The Ban of My Existence

I grew up with a military dad, so I moved around almost every three years while growing. That being said, you would think that I would be used to the idea of packing, well I'm not. Packing is literally the ban of my existence. 

I absolutely HATE packing. Packing is the reason that I haven't been updating this blog. I've been busy with my finals and completing the semester, and on top of that I have had the joy of packing up my belongings. 

Although I am happy to be done with my freshman year in college, I can't help but hate myself for all the junk I seem to have kept in my dorm room. Seriously, I don't remember bringing all the crap with me when I first moved in over nine months ago. Having my mother in town a few weeks ago did help because she was able to take things back home for me, but every time I think I've got it all something always decides to show itself. 

Like my stupid shoes. 

Sadly, I'm the type of person who likes to kick shoes under the bed instead of actually put them away. So obviously I thought I had sent most of my shoes back with my mother. That was not the case. You would not believe that number of shoes and socks I found underneath my bed when I was packing. I can't believe that I have fit almost everything in my suitcases and boxes.

I also hate making the decision of what to keep and what to bring. Most of the clothes I am bringing home I don't fit anymore because instead of gaining the Freshman 15, I lost the Freshman 20. And considering I spent a ton of money on clothes before Fall Semester last year, I'm pretty miffed that some of my favorite clothes are going to my mother and sister. But whatever, that means more shopping!

-JoLynne

Going Home

When I was younger, I always marveled at the people who made it past a hundred years of age, and for my entire life I always thought of one person who I personally wanted to make it to 100-years-old--my great-grandmother on my Dad's side.

My great-grandma's name is Nellie, but for my entire life I have called her Grandma Chili. We all called her Chili because when she was younger, her brother couldn't say Nellie, and instead said Chili. She has always been my coffee drinking grandma, and I always wondered about that because my family never drank coffee.

You see, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but for most of her life my Grandma Chili was not. She finally was baptized and went through the Temple at age 85. As LDS members, we believe that the Temple is God's House on the Earth, and it is a very special thing to go through.

Now my great-grandmother is 98-years-old, and her 99th birthday is on May 15th. She was born almost 100 years ago in 1915 right around the break-out of the First World War. My Grandma Chili has lived through both World Wars, the Great Depression, and every historical event since then. She remembers going around in a horse-and-buggy when she was little. She is extremely independent and sassy. I call her my Little Sassy Grandma because she is honestly four-foot-nothing.

Last Tuesday night I got a text from my mother saying that my grandmother was admitted to the hospital because of internal bleeding. In the hospital, my grandmother refused all medical treatment because "it was time to go home."

I don't want my grandmother to leave because I will miss her, but she has led a long life. Her husband died in back in 1964, and she has lasted so many years without her love. She is tired, and I have come to accept the fact that she wants to go home.

I'm really thankful for the beliefs that I have, and the knowledge that there is a life after this one, and that I will see my Grandma Chili again. I will be sad, and I will miss her, but she is going to a happier place. A place of peace and rest.

I will Love you for Forever and All Eternity Grandma. <3

-JoLynne

Group Projects

Group projects were the ban of my existence during high school. I wouldn't say I was a control freak, but I don't like to do half work. Coming to a private university, I thought that I wouldn't have to suffer through horrid group projects.

But, ce'st la vie.

My latest group project has given me a migraine for the last few weeks. First, it took my group (consisting of one other girl and one boy) over a week to decide a topic. When we finally decided on one... it took forever to figure out what to do with it. The girl, let's call her "Mary," couldn't for the life of her say her opinion. The boy, let's name him "John," couldn't stop giving his opinion.

Now, I'm a opinionated person, but I do try to listen to others before I jump in with mine. Other people... *John*.... do not listen.

I was the only person in our little trio that knew how to create a iMovie, so shouldn't it be me who decides what was and was not complicated. Every time I voiced an option, John would shoot it down claiming it was too complicated. Then, he would wonderfully bring up his ideas. They had so many special effects that it is insane. He just assumed that I knew everything.

