SUMMER does not equal SCHOOL

For the first time EVER, i am taking summer school. No, i didn't fail any courses, and no, i do not enjoy sitting in a classroom at 7 AM (yes, that is AM, IN THE MORNING!). But in order to get some money from the government, i have to have a certain number of credits, and after this class is finished, i get finally get money!
Anyway, these past few weeks have been kind of stressful. First, everything with Italy is so time consuming and every little detail has to be looked at and done within a certain amount of time. Like yesterday, i realized how many little things i needed to bring with me that will take up so much room in my ONE SUITCASE that i am allowed to bring, things like sheets, towels, dishes. I am going to have to find the world's largest suitcase to carry everything i need to bring. I'll be lucky if i can get everything done before i leave. So cross your fingers!
Second, the house is near completion! August 19th is the finish date, and Sam and i both leave soon after. They are finishing painting the interior, and the landscaping is all finished, and looks GREAT! Then flooring goes in, cabinets, and lighting, then BAM, a finished house! Third, saving money is a lot harder when target is right up the street. Seriously, i need to invest in some target stock because i probably would have been a billionaire by now. I decided to sell my car to raise funds for traveling around europe on weekends, and work never seems to bring in enough income. I wonder why that happens...

On the positive side of life, i took a trip with my grandma and grandpa from emmett and drove down to utah for Jacie's wedding reception in ephraim. Although she got married in california, she had a separate reception for those of us who couldn't make it down there. So I have never been to Utah, shocking i know, and was actually looking forward to this little trip. Oh my gosh, let me just say that i am in LOVE with Salt Lake City. I would move there tomorrow if i could. The city is perched right up against the mountains and the capitol is up on a hill, and the temple is breathtaking! They even have a nordstroms AND a NORDSTROMS RACK! i'm in heaven. Maybe i'll look into University of Utah? who knows.

So we drove to ephraim, a little town in the middle of the state, and went to my new cousin-in-law Shane's house for the reception. It was great to see Jacie, who i haven't seen since Hawai'i (i can't believe it's been that long!) and i can't believe she is married! Congrats to the newlyweds.

power is powerful

Beginning in probably middle school, i knew i was different from the other kids my age. I didn't feel the need to cheat on my homework, i always felt the guilt that would come from it for even thinking it, i never had a wild spell like most, i never even drank in high school. And though i am praised by my parents for standing up to peer pressure and doing what was right, i feel like an outcast for not partaking in events like that. I would always hear girls gossiping on monday about the awesome party they went to that weekend, and who they hooked up with. Don't get me wrong, hooking up with random guys on the weekend is not my idea of fun, but i always felt like i missed out on the experience of being a teenager for doing what was right, and i take a lot of crap for it, i even beat myself up a little bit for it.
As my 20th birthday nears, i am constantly wondering on what i missed out on. I know looking back isn't helping my cause, but did i waste these years of my life sitting at home on friday nights wondering with all my friends were doing? I wish i had taken more risks, played a little more, and had opened myself up to more people.
But hey, now that i know what i want, i can accomplish that AND more in my twenties. And probably have more fun than i would have in my teens!