Dear October, I love you, here's why!

Halloween Decorations!


The trifecta of Halloween cerealsOrange flowers
Seeing my old friend Greg. It was so much fun!
Black Hair!
Visiting Black Island farms with my awesome Family

And Sheet Tents!

Saturday+No Sleep+Lot's of Downtime at Work

EQUALS OPEN LETTERS!

Happy Saturday folks! Ready for another round? You know I am!

Dear Hair-
I'm glad that you and I could get back to being friends and living a calm symbiotic lifestyle. Who would have thought that putting a little black dye in you was just the ticket to get us back on track.

Dear Village Inn-
Good food, good feelings? Why yes, last night it was! I love you, I've never had a bad time when I come to visit you. Plus bringing on a drinking game based on things I do? GENIUS!

Dear Blake-
A 40 minute long conversation? Dang I didn't think there were people on this earth that talk as much as me. You sir, have proven me wrong!

Dear Family of Deer-
Someday Karma will get you back for trying to kill me and Rachel last night.

and it wouldn't be Open letters without....

Dear Rachel-
Awwww a deer....Ooo more deer.... *high pitched scream*

Dear Stephen-
I hate you, okay so actually I think you are pretty fantastic guy. But I hate you. SHOT!

Dear Bailey/Garcia family-
Thanks for all the fun last night. I love you guys. The family that Bowls together, stays together.

Dear Goosebumps-
Go away, I'm tired of being cold.

Dear Warm Blankets-
You are the devil's creation because you are so fantastic. All warm and cuddly. CURSE YOU!

Dear Hormones-
I thought I fired you last week, why the crap are you still hanging around. I fired you, in a big way. That means NO SEVERANCE, NO UNEMPLOYMENT, NO HOPE OF REHIRE. Go away before I call the cops on you for loitering.

Dear Halloween Costume-
YAY!

Dear Count Chocula-
Thank you for choosing to come stay at my house. You are promoted to head Vampire. Edward can kiss it!

Dear Franken Berry-
I can't begin to explain how happy you make me. Here's to a long happy life together.

Dear Boo Berry-
As far as cereals go, you and your fellows represent everything that is good about humanity. May your children's children be plentiful so my children's children can experience your awesome!

Dear October-
You are the best, never change. I love everything about you.

Darkily yours-
Brittany

It's Saturday Morning! And You Know What That Means!

Yes, ladies and gentleman...it's time for another round of open letters. I really enjoy writing these, and the response from them is pretty good. They are much easier than crafting well written antecdotes in was that is pleasing to you, the reader. So this might just become a regular occurence on Saturdays.

Dear Skin-
Oi, why are you breaking out so bad right now? I hate you.

Dear Riley-
It was fun to make fun of you this morning. You really are a creeper and you had my drink made long before I even ordered it. It couldn't be due to the fact that I pretty much have been ordering the same thing for 4 months, it's because you are a stalker. But that's okay, stalk me all you want!

Dear Blue Dress-
Why can't I find you, each day I don't the more I worrry I won't get my costume done in time. How hard is it to find a short blue dress that I won't feel guilty cutting apart?

Dear New Coat-
I love you, no really. i.love.you.

Dear Rachel (I think you are going to make it into every one of these)
Thanks for letting me be exactly who I am. Thanks for letting me cry when I need to, build sheet tents when I need to, and for letting me watch corn-tastic chick flicks when I need to. You are the best.

Dear Office,
Is all the chilliness necessary? I'm currently cuddled up to the space heater, awkward positioning and my skin is on fire. Thanks

Dear Pam and Jim-
EEEEEEEEEE SO CUTE!

Dear School-
I'm not speaking to you. Yeah, I went there.

Dear Hair-
Seriously what has been up with you lately. Did I do something to make you mad? You and I aren't agreeing on anything and that makes me sad. I though you would always be my ally, but you are fighting me tooth and nail. What up?

Dear Red Wristband-
You aren't coming off even if I get gangreen or some gross rash, I WILL WIN!

Dear Cozy Bed and Jammie Pants-
You can stop calling my name, I can hear you all the way over here and there is no way I'm going to get back to you until the workday is over.

Dear Raspberries-
Thanks for being there :)

Dear Hormones-
You are fired, like in a big way.

Dear Inexplicably Always Sore Calf Muscle-
That goes for you too.

