on just knowing, part II.

this is seriously just the weirdest, creepiest picture. but I think it's totes one million hilar, so we're going with it.

After my junior year of college, I thought it was kind of the end of the world.  The last of my five freshman roommates were getting married, and I figured I was destined for the nunnery and that I would never make another friend again.  I was moving out of my apartment and into a new one without any of my previous roommates (except for one and then she ended up moving home after a couple weeks).  I was not particularly jazzed about the situation.  I know you wouldn't think it, but I am probably in the top five people who are the worst at making friends.  When I meet new people, this is me: _______________. That was silence, in case you couldn't tell.

Anyway, so here I was in a new ward with two new roommates who were both a few years older than me and who were at different stages in their lives.  They were kind of friends from back home and were actually going to be living together for the first time.  I kind of felt like the outsider, you know. Just me and these two other girls who could already have friend-style conversations while I was probably creepily sitting on the couch staring at them.

I struggled there for the first couple weeks. I was starting my second job and I just didn't have my solid friend base that I had before and I just didn't know if I could be friends with these girls.  We had some small conversations, but they were short and only about the weather and lame stuff like that.

But then I remember the day when Danielle walked into the apartment after she had just gone shopping for some new tennis shoes.  She walked in and started telling me about how she had been able to get new Converse from the kids' section and how if your feet are still the same size after two years, you can exchange them for a brand new pair.  I thought that was pretty cool and I told her so.  And then we just started talking.  She told me about her mission in Russia and why she had chosen to go and then she told me about her family and all kinds of other stuff. I remember exactly where we were, too. I was sitting on the couch by the window and she was sitting on the arm of the weird blue "reading couch."

And I remember it was then that I just knew.

I knew we could be friends and I knew I wanted to be friends.  From then on, we did preeeetty much everything together.  That summer was full of a whole lot of sno cones, scootering, words of the week (okay, that was only once), music, evening walks, drive-in movies, long nights and conversations on the porch, intramural softball, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  That was one of the best summers ever and I know it wouldn't have been nearly as awesome if it hadn't been for Danielle.

Danielle is srsly one of the greatest people.  She's the best cook, she's always serving people, she is totes one million hilar, she can do the creepy doll eye, she uses and helps me spread all the abbrevs I use, she teaches the best institute lessons, and she's always down for a sno cone or scooter ride.  She is always, always, ALWAYS willing to let me use/eat/drive anything that belongs to her and never asks for anything in return.  Danielle is a friend that I can talk with late into the night and usually I don't even notice how late it is because I could just talk forever with her. And Danielle is a superstar.  Seriously. She's overcome a lot in her life and every day I'm like, you are SRSLY the most incredible person. I can't even get over it.  She's so friendly and could basically have a conversation with anyone and is the world's best girlfriend/fiancee (not to me, obviously--I'm just the best third wheel).

I'm really glad I've been able to live with her for the past two years.  It's kind of my favorite thing when people ask us how long we've known each other or if we're friends from back home. They just assume that because we're reeeeally good friends, but really we only know each other from living together.  It's good to have a friend like that. It's good to have a friend to rely on, that you can turn to when in need, and a friend that gets all your jokes and doesn't think you're a complete idiot when you start singing a Whitney Houston song and then stop mid-sentence to say something else. ("And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII---did you guys see that?").

So here's to you, Danielle. May your days be merry and bright and may you forever tell 20 minute summaries of stories like that one called The Lady in the White Shining Waters of the Wishing Well when all I really wanted to do was go to bed. And may you always eat entire rotisserie chickens in one sitting.

"You guys, I just love food."

not a game, not a game, not a game...

...we talkin' about practice!

So again, the title of this post isn't one million related to the actual content of this post except for the fact that we've probably listened to the audio from this video of Allen Iverson a solid dozen times or so at work since the beginning of this summer and this post is kind of about work, so I think it's allowed.