... It was annoying.

Then, he was trying to tell me how to work a camera. And how to edit a movie.

Thankfully, this last Wednesday I finished it and showed my group. They said it was good and I could finalize it. Late Thursday night, probably around 11:30pm, I sent the link for the video, and got the following reply.

"I didn't notice this before, but the background music makes the tone of our video seem way more serious and sadder than it actually is. Is there a more uplifting background song that will match the cheesiness of the narrator better?"

Uh... excuse me? I spent hours looking for that music. I couldn't even answer him for hours because I was too stressed out about it (I have two papers to work on as well as this stupid video). I decided to meet him in the middle and replied that I would need some suggestions about what he wanted. He replied within the hour, but I didn't bother looking at the e-mail until the morning.

He changed his tone pretty quickly when I turned the tables on him.

"Actually maybe you don't need to change it, I showed [it] to someone and they didn't really notice it. Its more noticeable with headphones on. What do you think? If its too much trouble its probably not worth it. But overall the video looks great."

Sir, you said it was fine just a day before this e-mail. Oh, but it does get better. There was a second e-mail accompanying this reply. There were also some phone calls, voice mails, and texts.

"Sorry for the trouble. I was being a little too analytical. I'm sure [it] will get some laughs out of it. Go ahead and turn it in."

Now I need his permission to turn it in?

Men. I honestly don't understand them right now, and I probably never will.

Maybe I'm a little too harsh on the whole situation, but I've had three papers, two video projects, and four presentations due within these last few weeks and the coming weeks as the semester ends.

I guess I don't handle un-needed (and unwanted) stress really well.

Thoughts? Was I too harsh?

-JoLynne

A Introduction of Sorts

It seems that for the millionth time I am attempting a blog. Again. 

Truth be told (and I know that is cliche) I had one when I was tween-y way back when. My mother and aunts got caught in the blogging craze of the mid-2000s, and I got sucked in right there with them. With a ton of begging to my mother. My first blog had so many restrictions on it that I am surprised that I kept it going for over a year and a half. 

Since then I have attempted many times, and all of them have ended the same way. It complete and utter failure after just one post. But this blog will not be like the others.

I have turned over a new leaf recently, and have decided to include blogging with all the other new things I plan to do. I guess it isn't too late to start my New Year resolutions.

Among my newfound resolutions, I have discovered some new things about myself. One, I have a talent for iMovie and enjoy making videos (who knew). Two, I have an insane love for the color mint green, and that some how I want to incorporate it in my utter lack of fashion sense. And finally, three, I have discovered that I have a new insane love for balloons and balloon photography. I have always loved photography, and now I love video cameras. 

Sadly, photography/cinematography was not something I am destined for. Nor is music, even though I have an insane love for that as well. No. My lot in life is books. I have found that books is the perfect way to pick a major in college (yes I am in college), and it doesn't require me auditioning in front of a panel of old people who are extremely talented and are there only to tell me how bad I am. I actually have a teacher, she is a grad student, and I really enjoy practicing with her after my Vocal class. She thinks like I do in terms of singing and the like.

And now I have given vital information about myself. I love books, music, and photography, and more balloons and mint green. I have no fashion sense, but I love vintage things... and skeleton keys. My lovely aunt says I'm steampunk, but I wouldn't go that far. I like to make a nice blend of the two.

Funny thing about myself is that allow I love photography and cinematography, I hate being in front of the camera. Can't stand pictures of myself. Selfies are more than likely not found on my Instagram. 

I have a love for K-Pop (guilty as charged), BBC TV shows (hello to all the Whovians and Sherlockians!), Tim Burton, and ABC's Once Upon a Time. Don't even get me started on last night's episode of OUAT. I'm still recovering. 

But I think that is pretty much it. 

Until next time (and there will be a next time),

JoLynne