The Waiting Game

Once upon a time I made a mistake. I told someone something I should not have told them. Now I'm trying to fix it and it's killing me. Just waiting and waiting to get a response back. I should be in bed right now dreaming of sugarplum fairies, but instead I'm searching my room endlessly trying to find something to occupy my mind. I hate the waiting game.

The End

Music Videos

Once upon a time I fell in love with music videos. More specifically, country music videos. There are some that are just adorable and then there's some that make me laugh every time. Confession: I watch the top 20 country music videos on GAC on Friday nights as often as I can. A

Several years ago I fell in love with Josh Turner's song, "Would You Go With Me". And then I saw the music video while watching the top 20 and my love for country and music videos jumped about 3 floors.

So tonight I wanted to start something new. I want to make friday night, video night. Every week I'll post a new video and explain why I like it. Because yes, I do know that many. Let's first start with the video that started my obsession, shall we?

I love this video because it's adorable, it's my favorite song, and it's one of my favorite artists. Plus, I think the little couple at the beginning alone make this video worth watching.

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Relationships

Once upon a time I was a hopeless romantic. Yes it's true. I was. There you go Sharissa, the truth comes out. But those days are over. They kind of ended when I got to high school and realized how awful relationships are. They change people. Sometimes in a good way, but most of the time in the worst ways possible (This is still the high school age relationships I'm talking about). So I stopped wanting a relationship. Of course, that didn't stop me from liking boys...oh no I have liked plenty of boys in my life, but I've never wanted a relationship with any of them.

Ok Ok Ok, so I did have a relationship at one point in my life, and I don't regret it. However, now that that's over with, I can see that this isn't the time to "fall in love." I have goals that I need to accomplish, things to do, life to experience and I don't need to be tied down. I know that sounds like the typical thing you hear girls that can't get a boy to like them say, but that's really how I feel.

All of my life I've grown up with Sister Ransom as my neighbor, and when one of my best friends (her daughter) went to college she gave us both this advice, "have fun, date lots, but don't seriously date someone until the friends you had in high school start coming home from their missions. If you date someone seriously now, you might get too involved before you see the rest of your options." I really do love her, because she's right.

Now I know many of you are thinking, well what's wrong with a casual relationship? And my answer would be...nothing if you're comfortable with just filling someone's canteen (assuming you're dating a future missionary, and if you're dating an RM, then it's never casual).

In some cases I can approve of relationships before the golden age, but only in very limited cases.

So Sharissa, these are the words I wanted to say to you tonight, to me kissing=relationships. ugh. Not good. It's not that I think kissing is gross, it's that I think relationships are gross. And there you have it. Feel free to ask any questions.

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The Madisons

Once upon a time my family took a trip to Glacier National Park about 4 months before I was born. On the way home, they passed through Yellowstone and Madison County, Montana and that is where I got my name. So it's been a tradition throughout my life to take as many pictures by anything Madison. Really, I have about 100 pictures. And this trip was no exception. So if you're ready for it, here comes the Madison pictures throughout the years...

1997 with the Nickles

1997

1997

2010 with the Spanish exchange students

2010

2010

2010

2011 with the family and Miguel

2011 and the rest are too

Weston wanted to get in on the action

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Montana and Glacier National Park

Once upon a time I went with my family on a dream vacation for me. Last Tuesday (the 9th of August) we packed our belongings and hitched up the tent trailer and set off on a VERY long drive. That first night we stayed in an unknown location to me (somewhere in Idaho).

Then we woke up early the next day and me and my brother drove each other nuts as we drove through Montana.

We stopped in Butte, or as Weston likes to call it, Butt. (Oh and his joke was..."how do people in Butte say good day? Bidet! hahahaha") There, we had a strombolli at Trimbo's, which was made famous by Man vs. Food.

We then stopped and camped in Kalisbell (no idea how to spell it).

