Day 13

Day 13: A personal hero.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. you are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

During my junior year of high school I took an advanced American history class taught be a woman who expressed incredible respect for the women who have impacted this great nation of ours. Throughout the course of the year she highlighted different women who have influenced change. One lady in particular stood out to me. That gal was Eleanor Roosevelt.

I grew up knowing who Eleanor Roosevelt was and I often fantasized about what her life would have been like. I thought she lived a glamorous life; complete with stunning gowns, classy parties,and romantic evenings spent in the company of a doting husband and magnificent leader (FDR). However, after learning about her life more in depth and reading part of her biography, it quickly became apparent that her life was almost the opposite.

Sure she married a man that would become a very successful politician and she'd have access to an unlimited wardrobe but she did not live a glamorous lifestyle. Her marriage, though supportive and respected, was empty and a charade. Her relationship with FDR was a close friendship and he always looked to her for advice but it was in no way romantic or passionate. When FDR died, his mistress was at his side, and Eleanor had to be summoned from her separate living quarters. Eleanor was not considered to be a "beauty" by society's opinion. She was criticized for her homely looks and out spoken nature.

So how did this woman become a personal hero of mine? I shall tell you.

Because she broke the mold. She was the tallest first lady until Michelle Obama and they share the record at five feet eleven inches. Eleanor Roosevelt had a voice and encouraged thousands of others to find theirs. Instead of silently smiling behind her husband she stood next to him as his counterpart. She had ideas and she let those ideas be known. She stood up, spoke up, and fought for everything she believed to be right. I firmly believe that Eleanor Roosevelt was ahead of her time and had an incredible ability to sense the nation changing before anything occurred.

I admire Eleanor Roosevelt immensely because her wise words have often comforted me. I would consider myself truly lucky if I ever had the opportunity to be in the presence of a anyone as inspired and admired as Eleanor.
 
Love always,
    Christine

The following are some of my favorite quotes by Miss Eleanor :)

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't."
"Campaign behavior for wives: Always be on time. Do as little talking as humanly possible. Lean back in the parade car so everybody can see the president."
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
 
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

Day 12

Day 12: Pet Peeves

I have a pretty long fuse, so I don't blow up easily. However, there are a few things that tick me off more than anything.

The first- people think I'm a mind reader. Honestly people? If you say something to me but think something else in your mind, I promise you I have no idea what you are thinking. Do not tell me something if it is not what you are thinking. I can't read your mind, so stop thinking that I can!

The second- grudges. People say that girls hold grudges, which is very true. But I've met many a man who holds grudges longer than us gals. I have one friend who has held a grudge against another friend of mine since the fifth grade. Wow, really? GET OVER IT. So she gave you a dirty look? It's been ten years, GET OVER IT!

That's all :)

Love always,
      Christine

Day 11

Day 11: Something I'd like to do before I die.

I absolutely LOATHE it when people say, "You have your whole life ahead of you to live."

This just so happens to be my mother's favorite phrase.

What's wrong with living now? In the moment? 

If work at Primary Children's Medical Center and it has taught me that any day can be your last day. Death does not wait until you're old, lived a good life, traveled the world and fallen desperately in love. It strikes when it wants, where it wants and how it wants.

I utterly DESPISE it when people say, "You have your whole life ahead of you to live."

Maybe I don't, fools. That's why I am going to live now.

But here are a few things I WILL do before I die. If I do not complete this list than I will be ornery and too stubborn to die :)

Skydive.

Spend time exploring all of the 7 man-made Wonders

Adopt a child. Or a few. Or a lot...

Write a book. 

Own the rights to a star. 

Lose myself in the Northern Lights.

 Be in love like this. 

I refuse to live life planning for tomorrow.

I live for today. 

Love always, 

     Christine

Postin' 'bout Pierre

Everyone has a sperm donor, but not everyone has a dad.

I am one of the lucky and have a wonderful man as a dad.

Here a few reasons why my dad is better than yours. Okay, so that is my opinion. I'm sure your dad is great but this is my blog so as yes, my dad is the best!!

Reason:

A. His name is Pierre Andre Alley.Yes, he was born in France and that makes him pretty freaking cool.

B. He makes us eat soap if we swear. No one is above the law, not even my dear ol' mother. You swear around Pierre, you get your mouth washed out. Legit.

C. He is flippin' funny. He has the corniest sense of humor and says things that always make me laugh.
        Quote 1:  "I'm an alpha male. In the olden days the alpha male would go out, club a dinosaur, drag him home, and feed his family dinosaur. I am that exactly; alpha male." -Pierre
        Quote 2: "When making his sculpture Michelangelo had a choice between David and I. Nudity is not my thing so he chose David." -Pierre
        Quote 3: "I was sitting in my Mercury and shaving my face with my Venus razor and my dog Pluto was in the backseat when all the sudden this guy who looked like he was from Mars cut me off in his Saturn. I yelled, 'Uranus!" -Pierre rattled that off one night at dinner; What the heck!?!