And speaking of work, let me tell you something.  I'm sure you are all aware of the fact that I enjoy a good sno cone every now and again.  Like you, my coworkers are also aware of this love of mine.  So last week, Ariel, who used to work in the survey lab asked me if I would go with her to get a sno cone at Hokulia (the long and horrifically embarrassing story of how I accidentally and unknowingly announced Ariel's pregnancy to EVERYONE who worked there will not be shared at this time).  So anyway, she wanted to go get a sno cone and I was totes down so the date was set and Kelsey P. and I met her at that very fine establishment on that very, very, one million hot day.

I pointed out some of the excellent flavors and even suggested appropriate sno cone sizes in an attempt to help them both through their first Hokulia experience.  My favorite part was when Kelsey P. and I were waiting for our sno cones.  Approximately 2 seconds after I was handed my sno cone and started walking toward the table, I spilled a huge chunk of my beautiful sno cone all up on the ground.  As my bff Allen would say, "I know I'm supposed to lead by example...", but man, I really messed up there.  Fortunately, neither Kelsey nor Ariel followed my example, and they were both able to successfully make it from the sno cone shack to the table without any harm or accident.

It was super neat to catch up with the ever-so-hilarious Ariel and to also meet her tiny little baby bump.  Srsly, girlfriend is going to be the cutest pregnant lady (just like Janelle and Ricky and Kelli and (maybe) Rachel and all my other pregnant lady friends).  Also, thank you to Kelsey P. for coming with me on this adventure because we all know I would have managed to get lost in those Helaman Halls freshman dorms (so confusing!).

Also, seriously.  It was a million degrees so I'm fairly confident I've never eaten a sno cone faster than I ate that one (mostly because it all became liquid after 2.7 minutes).

And now, pictures of delicious treats!!

 What?!  Is that sno cone missing a huge chunk?  That is SO weird...

K baby Page! (which is what I call her every time I see that she has texted me)

Ariel and child (sort of...)

Wunderbar!

"my weekend"

A short story by Stacy LeCheminant, in which I tell the story of a weekend that ended almost four days ago while being sure to include a variety of pictures that were most likely not edited unless they had already been edited when I put them on instagram, so basically I'm lazy.

But also classy.

1-4.  On Friday, I went to the Bees game with Ethan, the boyfriend of Katie (my old roommate who is on a mission in South Korea).  Real conversation with my mother when talking about the weekend:
   Stacy: I went to the Bees game with Ethan.
   Mom: Who is Ethan?
   Stacy: Katie's boyfriend.
   Mom: Oh, come on!  Get your own boyfriend!
Haha, anyway, it was a fab game and Ethan is a hilarious person to watch any sporting even with ("Protect the Hive!"  "Go my favorite sports team, go!").  Plus, it was a really good game and the Bees won in the bottom of the ninth ("Hank the Hound dog brings in the winning run!").  I love baseball.

5 and 6.  On the way home from the game, Cassie (a girl that was with us) informed us that not only was it free doughnut day at Krispy Kreme (that was all she needed to say to win me over), it was also free orange chicken at Panda Express day!  I mean, how neat is that?!  So on the way home, we stopped by Panda Express right as it was closing.  I always feel bad doing that, but I mean, free food!  You can't keep me away even if it may not be the most tactful thing in the world.  Then after that we drove straight on over to Krispy Kreme to get a free doughnut.  Seriously, what an awesome day.

7-10.  On Saturday, my homegirl Rachy Rach and I went to Seven Peaks!  I got to use my suuuuuuper expensive (a grand total of $5.50) Pass of all Passes (or "POAP" as the back of the card says) for the very first time!  Plus, it was such a good day to go because it was supes hot out thurrr.  After a couple hours there, we obviously had to hit up my second home for a sno cone!  Also, I was so in love with the peach/guava/red raspberry combo that I got it again!  Seriously, the whole time we were there, we just keep saying how happy we were.  I swear, you'd think I was five years old with the way I get so excited about those dang sno cones.

