Crouching Tiger, Hidden Rachel

Okay, first of all, you guys are awesome....I've never had so many comments in one day on my blog! Thanks for making me feel special. :)

Now, if you'll indulge me for just a moment, I'm feeling the need to brag...but just a little. I am taking a kickboxing class this semester -- both to fill my schedule so I can get more financial aid, and to aid myself in my skinny-and-sexy goal. This class is not what I thought it'd be. I was expecting a Tae Bo-imitation with a perky instructor, like the classes I'd taken at the gym with friends. I almost dropped the class when my teacher, a jiu jitsu champion, said we'd be sparring with each other. What? I have to buy shin guards, a mouth guard, and boxing gloves? This is hard-core, and I really don't want to lay the smack-down on any of the cute little girlies in my class. I'm sticking with it, though, and I think I'll be glad.

Today was something of a triumph for me. We were learning some new sparring techniques that were a little tricky. When I fight, I feel absolutely ridiculous. I giggle incessantly with a silly grin on my face, even when I'm really going at it. So, I was surprised when the girls in my class kept asking me for help...my teacher even used me as an example for the class. Woah, maybe I'm gonna be all right. Maybe Clint Eastwood will make a movie about me. I'll be doing flying-double-twist-jump-roundhouse kicks by the end of the semester.

Move over, Jackie Chan...I'm the next martial arts master.

A Quick Update

School is once again off to a running start. I think if it wasn't my last semester, I might be losing it already, but somehow I am managing the insanity with a fairly cool head. At this moment, I am bundled up in bed with my lappy (affectionately known as "Hugh"), enjoying a reprieve from the madness and missing my sister...

Andrea dearest came down last week in great hope of finding a job here. We've been hoping for her to move to Utah for months; a hope spurred by the apparently lousy job market in Boise and a desperate need to play Pinochle. Unfortunately, nothing has panned out thus far. She was offered a job in Boise today, which she accepted. I'm happy for her; she's been searching fruitlessly for employment since her graduation in April....still, I'm secretly wishing that some Utah company will offer her a fantastic position, and she'll dump her lousy Boise boss and come play with me. Now, I normally wouldn't condone that kind of irresponsibility, but after last week's Tai Pan trips and Sister Movie Date Nights, I've remembered what I'm missing...I am in despair.

Fortunately, I've got a lot right now to distract me from my woes. My national board exams are quickly approaching, and I am stressed out. When I haven't felt like studying (which has been most of the time), I've busied myself cleaning and reorganizing my entire apartment to make room for our new addition...yes, that's right. We bought a couch; a couch and a love seat, actually (what did you think I was going to say?). They are used and slightly worn, but they're leather and infinitely prettier than our previous scruffy-hide-a-bed-and-crumpled-slipcovers look. Yay for new-old furniture and awesome KSL bargains!

Miss Me?

Hello again, from the world's boringest blogger. I swear I've become just a blob lately as, Christmas presents aside, I've failed to exert an ounce of effort towards anything productive. It's been really nice, though. I spent the last two weeks working in Ogden, setting up hundreds and hundreds of mortgage files for the credit union. The work was a little monotonous, but I enjoyed the mindlessness of it. Plus, we got to stay with my in-laws for nearly the entire Christmas break, which made it really feel like a vacation. We played games every night and ate all kinds of rubbish. Whitney and I discovered our true calling in life: rock stars. Well, guitar heroes, actually...we really tore it up on the Wii. Pretty impressive for two girls who don't like video games. I also enjoyed whipping up some sweet Rachelpologies for Christmas, like the jacket I made for Andrea:




And now I'm back to school. Blah.