#4 Dear past Alex....

4. List 10 things you would tell your sixteen-year-old self.
Man oh man this is gonna be interesting....

#1. Let your inner freak flag fly!! 
Yes, some people already find you to be a little annoying and overwhelming Alex, but trust me after high school YOU DON'T SEE THEM! The amazing and fun people around you, who enjoy you being full on dork, will be the ones you talk to, even if only occasionally. 

#2 This "Trever Torgerson" thing you got goin' on.... needs to end. 
It's not going to work out. Don't waste these moments on him. It doesn't matter that people keep repeating "Don't give up he likes you!"...... He doesn't .....He will just break your heart after dragging you around for a long time. Your husband is going to be the nice boy you think Trever is. Just enjoy your friends right now and study for school.

#3 Spend more time with Kelsey. 
He has been a great friend to you, You may think that he will always be there because he is basically one of your brothers, but what he means to you now is nothing. Cherish the time with Kelsey that you can. Tell him he is important to you even though you have grown apart the older you have gotten. 

#4 Go out more.
You may feel awkward. You may think that people hate you. It doesn't matter. Your house will always be there. Stop being such a homebody and get out into the world.

#5 Hang out with the Crose Family.

In a couple years you are going to spend some of the best nights of your life hanging out with Bob, Larry and Calvin. Just go ahead and make that transition now. Koosharem isn't where you will be happy (See #2) Bryanna will be at your house a ton too so you are not going to lose her over it. Go ahead and start the laughing now. That family is amazing!

#6 It does get better.
No you are not the most depressed person in the world, and yes days are going to be hard. However, High School?? NOT the best days you will have..... NOT EVEN CLOSE! Those people who have told you otherwise, know nothing.... 

#7 Keep on Loving Art History.
Georgi is going to teach you SO much about the history of the world. She is going to inspire you to be brave enough to do many things. She may seem to prefer other students over you, but listen to her. Because of everything she teaches, you are going to spend the most incredible time in the most incredible place in the world!!!

#8 You are important. 
Stop letting yourself feel as though you do not matter. Your low self esteem comes from a lifetime of put downs, and you apparently are doing a great job hiding it. But stop feeling it altogether. You will make a difference in peoples lives one day. You are a good human being and have no idea how hypocritical those people that tell you otherwise are. 

#9 Your brothers suck.
Seriously they do.... no other way to put it. They are there to torture you for a few more years. YOU STILL LOVE THEM THOUGH. They will be fun to have when they are older, but stop taking what they say as if it is a Holy Truth. You get a lot of those self esteem problems from them. *News Flash* They lie. Your parents won't believe you either about most of it, so stop trying to find comfort through them. Just get over it all and ignore them for a few years. Their rude friends won't be around when you grow up anyway.

#10 The boy of your dreams is coming. 
You haven't had a boyfriend yet, and you won't have one at all. Your first kiss will come when you are 18. It may seem ridiculous, but kissing boys and needing that perfect one is stupid. You are going to be so happy with what happens to you later in life that it will not even matter that you can't attract their attention with a strobe light and an air horn now. Keep on with the tomboy-ness that is you. It is something that your future husband adores. 

                                             - Sincerely yours, Future Alex

#3 The Rents

# 3 Describe your relationship with your parents. I feel this needs no real intro, seeing as I'm about to start a really... long... cheesey.. ramble...

My father

      Ahh ,what can I say about my dear old dad? I have been and always will be a "Daddy's girl."  (You
don't get to be the only girl and NOT earn that title anyway right?) I love my dad. He is one of the kindest people I know who, quite frequently, gets put into situations where it is difficult to be. I look up to him in many ways, and learn many lessons from things he tells us. His advice is something I seek out even for the minor problems of life. For some reason it has been implanted into my brain that if I don't have the answer one of my parents will. I have spent many hours talking his ear off and at the same time enjoying the silence that may come as long as he is near. I learn new things about him daily now that I am an adult, and it never ceases to amaze me. He has been through things in life that may make others go crazy, but he has come out on top of it all. He IS a super hero through and through. Flaws and all.