Side story:  Saturday night was the night I realized something horrible.  I was sitting in the living room working on a lesson I had to give the next day when I realized that it was supes warm in my apartment.  I went to check the thermostat and saw that it was up to 85 degrees and the air conditioner was totes not blowing cold air.  I watched the thermostat climb to a toasty 89 degrees by the time I went to bed.  So awesome.  So, we've been living in a toasty apartment, going to bed when it's a comfortable temperature of about 87 degrees and mostly I just wish I could sleep on the balcony or somewhere with a breeze.  But fear not, the a/c fix-it guy FINALLY comes tomorrow.  And fortunately, the past two days have been a little cooler, for which I am one MILLION grateful.

11-12.  My little freshman friend Spencer asked me if we could make cookies together after church.  I told him no because a) it was one MILLION degrees in my apartment and b) I had no flour.  But homeboy would not give up.  He told me we could bake the cookies in his apartment and he even located someone that we could get some flour from (don't worry--we repaid him with cookies).  And so it happened that I made cookies with a nineteen-year-old boy as I avoided the heat of my apartment.  And it was nice.  We had a nice little heart to heart and that kid is funny.  We're going to miss him around here this summer.

So there you have it.  My weekend in a nutshell.  A very large nutshell.  My dang short story turned into a novel.  But I'm pretty sure I knew that was going to happen.

P.S. Danielle is back!  After two weeks of being away on a little cruisey dealio, she's back!  Yee!

my sno cone hiatus is OVER.

Seriously, isn't that the most beautiful thing?!

Okay, so I don't actually know if hiatus is an appropriate word for the situation, but the moral of the story is that I had not been to Hokulia in 2.5 weeks and I was dying.  When I woke up this morning, I told myself I had to get a sno cone and there was nothing that was going to stop me (except maybe if no one was willing to go with me...I just have this feeling that getting a sno cone alone would be moderately lame).  Anyway, I persuaded my sister to go with me and we even scootered over (she knew that was kind of part of the deal).  She hadn't been to Hokulia (which I do not understand), but it was okay because I showed her the ropes and helped her to understand how amazing that place truly is.

It was busy, so I had a little time to pick out some new flavors.  I knew I wanted to try guava, but I also wanted to try a couple of other summery flavors.  I picked red raspberry and then I was left to pick one more.  Now normally I don't really like that many peach-flavored things, but I decided it was worth the risk. And you know what?  It was probably the most delightful and amazing risk I have ever taken.  Seriously. The combination of those three flavors was probably the most perfect thing EVER.  I'm going back tomorrow and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the exact same flavors, it was THAT good.  I don't care was Ed says, this sno cone was TOTES worth the money I spent on it.

Also, a funny little story.  After I had ordered and was waiting for my sno cone, I got a text from my friend Landon, and the conversation went like this:

Landon: I just yelled your name as I drove past Hokulia.

Stacy: What? I didn't hear you at all! How did you know it was me in this huge crowd?

Landon: I looked for the scooter.

Stacy: Oh, ha. Of course. I should have guessed.

Excellent use of clues, Landon.  Well done.

Anyway, I've said it before and I'll say it again: If anyone ever wants to go get a sno cone and you don't want to go alone, you just let this girl know and I'll be there.  You won't have to ask twice.

Thanks again for coming, Jelly Bean!

as of late.

1. Danielle was packing and I was wondering...did she just pack everything in her closet or had it been a while since she hung up her clothes??

2.  I was telling Rach about how sometimes when people say "Stay seated" I think that they're talking to me. She told me she has the same problem when people say "Racial".  So I told her she needn't worry because we don't "Rachel"ly discriminate around here.

3.  Homegirl is super neat and took me to get groceries last week because if she didn't I was going to have to ride my razor scooter to the grocery store (I mean, she didn't really need to...I could have scootered over and then carried all of those groceries back--5 bags to an arm at least--it would have been super easy style.  Anyway, after we got the groceries and she used her Smith's card on my purchase so she could get her gas points or something, we went to the gas station.  Apparently she's not very good at picking lucky pumps (didn't you know there are luck pumps?) and she ended up picking up the one that wouldn'y let her put in more than 7 cents of gas at a time.  It kept stopping and she would have to try again.  I could  barely convince her to get seven gallons.  "But my forearm is hurting!"  Love that girl.

