An Ode to the Deceased: The Beast

The week of awfulness has passed and I have officially conquered the mangy stomach flu bug who invaded my body. A big thank you to my lymphocytes for all their hard work.

Now on to a very grievous subject. The death of a beloved companion.

My younger sister was involved in a car accident this weekend where she wrapped this beloved friend of mine around a tree. She, my sister, is completely fine other than a broken shoulder and a new found desire to STOP thinking twenty over the speed limit is a must. A hero has left our midst though and left an awful, black box shaped space behind him.

The Fallen Hero

The young girl he saved

The Beast came to our family 12 years ago. He was shiny and white and full of promising adventure. I loved him from the moment he rolled into our garage. My senior year of high school, Beasty Boy became my designated school vehicle. Sure he wasn't a shiny mercedes or BMW, but he knew how to get me to the places I needed to be. I was proud to call him my own (even though he technically was not mine...)

My trusty stead loaded up all my belongings at the end of high school and safely escorted Poptart and I to good ole Utah.

We shared a tearful goodbye as he wished me well at college and promised to keep an eye on my family for me.

Then the unthinkable happened. Beast came back into my life in a big way. He came all the way form Michigan to guide me through the next two years of adventures.

The Geo, the beloved blue companion who escorted me in the Beast's absence

Beast took me to the ends of the earth to cross-country ski

Beast loved my friends

Beast drove for me when Lys and I decided posing for pictures was more pertinent

Beast helped me kidnap cultured humans

Beast helped me fight my battles (and win them)

Beast protected my loved ones and I from wild animals when we went camping

Beast reassured me I looked like Scary Spice even though I wasn't black. Essentially, Beast was not a racist. It is hard nowadays to find a car that isn't racist

Beast was there when I met Sel. Beast was there when I wanted to talk to him about Sel when everyone else was tired of hearing me talk about how fantastic he was.

The most amazing part of Beast's character though and the reason we now mourn is that Beast was a protector. Sure he shook like an old man when he ricocheted down the freeway. Sure it cost two weeks of human food to feed his automobile nutritional needs. Sure he still somehow smelled of my dirty running shoes. BUT Beast saved my little sister. Beast saved me from being forever trapped in P-town. Beast saved the world if you really think about it.

Beast will live forever in infamy. My family and I will be holding an honorary service for this cherished piece of metal June 2, 2012.

May the impact the Beast had on you (and the tree) inspire you to be just a little bit better today.

Thank you for all your support at this time

Contagion

It is 2:30AM and I cannot sleep. Today has been one of the most miserable in my entire life. From throwing up to having a fever of 103, I haven’t been this sick in years. I have been delirious for most of the day and spent it texting and calling people about nonsensical things. Sel has been the most amazing caretaker in the entire world. He made me jell-o (which I am currently trying to force down), he carried my limp, pitiful body back and forth from the bathroom. He added blanket upon blanket as I sobbed about how freezing I was. He also forced me to drink a Powerade from my little sippy cup which was awful, but I think helpful on my road to recovery. He and my kind brother-in-law gave me a blessing. Sel put a heating pad on my side of the bed so when he managed to carry me like a stork to bed, it was nice and toasty. He has been trying to study for a big test he is taking on Thursday and has been SO patient with my absolutely pathetic self. My wish for death has become slightly lessened, but is still there whenever I try to move my aching limbs. Death come swiftly, death come quick. I spent 1:30-now crawling around our house wondering where I was and why Aragorn was telling me to "Fight back!". Poor Sel has been trying to sleep and trying to make sure I don't do something destructive. If you see that sweet boy today on campus, you should give him a BIG hug for me because my highly contagious self cannot :(

The Welsh Irishman's Holiday

St. Patrick's Day is one of the supreme deities in terms of holidays. It is the one holiday where wearing obscene amounts of green is not only permitted, but mandatory in order to avoid being pinched. I started off this holy holiday by running the Rex Lee 5K with none other than Ohio(one of the coolest girls you shall ever meet. Don't bother asking me her real name. Her publicist made me sign a contract to never reveal it so she wouldn't acquire countless stalkers who would restrict her and her husband's busy lives) Ohio and I both, unplanned, rocked some bright green eye shadow for the race which was ideal for our award ceremony (we tied for first in the 5K and 10K actually).

St. Patty's also involved Sel's traditional meal of green spaghetti (in this case linguini) along with a cucumber & avocado salad, nasty looking, yet delicious green strawberry lemonade, and green banana cream pudding with sprinkles of course.

We then invited a banjo playing leprechaun, Pam, (who made his debut here ) and his charming friend, Disney.

Pam and Sel have had an ongoing joke about how Game Hen sounds a lot like Gay Men. While Sel and I were holding up Winco the other day, we saw some adorable game hens that we just knew Pam would want to eat up possibly with green food items.

The game hen that spewed out green mashed potatoes

(Green Bread with green honey & butter)

The eating party

After some Irish jigs, Disney & Pam gave said beannacht and left Sel and I to our plotting.

(Sel & I plotting...it's a beautiful thing as our faces so indicate)

We plotted to find a suitable place to bury our pot of gold. So I dressed up in our leprechaun gear and we headed out to follow the rainbow. We pretty much walked to our different friends houses, rang the door bell, threw rainbow confetti at their face, and ran away while leaving some green colored bread as a memoir of their new favorite holiday experience.

Happy St. Patrick's Day All!

King of Hearts

I know this is far overdue, but since yesterday was honoring a Saint I figured I could still honor the Saint of last month. Good ole St. Valentine.

Sel is astounding for all who haven't caught on yet. He also happens to be one romantic chap with stealthy sup rising skills.

On February 14th, I woke up and made some awful tasting pancakes that I disguised to look appetizing with strawberry and banana hearts. Sel was very kind and pretended like he enjoyed the carcinogenic morsels I presented him with. I also heart attacked our living room for him and crafted some homemade valentines. Nothing too fancy, but I was hoping it was helping Sel get an idea of how much I love him.

Since it was a crazy school day for Sel, I really wasn't expecting him to be able to do a whole lot. What a fool I am! That boy is the most considerate, sweet, and loving human I have ever met. After coming home from a fun, yet exhausting day, I opened the door to this

Sel had rearranged the heart attack to a beautiful candle lit path to the bedroom.

On the bed was this beautiful bouquet, emerald earrings, the most fabulous tacky light up heart thing Sel bought at K-mart, and of course, Chocolate :) The whole Valentines Day typicals wrapped into one completely perfect and heartfelt idea.

Yup, I married the best one there is.

Hope you enjoyed the mush!