Dear Large Pile of Laundry-
Are you feeding off of something in there? You seem to get bigger everytime I get home! I mean do you have a small child who's lifeforce you are sucking away, it's like you are the Audrey II! Are you eating people I love to get stronger?

and on that note-

Dear Little Shop of Horrors-
YAY! I can't wait to see you. Jacob awkwardly kissing girls? Count me in.

Dear Extroverts-
We make up 75% of the population, yet 75% of my friends are introverts. WHERE ARE YOU? The introverts are sucking my lifeforce from me, I need you to feed back my energy.

Let me make sure I covered everything....cold, no lifeforce, large laundry pile, school, messy hair, sleepy, hormones. Okay, I think I covered all I wanted to today.
Except
Dear Reader-
If after all this time you are still with me? Thanks to you.

Shiveringly yours
Brittany

Influences (23 of them!)

I was over at Stephen's blog and I was reading a post in which he wrote about the 25 people who influenced his life. He picked 25 because he's 25 so I'll only do 23, because I'm not old like him.

1. Diane Bailey. Hands down this woman has shaped my life in ways I'm sure I still don't even understand. My mom was the person who instilled a love of the medical field in me. She's probably more than half the reason it's my calling in life to take care of the sick. We never used to get along, but now, she's really my best friend. I hope to even be half the mother/human being that she is.

2. Ron and Jeff. They come as a pair. As I've become an adult and started to realize who I really am, I can see so much of who I am comes from them. Ron showed me a side of life where I don't have to be anyone but me. If I love superheroes and video games more than real living boys/men then I'm still an okay person. Jeff really was the first person to introduce me to the rock music movement and teaching me that music isn't' really music until you make it your own. The two of them were good stand-ins when my own dad was a disappointment. I hope the man I marry and my sons have some of their great qualities. I know that they will always claim me no matter what I do.

3. Wendy and Lindsie. They also come as a pair. Wendy and Lindsie are fab sisters, hands down. Lindsie is/was my little partner in crime and was always there to let me cry when I was sad. Wendy was the quintessential "cool big sister" and now that we've become more peers than little/big sisters I love spending time with her and acting like an adult (or actually like children). They have always been my champions and I don't know what I would do without them.

4. Jean Brown. My harebrained wonderful maternal grandmother. She taught me to knit, which is gift enough. But she's also shown me what true, unbiased, unconditional love is. That woman has always made it clear that she will always love me no matter what I do in this entire world. She will always want to know what's going on in my life (even if it's dull!) and always has little gifts for me!

5. Emma Smith. This woman is truly amazing. She's everything an educator should be in this entire world. If all teachers were like this woman, then there would be no one in this earth that could be considered "stupid". She taught me physics, but it was so much more than that. She gave me the springboard into science as a whole which led to me realizing I wanted to be in the medical field. She's now become one of my best friends and a person I can ALWAYS
talk/complain to about anything and everything and she will give me good sound advice.

6. Gus Bolos. My boss at Ogden Regional, what is there to say about him? He was the first adult male besides my family members who made it clear he was concerned for my future. He would council with me on what I was doing with my life be it boys, school, etc. He always wanted full reports of the guys I dated, the classes I took and the things I did with my spare time. He would help me study for my anatomy class and saved my poor sprained ankle when I did serious damage to it for the second time in my life.

7. Dorothy Hooton. My "adopted" grandma. When we lived in California, she lived across the street. My mom was really sick while we lived there and most afternoons she would take me and my little sister to her house to play/eat/nap so my mom would have some time to just be sick without worrying about us little ones. She (and her husband Uncle Bob!) were the most generous people I have ever met. They were pretty much gajillionaires because they were extremely frugal and saved every penny they had ever earned in their entire life. They never had a problem giving money to anyone who needed it but they never spent a whole lot on themselves.

8. Rachel Rowan. My roommate/confidante/ninja bodyguard/partner in crime/best friend. I do not know where I would be without this girl. She puts up with all my crazy on a daily basis and doesn't even bat an eye. She's a person who encourages me to be my best but doesn't fault me when I mess up and become a crying mass sitting on a floor of clutter. She just picks me up, hands me a Diet Dr. Pepper, and says "heart you". She's proof God is always looking out for our well being and loves us.

9. Charlene Dolbow. Easily one of the classiest ladies to walk this earth. She was another one of my "adopted" grandma's and she always loved me and my siblings like were were her Grandkids. I kills me to think she's all alone in a nursing home in St. George slowly losing her memories, but she wanted to stay there, and she was a woman who got what she wanted. I hope to be a spicy and feisty as she is when I'm older.