4.  Ah...is this why the power went out?

5. Me and my homegirls Rach and Keech headed up to Bountiful for Kenn's baby shower last week.  We ended up picking Keech in Draper since she had just come back from St. Louis earlier that afternoon.  The plan was that we would drive up to Draper in Rach's car and then we would take Keech's parents' car the rest of the way.  Why is it that we needed to switch cars, you ask?  Was it a) Rachel's car shouldn't really travel that far all at once, b) she only had enough patience to put in seven gallons of gas, c) one of her headlights was out, d) not only was one of her headlights out, but she had also been pulled over the night before for having a headlight out and she didn't really want to get pulled over again, or e) all of the above.  That would be all of the above (although we prolls could have made it on that much gas, right?).  So we drove to Keisha's while it was still light and didn't need the headlights and then Keish drove the rest of the way.  

Also, favorite thing about Keisha driving?  You see, Keisha is used to driving her and Landon's car, which is a stick.  The car her parents own, on the other hand, is not a stick...and sometimes Keish forgets that and accidentally slams on the brakes.  Seriously the funniest thing.  She only did it twice though and only when she was just starting.  I promise she's a good driver, but it was seriously hilarious.

Another thing about that whole drive (wait, are you bored of this story yet?)  When we got back to Keisha's after the shower, we were talking to her dad and asking him if he could look at Rach's car to see if he could fix the light or something.  I told him that one time Danielle's light had been out so we went to the fix-it place (I'm sure it has a better name than that...) and the guy just twisted the light or some wires or something and the light went back on and she didn't need to replace her light!  How neat is that?!  So I was telling Papa Lake about this and being as vague as possible in describing how it was fixed and then I suggested he should just try that--twisting lights and wires and fixing in like magic!  He nodded and smiled at me, but we all know he was thinking, "Awesome. Who let the crazy lady into my house again?"

But, it turns out he's a pretty neat guy, so he went out and looked at it and twisted things and who would have thought?  The light went back on!  Now, it wasn't a permanent fix, but it lasted long enough to get us home, thank you very much.  I'm not as crazy as you all thought I was after all.

6. Back to Kenn's baby shower (I keep typing 'bridal shower'--I guess we're starting to get past that stage now--yikes!).  Seriously so fun and I love that girl to death.  I'm so excited for her little boy to come in a few months!  It was so fun to catch up with her--I love talking with that girl.  She is seriously sooo funny and sooo sweet and sooo adorable.  Also, I like how because of the angle you can't even tell she's preggo in this pic.  But she's seriously the cutest pregnant lady and I love it.  Oh, and also.  Ricky had her baby last week and I'm just dying to meet little Hali Ray.  Such the adorable small child!

7.  I'd say going to this place is better than getting a sno cone.

8.  I got to hang out with a bunch of my cousins and some of my aunts and uncles and my grandma yesterday and it was so fun.  My family is so cool and it is so fun to hang out with them.  Everyone reminded us of how my family was made up of the pickiest eaters in the world and we made sure to take pictures and post them on instagram so the cousins who weren't there would get super jealous (except then Nic posted a picture of him at the beach and told me he was just fine being away, but we all know he wanted to be there.  Then Robbie (and now I feel like a loser because I don't know if Robbie is spelled like that or with a "y" at the end...wow, I'm a lame cousin.)  Anyway, he said he wished he could be there, but he was at a music festival, so I'm not so sure he was that upset...haha) 

Also, my cousin's son is seriously the cutest kid.  Mo was telling us all about how much he loves Michael Jordan and how he was wearing Michael Jordan's North Carolina Jersey because "Don't you know? That's his college."  He told us how much he loves Space Jam and he would run around acting like Michael Jordan in the movie and he kept giving us pep talks like Michael did in the movie and he suggested that we come over to his house after dinner and watch Space Jam while he read us his Michael Jordan book.  "And maybe after that, we can watch 'His Airness'!".  He was even demonstrating how MJ dunks and how a very important part of the dunk is that you have your tongue out. "That's how he always does it."  Mo even told me how he's going to be Michael Jordan for Halloween and "maybe I'll paint my skin black." (Apparently someone at dad's work suggested that...haha)  Like I said, cutest kid.  Can't wait to hang out with him again.

