to happen I had my first conflict to deal with a tenant/roomate. My roomate Melissa told me the other night "I'm moving out". No pre-warning just put it right out there. I was shocked, and actually asked her a few times to make sure she wasn't joking. She definantly was not joking. She had signed a year contract so she had to find a replacement. Luckily I posted the condo up the next day and had her contract sold the next day. It was amazing to see how in demand the condos I own are. Craig's list is amazing. So what could be a terrible experience turned out okay. But I did learn a lot from the situation. That's the thing about conflict it's hard but you learn so much through it. I had a realization that I am in charge a lot in my life. I am a supervisor at work and at home. But that is what happens as an older single. Man I hope I get married someday.

So I now Have two awesome roomies. I couldn't be more pleased with them. It's nice to have non-drama roomates that are content with life.

Summer and Mandy

Terrifying isn't it!!!

Summer and Caffeine Addict

Recently I have had to come to terms that I am addicted to 2 things currently in my life. 1 is uplifting the other is a problem.

First there is Summer my little sister. The more I have her in my life the more I NEED her. She has very strong powers. I don't think I am the only addict though. Others have fallen to:) So why the addiction? First and foremost she is hilarious!! Most times I am with her I pee my pants with glee. Any time you spend with her an adventure is sure to follow. She is so good and pure like a rainbow of delight. When I say good I mean you want to be a better person when you are around her. I love her. She really does have a gift. If you don't know my sister Summer then get to know her. It's not too late. Honestly Good times lie ahead to those who know her.

On the other hand Caffeine is my vice. My roomate challenged me to give up caffeine on Sunday. Since it is so bad for you. I lasted 1 day and a half. HEhehe!! So I say to the cosmos HELP!!! I don't like needing something to feel alive.

Pushy People

I don't like pushy people!! Those who feel like they own the world. I wish we could gather them up and send them to an island.

"Oh I'm trying to love technology always and forever always and forever"

For my Mass media class I have to write on a blog once a week. I have been meaning to create a blog for awhile now so I'm glad to get a push to get on it. In the last few months I have embraced so much technology it's a miracle. I got a macbook, my first ipod (an ipod touch). I still have a lot to learn but that is A okay. Soon enough I will be a pro. The other night Aaron showed me how to use picture booth on the mac so we took a ton of pictures.

Life is good living in Orem. I just bought a condo only 1 mile away from my office. I have awesome roomates that help pay for my mortgage. I feel lucky to have found them. Diantha is a third grade school teacher. Melissa is a rock star!!! I guess you could say I'm on my way to being an adult. When do you really feel like an adult though? I'll be 30 this year and in so many ways I still feel like a kid. I don't know how people my age could have kids that are 11. Maybe you never feel ready until it happens? I'm sure having a supportive husband would help.

Anyhew I'm just rambling on. Till next week I hope it's a good one for everyone.