The next morning we woke up bright and early and went into Glacier National Park! We decided to camp at Avalanche campground. I immediately got out the info magazine and found two short hikes that we could do as a family that day. So within an hour of arriving, we were headed off on a hike. The first one was Avalanche Lake and it was spectacular! The gorge before it was super clear water, the trees were huge and made the path shady, and the ground (minus the trail) was covered in green green green plants that had leaves larger than my head. It was perfect. But it was 4 miles, and that was apparently too much for Weston.

Avalanche Lake

Despite Weston's complaints, however, after we were done at Avalanche we drove up to Logan Pass and hiked to hidden lakes. There, we saw big horn sheep and tons of mountain goats. The hike was beautiful and it made you feel like you were on top of the world (cheesy, I know, but that's really what it was like).

On the way to Logan Pass

Hidden Lake

The next day we drove to Many Glaciers and did an all day hike to Cracker Lake. Again, gorgeous. We then got back, paid for 8 minute public showers, and ate pizza at a restaurant! But we didn't get back to our tent trailer until 10.

Cracker Lake

"Madeye is a hiking poopster"

By the time Saturday came along my family was hiked out, so I went on a 10 mile hike to Snyder Lake by myself. And it was fantastic! I didn't hear one complaint the entire time and I just got to enjoy the quiet, amazing, outdoors.

Snyder Lake

Sunday morning I got up early and ran to Avalanche Lake. It was just as good the second time, and there weren't any people, so that was nice. Then we packed up and left Glacier to go to Salmon Lake, Montana. Here we played in the lake, read, and relaxed. We also roasted marshmallows at night.

Monday we drove a lot. But we did stop at Jud's to get a 2 pound hamburger to share. Yes, another Man vs. Food challenge. We also went to Helena, Montana.

One day I will be a Senator here

And then Tuesday we drove without stopping until we reached our home. Yep. It was finally over.

And now I wish I could go back instead of staying here and getting ready for college. One day...one day I'll move there and go on as many hikes as I can...one day.

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Ode to Elder Covey*

So I'm kind of sick of writing in third person so I'm not going to for a while...

Once upon a time I met a kid named Covey while participating in powderpuff football in ninth grade. Right away I knew that this kid was special because by the end of one week of coaching, almost all of the girls on my team were in love with him.

Several months later I became good friends with some new kids, and these boys happened to be friends with Covey as well. So I think that's when our friendship started. Since then we've had some great conversations, most of them happening late at night at Sean's house. Yep it was there when I first told him about how every girl was in love with him and Morgan stalked him and when he told me that I needed to find a Carlos to fall madly in love with while I was in Spain (never happened). Our friendship was a little strange though. We didn't see each other much, but every time we did, I kind of told him things that normally I wouldn't tell just a casual friend.

Most of the boys involved in the late night chats

These conversations continued all the way up until I went to Spain. While I was there, I was a little depressed to I printed out pictures of all of my friends and taped them to my planner to keep me motivated in school. Some girls in my class got a hold of it and immediately fell in love with him. Of course. So I told Covey and he created a Spanish Facebook and all the girls really enjoyed it. Except he only signed in once or twice.

Pretty sure this is the picture all the girls loved, but I could be wrong

When I got back, I didn't see him really at all. Actually, the only time I remember seeing and hanging out with him after I got back, I told him to cut his hair because he was ugly. Let's just say our friendship kind of withered. And that continued throughout senior year. Once again, just a casual friend. But when his cousin Spencer moved here from Georgia, and when Covey cut his nasty, hideous hair, we became friends again.

Makes me sick every time

Covey with his nasty hair and the very strange Spencer

Now we're at an end to a summer full of adventures. He's leaving to serve an LDS mission in Eugene, Oregon in a week, and I'm really going to miss him. Today was the last time I'll ever hang out with him (I'm leaving tomorrow and when I get back he'll be gone) and I have to say I'm extremely sad. He'll be a great missionary though. Super obedient, I mean who actually follows the advice to follow a missionary sleep schedule before their mission? Yep, as I think about not seeing him for two years, the tears are falling...but I'll always have these photos from hiking baldy today to remind me of how great Covey is. So according to him, this is goodbye forever! Nope! You can't get rid of me that easily! Good luck Elder Covey!

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*Some serious facebook stalking was involved in making this post.