So, this turned out to be a much longer post than I expected but dang it, I'm having a good time around here, aight?  In other news, Seven Peaks opens up this week so I think I'm going to put that Pass of all Passes that cost me $5.50 to good use.  Also, I'm getting a sno cone on Tuesday (and maybe even one tomorrow!) and there's nothing you can do to stop me.  It's been two and a half weeks since Hokulia has had any business from me and I can tell they're hurting because of it.

That's all.

so lately...

1. Rachy is the new substitute ward chorister.  She's so talented.

2. Contemplating how we will create sno cone carriers. "They're like baby carriers, except for sno cones."

3. Everyone was using their electronics, but Rachy was just organizing her Mike'n'Ikes.

                                            4. Danielle practices her leaning to impress Dillon.

5. I forgot to take a pic of the sno cone right after I got it, but I can tell you this much: 'twas delicious. Strawberry Kiwi was the flavor choice of the day!

6. Found this pin while cleaning my room.  Totes wore it on my backpack for the better part of two years with no shame because I totes love that girl.

7. Last Jazz game of the season. Not a very happy ending.

8.  Such the delicious shortbread.  My homegirl Danielle made them and I shaped them.  Teamwork at its finest.

9. I totes can't even get my mouth around the bottom end of the cup, but this girl has got straight up talent.

10. Another sno cone!  Apple and mango were the flavors of choice and this guy was consumed at the ward soccer game and shared with more than one member of the team. Is that gross?

11. Bees game with Brenda.  Excellent seats (11th row!) and only mildly drunk and obnoxious people behind us. Go Bees!

12.  "I look like a coked out billy bob teeth."-Danielle.

13. My favorite juice as a mother's day gift from Danielle?  How neat is that?!

14. Our FHE brother showed us a new sno cone shack.  Free cream!

15.  A scooter ride led us to Danielle's favorite tree!

16.  The vending machines on campus don't have bagels anymore.  Totes not cool, especially on the days when I wake up late and don't have time for breakfast.

That's right, folks.  I'm an instagrammer.  And yes, there isn't a single picture of me.  I'm still working on that.

hokulia

Sno cones, my friends.  The summer has officially begun.

Our favorite sno cone shack opened up yesterday and we've already gone twice, nbd.  We scootered on over both times because that's really the only way to do it (once with a few new members of our Razor Rider gang).  We've only been told by the police once that we're not allowed to ride our scooters on the sidewalk because apparently we're on BYU campus still?  What the?  Anyway, we might have to take the back roads to avoid this predicament in the future.

I'm trying to be a little bit more adventurous this summer and try new flavors.  So far, the new ones that I've tried are mango, tiger's blood, and guava.  I'm thinking about maybe trying apple and I was going to try kiwi today but they didn't have it.  I don't know if I should branch out to things like boysenberry or mai tai (no idea what that is) because what if I don't like it?  I mean, clearly this is a very important decision and I just don't want to mess it up.  

Today, Danielle and I tried the medium size which I think is mislabeled because it's really the size that could probably feed a third world country, no problem.  Anyway, we wanted to see if we could share one so we tried it and holy cow.  That thing is huge (it's the one in the first picture, in case you couldn't tell). But as my homegirl Katie Cutler would say, we're champions and ate that thing, no biggie.

Anyway, I can't wait to have one MILLION sno cones this summer.  If anyone ever wants to go get one and needs a friend, you can totes count on me or Danielle.  We've totes got your back.  Plus, we've already filled half a punch card so it won't be long before we get a FREE sno cone!!!

p.s. I'm new to instagram, so don't judge, yo.