10. Calista Jones Fowkes. My guardian angel. The first time I met Cali was in 2nd grade and we became fast friends. I lost her to cancer this year, it was pretty tough. She was my age and had already been battling cancer for many many years. She was a trooper who never ever lost her faith. She knew that her cross to carry from Heavenly Father was to have cancer and she shouldered that cross without batting an eye. I miss her but I know she's always watching out for me and she's keeping the porch light on for me until I get back to see her.

11. Sydney Jean Garcia. This little firecracker re-affirmed my faith in God. She came into the world 6 weeks too early and from the minute she was born she fought to stay alive. My little niece had a lot of trouble in her first 40 days of life having things done to her that some people never ever have in their entire lifetime. Every time I look at her I am reminded of God's presence. There is no way that a little thing like her could exist without the reality of God's plan.

12. Luke M. and Jack Bailey. They also come as a pair. These two little nerds in training are proof that prayer and faith works. Neither of them, according to a doctor should even exist. My sister-in-law was told that she would never have children. Luckily she and my brother didn't listen and prayed and fasted and did the Lords work and what do you know? They were blessed with not one but two babies within 11 months. Nothing gets me happier then seeing their two little smiles and hearing Luke make Yoda noises.

13. Mrs. Howe. She was my elementary school music teacher. She made a complete and total fool of herself everyday to teach kids about something she loved: music. Without her early tutelage I probably wouldn't love music the way I do now.

14. Gae Fransen. She also instilled my music love patiently teaching me piano for many, many, MANY years even though I'm still to this day not good at it! She taught me more than piano though. She showed me I can be a strong, independent woman who takes care of things that need to be taken care of and still be a stay at home mom and wife. I also know that I should never settle for a husband who anything less than adores me.

15. Kent Ripplinger. He was my photography professor in College. He taught me everything I wanted (and didn't want) to know about taking pictures. Without him, my greatest passion would have fallen by the wayside. He and I were very different types of photographers but he helped me realize the kind of photographer I am. He also had a memory that rivaled Dory from Finding Nemo so he always made me laugh.

16. Jenny Underdown. That woman welcomed me into my new department at the U with arms wide open. She has always been my friend and always puts up with my yo-yo moods. She's not one that believes in dwelling on the bad. She always sees the shinier side of the coin, the bright side of the moon, and a rainbow in every storm cloud. I would have quit this job without her.

17. Barry Axelrod. He's a stiff millitary man, and I don't really talk to him much because we have Zilch in common. But I would be remiss to not put him on this list. He has influnced my life in ways he will probably never know. When my parents divorced, he stepped up to the plate as the "Man" for our family. Whenever we would go to Bear Lake with his family, he would always be right there helping us do the manly stuff. Granted, we didn't always need his help, but we let him help us anyway. It's sweet to see the way he always makes sure we don't need "man help". We weren't helpless women, but we let him do what he felt to help us be successful.

18. Bishop Davis. I'm gonna copy Stephen and put my home ward bishop and my singles ward bishops. Bishop Davis was everything a leader should be. Kind, fair, loving, patient, and Christlike he exemplified everything that a man of God should. Not only was he very strong in the Gospel, he was a wonderful human being. His door was always open and he was always very giving. Not only that though, he was fun to be around! My most fond memory of girls camp was getting him to sing "Father Abraham". It was too funny for words.

19. Bishop Miller. In my first singles ward he was the bishop. He was only the bishop for 2 months of my time in that ward but in those two months he taught me so much about who I was as a daughter of God and how to more fully recognize Gods will in my life. He was everything a singles ward bishop should be. He was supportive and not pushy when it came to the inevitable "marriage talk". He actually would counsel people to wait until they were at least 25 to get married and told the boys to stop dating girls so young. I loved him, he was a little bit of a spitfire.

20. Mandi Bailey Cawley. This girl will always be in my life. I dont' think I could get rid of her if I wanted to. She and I have been close friends since 6th grade and we've gone through quite a few things together. She is forever my cheerleader and one of my best friends. She keeps a level head when I'm flying off the handle. She's a beautiful person both inside and out and I hope to be as fierce as she is someday.

21. Kirsten Kemmer. We spent an amazing/frustrating summer together as camp counselors. She was always there when the work of the day became too much and she would let me cry on her shoulder. That woman's shoulder is probably soaked with so many of my tears, whether it was over frustrating little girls or Dumbledore passing away. She was also my first foray into missionary work and even though I wasn't always the example I was supposed to be, her conversion from across the county re-arranged my belief in the church for the better. I spoke at her baptism in Florida without actually being there. She's basically amazing.