    Some of my greatest memories are spent with my dad. To this day I still love going shopping with my parents, because my dad and I will make fun of everything in the store and spend the day laughing. He even puts up with me enough to walk silly by my side and let our legs overlap one step at a time. Anytime I think of being with my dad I think of laughing. He plays along with the silliest of jokes and has the most contagious laugh I have ever heard.

     I know that my dad does not just impact my life either. I have friends who say that a hug from him can cure almost any emotional situation you have. Getting an embrace from him seems to make you melt into his arms and you can literally feel yourself break down and melt away. I have shed many tears on some of his best shirts. He never seems to mind. Anytime I have any problem, I know that he will not judge and simply
give me the input to help in any way he can. Whether it was stupid boy problems (Glad THOSE days are over) or even just and issue with my teachers, my dad was always there to listen and give advice. He is also not afraid to tell me when I am wrong, or help me to see the other persons perspective. I do not judge others for their lives, because he has taught me that you never know what has happened to them to make them they way they are.

    I also admire the way he treats others. Being an officer makes people want to hate you while at the same time run to you in their time of need. My dad has immersed himself into this world and shows a true love for this profession. He will talk of the people in the community as if they are our family. Everyone knows him and he does his best to know everyone as well.Several people get a sense of ease if he is the one who responds to their call for help. I am very proud to be my fathers daughter.


My Mother

     Every mother and daughter go through problems that can rip them apart or bring them closer together. I think it is some sort of ritual that they must fight, especially while said daughter is in her teenage years and full of raging hormones that will make her explode into a fireball of death if not released! My mom and I have fought many battles in the house of Whittaker and neither ever came out a victor. Even still I have never hated my mom. I heard a lot of girls in high school say that they "HATED" their mom. for doing this or doing that, and even though we fought I would always say that I LOVE her. My mom is the best mom in the world. She was not "Suzy homemaker." She did not keep our rooms clean for us while serving cookies off a golden platter, but she was there to heal every wound. She was there the giggle with us and sing as loud as she could in the car. She taught me how to be silly and learn to laugh at life and its problems.

     My mom is someone who I must call almost everyday. Whether it is to ask (for the thousandth time) what is in her recipes, or even to just chat with her about teaching the kids at the school. I feel like no week is complete unless I have heard my mother voice. Her voice is one of the most soothing sounds in the world. If

I have been stressed and holding in problems for a long time, even hearing her ask," what's wrong?" will break my shell and I will cry. Crying is not a difficult thing for me though.

     I keep my mom on speed dial for many reasons, but mostly to ask her to solve life's problem for me. If someone asks me a questions and I don't know the answer 9 times out of 10 I'm calling mom. Like I said, it's implanted in my brain that my parents know more than Google. If they don't have the answer it simply doesn't exist. (Yes, that is a total exaggeration, but it gets my point across) Also medically speaking apparently I think that my mom has gone through the best medical schools in the country and spent 50 years as a doctor.  Not to mention she is a freaking MRI machine and cant find whats wrong with me with simple descriptions. I constantly call her with stupid things like," I coughed today.... it was only one little cough and I haven't done it since, but do I have cancer??" I have to be reminded that she doesn't know, and it is probably nothing anyways so stop freaking out. She is great to put up with me.




All in all, I am so very thankful for my relationship with BOTH my parents. They were actually PARENTS growing up and knew that we could be friends after I got over the selfish phase of my life (aka being a teenager) I know when the time comes for Scott and I to have kids that I will be raising them much like the way they raised me. Because let's be honest, I'm awesome. There SHOULD be more little Alex's running around the world. (conceited much there???)

   

# 2 Fears

Blog number 2 of 30 . " Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

     Man they do not want these things to be easy. I have about a million fears that I think are "legitimate." How do you only pick 3? Also, I don't like talking about fear because then I freak myself out.  Like when you start talking about having an itchy nose and suddenly you need to scratch your face. Oh well let's get on with it shall we?

