Happy Happy Birthday, Tyler Dear!

Twenty-four years ago today, the most handsome man ever was born. Of course, he was only a baby at the time of his birth, but throughout the years, he has grown into his destiny of handsomeness!

I do not know what I would do without Tyler. He really is my other half. When I am with him, even if life is super stressful (like during finals week) things just don't seem so bad. After all, what really matters when you are sealed to the man of your dreams for time and eternity?

Tyler is just good through and through. His example makes me want to be better, so I can be more like him!

Anyway, I won't get too mushy on you guys, but I sure am glad to be a part of Tyler's life.

So happy birthday to my sweetheart!! I love you!!

So I mis-typed my own URL

and found a very interesting website.

Go ahead and check it out: http://enrichedblog.blogpot.com/.

I was pretty surprised when I found myself not on my own blog, but on an evangelical one.

Interesting that the names are so close, too.

It kind of reminds me of my telephone number growing up. The last four digits of my number were 6922, whereas the last digits of the YMCA phone number were 9622. I don't know if that YMCA is still in business, but I do remember getting many a phone call for the YMCA. How frustrating it must have been for some callers. We'd occasionally have someone call, hang up, call again, all because they were switching two numbers around. Sometimes these callers were nice about the mistake, and others were a little more grumpy.

I wonder how many other things out there are innocent similarities?

I know there are some not-so-innocent similarities as well. One of my old roommates told me that she left out one of the o's in facebook as she typed in the URL, and came upon a porn site. There's no way that name similarity wasn't purposeful, I think. (Lesson: always be careful in what you type.) Honestly, I think that's a dirty trick and a sucker punch.

Anyway, let me know if you've had any fun experiences with name similarities. I'd love to hear 'em.

I know I promised pictures

but I can't deliver just yet.

I did shovel snow for the first time yesterday. . . and I think I pulled a muscle in my neck. (Is that possible?)

Back to the pictures:

Yesterday, it rained. (I know, rain? In December? What the. . .)

And today, it is slushing.

So, hopefully, we'll get some pretty snow again so that Tyler and I can take pictures for those of you not in Provo.

Less than a week until California!!

I can't even express how excited I am to get out of Provo.

I just need to make it through finals.

I just need to motivate myself to study for finals.

. . .

We'll see how this week turns out.

See some of you in a week!!

Well, winter is finally upon us!

Although I was hoping to make it to Christmas without snow, it seems that this will not be possible. After all, there is like . . . a million feet of snow out there. (Ok. That's an exaggeration. Maybe like half a million.)

BUT I did it. I drove in it all by myself today. I had to be to work early this morning, and planned to give myself a few extra minutes because it had snowed yesterday.

As soon as I walked out of my apartment, I was grateful for the extra time. It had continued to snow throughout the night, and the snow was piled high!

I quickly ran back into the house to change into my (even more wonderful than I thought) snow boots.

I wiped most of the snow off the car windows (should have done more) and drove to work, where Novell had yet to plow the parking lot. I did my best to park, and made it inside on time.

Even with this success under my belt, I'm still a little terrified of driving in the snow. I'm definitely one of those annoying slow snow drivers, going a few miles under the speed limit. (Not too slow! I recognize the danger of that, as well.)

You know, driving in the snow kind of makes me feel like the first time my dad took me onto the highway on his motorcycle. I felt so alive. And by felt so alive, I mean, I felt like death was super close--one wrong move on my part, or another car, or my dad, and BAM--I'd hit the concrete, and good-bye Karen!

The difference between that experience and driving in the snow is that when I'm driving, I'm driving. I'm in control. As vulnerable as I felt on that motorcycle, I knew my dad would take care of me, and that he was driving a little extra safely for my sake. Behind the wheel in the snow, not only is my life in my small hands, any pedestrians'/drivers'/passengers'/cars' lives are in my hands as well. I can't just sit by and enjoy the ride.

Anyway, I'll get pictures of the snow soon. Right now, it is really pretty snow. Soft and powdery. Not too cold.

The world is white! And I am driving in it.

Disclaimer: "White" is referring to the snow. Although I am in Provo, I am not intentionally making a racial reference. But it's pretty true. Provo is pretty white. My sentence just kind of worked out racist-ly. My apologies to any who are offended by it.