22. Andy Davis. Now for those of you who know who this is I'm sure you have thought....why him. You HATED him. Yes, Andy treated me like dog poop on his shoe. Yes he made me cry on a daily basis. Yes he made high school a living hell for me. Yes he got away with all of it because he was a football player. But if it wasn't for him treating me the way he did, I would have never learned compassion and love for the people around me. I don't want anyone to ever feel the way I feel! I would have never gotten thick skin, either.

23. Jeff "Duffy" Knowles. He was a really frustrating boss. He was the Gus (number 6) counterpart. All the things that were good about Gus, he was the exact opposite. Regardless of that fact, that man taught me more about Physical Therapy than anyone else I've every worked with in the field. Everything he did when I was in the room he would explain to a really good detail. I owe so much of what I know about physical therapy to him. Just don't talk sports, politics, or you know anything but PT with him.

I really am a lucky lucky person to have such a varied, amazing, group of people in my life. I love them all so much.

Open Letters Again

I feel the need to write in my blog and for lack of anything else to do, I'm going to write more open letters.... Most of these are weird inside jokes or cryptic messages only I will get. Sorry in advance if you don't.

Dear Sky-
Why must you tease me so? It would be great to have some rain today and it looks like it will rain, so just let it rain already!!!!

Dear D-
You confuse me, and I don't like be confused. I wish time would move faster so I could see things more clearly.

Dear Golduck-
Thanks for finally evolving. Level 33 Really? That took forever.

Dear Laundry-
You will be done today, I promise! I'm down to the bare bones of my clothes!

Dear Little Jig-
I hope to be doing you very soon for amazing reasons.

Dear Wimpy Boy and Pansy Girl-
You two are MADE for each other. Stop worrying that you are going to get hurt by each other. You need to just understand how much you two will wonderfully compliment each other. You will have beautiful children and a grumpy, violent, loving, happy life together. Just stop being afraid!

Dear Photo shoot-
Why can't you happen sooner? Why can't I figure you the crap out and get it done. You are festering inside of me and I won't rest till I release you.

Dear Desert-
Why must you be so vast with out any hope of an end/oasis? I'm tired of trudging through you with out a canteen.

Dear Dinosaur Shaped Nuggets-
It won't be the same dinner without you.

Dear Amy-
I'm glad to be seeing you tomorrow to have you make my hair edgy again. It should be fun to be able to control my hair again.

Dear Eyebrows-
Is all this bushiness neccesary?

Dear Pink Moccasins and Gold Sneakers-
I FREAKING LOVE YOU. You are not only cheap, well made shoes. But you make me stand out in a crowd. I love doing that!

Dear Jesters-
Make up your mind and let me perform already. In protest I will not do another box office until you do! I'm tired of being in the audience and feeling like an outsider. I don't like this at all. I'm ready.

Love, Hate, Frustration, Happily, and Figitily Yours-
Brittany

Blink-182

This post was supposed to be a glowing report about how AMAZING the Blink-182 concert was and how AWESOME it feels to cross of another think off my list of 24 things. But after a bunch of really terrible comments I've been getting today that have been ruining how amazing the experience was for me today, I don't feel like being that nice or happy.

I've never understood people who are unkind based solely on their tastes in music. I have loved Blink for just under 10 years. Their music is something that has always moved me in a way nothing else really has. I don't care if the next album is going to suck, it doesn't discount the way they changed the face of rock music in the 10 years they were a band. I don't care if it was stupid that they broke up, all I care about is that they are back together.

They put on a FABULOUS show, even when they messed up they sounded amazing. Tom started playing the wrong song and totally fessed up to it. I didn't even notice. They laughed together and joked like the best friends they really are. I also met Mark and he was kind and gracious and when I told him I loved him, he said he loved me back. I know that he doesn't really mean it in the sense he want my hand in marriage, but with out me and people like me, he wouldn't be making any money.

But when I put up on my facebook that I met him and it was a great experience and someone puts "That's too bad, because he's a tool" really pisses me off! What right does anyone else have to rain on my parade. Mark is a person who is very special to me. He and I are both came from a home that wasn't very happy at times. His life, of course was much more terrible than mine. But we both came from home without good fathers and we are both products of divorce.