#1. I am afraid of burning alive. Ok now, there is a long back story to this. I'll try to shorten it. So I am also afraid of drowning and that used to be the number one thing I told people when they asked what I was afraid of. One day someone pointed out that drowning is apparently a semi peaceful ordeal once it gets started. You eventually can't breathe and just go to sleep. BURNING to death however is one of the most painful ways to die. You get to feel that for a very long time until your insides cook. So all in all I'm afraid of an unpleasant death I suppose.... 

#2. I am afraid of someone breaking into my house. You know how in scary movies the girl wakes up in the night and goes to get a drink and there is someone standing in her kitchen. There is one commercial for a movie where the girl stands there staring at the guy for a second until it registers what's going on then she tries to run. MAN! (See I'm getting cold chills typing this) but yeah. If I wake up at night and have to go to the bathroom EVERY LIGHT is getting turned on that leads to the bathroom. I never get water at night. Luckily Scott always offers to do it for me. I will always double check the locks on the house before bed as well and the bedroom door has to be locked.

#3.  I am afraid of being helpless. There is no worse feeling than knowing there is absolutely nothing you can do to fix a problem. It makes me sick to my stomach and I will sit a bargain with myself that there has to be SOMETHING. For instance, when an event has already started and I was supposed to be at it. I will sit an think if I leave now and drive really really fast I may make it. But my loving husband has to remind me that in no way can I make a 3 hour drive in 1 hour. It just won't happen.  It's even with physical things too. Like what if a car were to fall on top of Scott and I have to pick it up to get him help. There is no one for miles and he WILL die if I can't move it. (I know there is a one in a million chance of that happening, but still)

See THESE are the things I think about. These are only a few of the things that truly freak me out. I could write a whole blog post on ONE of those fears as well. I had to stop myself from rambling today. 

    

20 random facts

    On the "30 things" Challenge #1 is (as you can tell from the subject) "List 20 random facts about yourself" I feel like I am constantly finding myself writing this post. People must know how random I really am. If they are things you know I apologize, and if at any point you feel I'm rambling.... feel free to go on and skip ahead. OK GO!! 

 # 1. I honest and truthfully believe that everyone in the world has the right to act like a little kid. Not necessarily the "being bratty" and whining to get their way stuff. More like the giggling constantly at NOTHING, or finding wonder in things that someone else thinks are insignificant, and pretty much just enjoying being alive without a reason or reminder of why we have to. I also think grumpy people have forgotten how to do these things. 

# 2. I have an obsession with audio books.... Don't get me wrong the real books are just as wonderful and I will still read, but I love to have an audio book on hand so that I can do something while "reading." It makes me feel accomplished or... something.

# 3. People constantly tell me that I look great with dark dark hair and should recolor it, but I think that dark hair makes me look like I have died or am on my way there. for some reason my face does not tan. It is always pale even if I have a nice tan everywhere else. Dark hair only makes that worse....

# 4. When I get bored I find my brain wandering to a world where I have somehow come into a lot of money.  I start budgeting out which charities and family members I am going to share it all with. I can tell you right now one million dollars? Not enough to go around.

# 5. Speaking of my mind. I have developed what my husband refers to as "Dispatcher Brain" I can no longer focus with only ONE thing going on. I have to have some sort of noise while I work on a project, and a lot of times will absent mindedly start doing something while carrying on a conversation. I promise I'm not trying to be rude, but your story is only taking up half my brain, the other half has found something shiny. I am still listening, I swear. 

# 6. Some days I think I have forgotten how to cook. I used to cook nearly everyday in High School for all of my brothers and their friends, but moving into the city area has broken me. Scott loves to eat out, and it is such a time saver that I am usually ok with it. Lately I have wanted to cook more and find myself burning and under cooking things. NOT OK ALEX. NOT OK...

# 7. I do not draw pictures as much as I used to. ..... I really miss that.

# 8. I dream almost every night. I always have, and am hoping that I always will. Not only do I dream, but I dream CRAZY STUFF!! It gives me a bit of a story to tell if anyone is interested and keeps me entertained wondering where on earth that came from?!

# 9. One of my ambitions is to work in a bunch of different jobs, just so that one day I can look back and say, "I have done that." I can't get myself to switch jobs again though, because I love dispatching and don't want to lose the retirement I have going already. 

# 10. I have become a complete and total closet nerd. Seriously no joke. We watched a movie the other day that made fun of nerdy people. Mostly the games they play and the movies they watch... I understood ALL OF IT! Watching "The Big Bang Theory" I think I would get along with the nerdy scientists. Obviously not as smart, but I could totally hang with those boys!! 

# 11. I am obsessed with Youtube. People will always come to me with a video that "I have got to see" and uhhh.. yeah. I watched that one three years ago when it was posted. I can recommend four other videos for you to watch that are similar or even better.

# 12. Speaking of which.. I do consider myself a "Nerdfighter" Google it and you may become amazed!! DFTBA

(Man, this is getting hard thinking of all this stuff, I'm even trying to shorten my answers)

# 13. Wishing on stars is still totally legit!! It is perfectly normal to yell "I CALL IT" like Lilo and kick your husband out of the room. 

# 14. My dog "Ghost" is named after a dog in a fiction series that I knew nothing about at the time we got him. I have since started reading the books it came from, and It freaks me out how much the description of the fictional dog matches my dog.

# 15. Disney and naps are the best cure for any illness. As long as you have a warm snuggly blanket with you. If that doesn't work, I recommend hugs from a nice loving husband. (maybe a few forehead kisses) 

# 16.  I "Facebook stalk" people like it's going out of style. I'm not jealous of anyone or anything like that, but I find it fascinating how differently everyone lives their life. 

# 17. Popping body parts is my biggest pet peeve. I find it disgusting, but lately I have been "popping" more. Every time I move and my shoulder clicks I want to throw up. It is becoming an inconvenience.

#18 . I like to think that if I don't know how to do something "handy" that I can figure it out very easily. It takes a lot of convincing and time for me to admit that maybe I should let someone else handle this one..

# 19.  My brain has this strange ability to remember things that are NOT useful in my day to day life. I can quote movies and music with the best of them, and wanna know something stupid about the human body? *BAM* got it covered. But trying to remember a simple thing like when I have an extra training at work? NOPE not gonna stick in there. 

# 20. If  I could do more of something from high school I actually would not join the 95% of Piute High-schoolers and say "play sports" I actually really miss drama and playing around doing a skit. I feel like I didn't get to do very much of it. Even though it put me into "Loser" status and got me made fun of quite a bit by my brothers. 

WELL there you go. I am sorry for some of those answers. I feel like they didn't live up to their reputation. but I managed a blog post. (Technically two) I will try to get back on here tomorrow and go with the next entry! Thanks for the fun Shann! Hopefully this teaches me how to be a better blogger. PEACE OUT!

30 Things I'm going to do for Shannon ;)

     Since I am working the graveyard shift now, I can always use a nice little project to get through the nights. I have been doing crochet so much lately that my hands and brain are begging me for a break. I realize that this blog had suffered just as much as the last one as far as putting on updates. (Mostly because I feel the need to finish writing about that trip before I move on, but I don't ever have my pictures when I need them..) Hence, I have decided to go ahead and continue on with blogs, however I see fit. Well thanks to my lovely little one.(Who is about to become a mommy so I can't keep calling her my little one) I have a way to kick start this whole thing in the booty.  She posted a "30 things" challenge and "CLAIMS" she enjoys reading others response. So Shannon, These posts are mostly for you..... and the fact I've loved reading yours. In case anyone else out there runs into these blogs, here's the list of things to post about. I'll try to do one everyday on my night shift, so long as the workflow allows it. 

30 Things Series

1. List 20 random facts about yourself

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

4. List 10 things you would tell your sixteen-year-old self.

5. What are the five things that make you the most happy right now?

6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

7. What is your dream job and why?

8. What are 5 passions you have right now?

9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

10.. Describe your most embarrassing moment.

11. List 10 pet peeves you have.

12. Describe a typical day in your current life.

13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

14. Describe 5 of your strengths.

15.If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

16. What are 5 of your greatest accomplishments?

17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with is first?

22.Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.

24. Describe your family dynamic from your childhood vs. now.

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

26. What popular notion do you thing the world has wrong?

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

28. What is your love language?

29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?

30. List 10 things you hope to be remembered for.