The song "Stay Together For The Kids" was a song that I always identified with. It was so difficult to deal with my parents divorce. Songs like that made me feel a little less alone. I cried when they sang it last night. It was such a surreal feeling to be standing there hearing Mark sing that song right in front of me and evoke the feeling that it would bring about when I would hear that song. It felt like Mark was hugging me and telling me he understood.

I HATE that people get mean about something like that. Music is about connecting personally with it. Finding your own reason to love music is why people keep making music. People want to connect on a deep level with thier music. I find my conncetion with a band that you can't deny is TALENTED, I mean, you can't listen to Travis Barker drum and not say he's talented. I won't say he's the best drummer ever but he's is definetly on a top 2o list of drummers. Travis learned to play over 20 songs in 2 hours when he first played with Blink. That is an amazing feat of talent.

I just don't like people "judging" me by the music I like. Grow up, get off your high horse, stop being an ass, and just let people like the music they like.

Open Letters/Rants

I'm a little bit grumpy this morning and I have NOTHING to do right now. Most of these are pretty sarcastic.


Dear Job-
Thank you so much for stealing my Saturday sleep-in's to do nothing but sit on my butt for most of the day and feel extremely useless. I don't care if I get paid to do it, I'd rather be doing it at home, for free, in my bed. At the same time, I'm really greatful I have you, and should be way more apreciative.


Dear Every Attractive Married/Gay Guy working at the hospital-
Thanks for looking so fantasic and making me all giddy inside with your dumb compliments only to remind me that YOU ARE MARRIED/GAY. There should be a natural law that makes you ugly after you get married/come out. You frustrate me.

Dear Glute muscles-
I'm glad you are in so much pain this morning, it's making walking around so much fun.


Dear People with Annoying children-
Keep your eyes on them, it's not anyones job but yours. Don't breed them if you can't take care of them. I hate your parenting style, oh and I probably hate you.


Dear Weather-
Normally, I LOVE this weather, but today, you are making me achy and creaky and I sound like an old lady when I complain about my sore joints.


Dear Married people,
Complaing about being married to someone who is not? Never a good idea. I mean, I understand, you miss your single life, you miss being able to do what you want, you miss being independent, I get that. But saying you wish you had my life is sort of an insult. I love my life, don't get me wrong, but telling a single person all about how terrible it is to be married doesn't make me feel any better that I am without said marriage. I know it's not the most important thing in the world, getting married, but it's something I long for. I long for companionship and you treating your with such contempt and annoyance is a little bit of a slap in the face. Don't tell me I get more action that you do. I get NO ACTION unless I'm willing to be skanky and just "get some" for the sake of "getting some" which I don't do. You have a live in person who will from time to time give you that affection that all humans crave. Yeah, it may not be as much as you like but that person genuinely loves you and all the hassel of always looking good and always saying the right things is no longer in the picture.

Hem Hem...moving on.

Dear Long Drive I Have To Do Today-
I just don't even want to think about you. Why can't we just build pneumatic tubes all over and just use those to get where we need to?


Dear Ginormously Large Spiders in the Basement-
Enjoy your small pitiful lives, once I figure out how to get rid of you, there will be arachnacide. Make no mistake. You will be pitiful bad guys and I will be Chuck Norris. Prepare yourself aptly.


Okay, now some nice ones


Dear Hair-
I don't really miss you as much as I thought I would. Thanks for letting me take a huge risk with you, it's been a fun transition.


Dear Rachel-
You are amazing, I just can't even begin to explain how awesome it's been to have you in my life. La casa de Racel and Brittay is going to be an amazing adventure and I can't think of anyone else I would rather have as my sidekick/wingwoman/partner in crime than you.

Dear Mill-
Thanks for realizing that I'm in a bad mood today and letting me make fun of you and takin it all in stride. You are the best boss/co-worker a grumpy kid like me could ask for.

Dear Fiesty Don't-Give-A-Damn Old Ladies-
You make me laugh, make me look forward to getting old someday, and just all around are the most amazing people to meet. Never change no matter what anyone says.

Dear Pink Sweatshirt-
You were a comfy cozy companion today. Thanks for staying soft and cuddly and making me feel better.

Dear 500 Days of Summer-
Thanks for giving me something really cool to look forward to today. It's been a small talsiman inside me keeping me going through my grumpy-ness.

Dear Anyone Who reads this blog-
Thanks, that's all I can say.

Grumpily-
Brittany