D. He cannot lie to save his life. Whenever we catch him a lie and call him out, naturally, he tries to deny it. His face gives it away. He tries to suppress his smile and instead gets the most mischievous grin.

E. He loves my Mom as much as he did when he was 15. My Dad kissed my mom for the first time when he was 15 (she was 14). I love the fact that my parents are still madly in love and are best friends.

F. He hardly ever missed any of my sporting events. He also liked to yell at me and the coaches. Others were mortified for me but I loved it. It let me know that he was there supporting me even if he was yelling at me to "Jump, white girl, jump!"

G. He works hard and then forces himself to play.

Basically, I am incomparably grateful for my dad. I know that he would do anything for me and has made many sacrifices so that my possibilities are endless. He loves my mother and his children more than humanely possible. He is the essence of a man; his hands are strong and calloused, his heart loving and kind, and his family loved, happy and successful. I am the person that I am today because Pierre Alley was the father that he is. I love you Daddy and could not be more grateful that I am blessed enough to be your daughter. Happy Father's Day. I love you.

Love always,
    Christine

Day 10

Day 10: The person I've had the most adventures with.

As I moved away to college this past year, my biggest fear was not fitting in with my peers. As the school year started I felt that most everyone at BYU fit into the same cookie mold and I was the only misfit. Then I went to a religion class and a girl that I recognized from another class sat next to me. As the teacher explained our assignment this girl exclaimed something very unheard of at BYU(haha, I still giggle when I remember her saying that word rather loudly). Instant connection.  This girl's name is Hollie Crosby and we became excellent friends very quickly.

Here's why:

She always makes me laugh because she is crazy.

Being somewhat (okay, that's an understatement) of a nerd, I was perfectly content to spend my weekends with my face in my neuroscience book and to bond with my cadaver friends in the lab. However, Hollie took upon herself the burden of creating a social life for me.

Let me tell you what:

We embarked on many adventures.

A few of which consisted of:

Going to a beach dance in our swim suits and then coming back to a car that will not start and with a hood that is broken and will  not open. Then going to find a nice gentleman who spent forty five minutes helping us jump our car.

Donating plasma while hitting on the cute phlebotomists (Danger, I'm talking about you!). If you ever go sell your plasma with Hollie DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow her to see the needle in her arm. Also, do not look at or mess around with the needle in your own arm. She'll pass out.

Meeting guys, everywhere and anywhere. Hollie is very out going when it comes to the fellas. We usually went places by ourselves but left with guys...

Getting random people to kiss. We enjoyed seeing random people dancing or taking pictures and yelling "Kiss her!" Nothing is as hilarious as watching an awkward-very-public-first-kiss-between-complete-strangers.

 Hollie and I found a common love for dancing and often hit the dance floor together. We always had a blast and giggled uncontrollably.

Hollie got me through my year at BYU and made my experience one to be remembered. I am grateful for the time that we shared together and especially because she made me be social. Thanks Hollie, for all the laughs and amazing memories. 

Love always,

     Christine

Day 9

Day 9: An unexpected person who has gotten through to me the most.

"Many people walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart."
                                                                                                                           ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Through the past year many of my close friendships have ended but there is one person who has stuck by my side and had my back  through it all. I got to know Mary Campbell halfway through my senior year of high school and we quickly became good friends. On senior trip we connected  extremely well and by the time I left for college she had become one of my best friends. Although she stayed in Salt Lake and I was in Provo we talked almost everyday; I called her laughing, crying, ranting, or in need of comfort. I looked forward to our chats daily and lived for our sporadic weekend visits.

Mary is a beautiful girl with a smile that lights up the room and gorgeous brilliant blue eyes. I'm basically jealous of her but she's to much of a sweetheart to stay mad at :)

Mary has this incredible capability to make me laugh. She is goof and when we are together we laugh ourselves silly. She is always optimistic and looks forward to the future with anticipation and joy. 

This gal is seriously the best. She's gotten through to me the most because of how similar we are but at the same time how different we are. We've made many of the same mistakes and her example of how she has fixed those mistakes and learned from them has taught me so much about myself.

Mary likes Naked. She also likes making seductive faces at the camera, but mostly just being Naked.

In August, Mary will begin a new adventure with a new best friend and the love of her life, Matt. She's asked me to be a part of her special day and I cannot describe how happy this makes me. I am lucky enough to spend the most important day of her life right by her side with the people that matter the most to her. I am honored to be a part of her life and am incredibly excited for her future. Matt will probably think he married me as well because I'm going to be at their house ALL the time. Sleepover? Yes.

Mary Moo,

      Thank you for always being there for me; for listening, comforting and making me laugh. You've truly been someone that I look to for advice and direction. We've made memories that will last us a lifetime - most of which occurred on the dance floor as you taught me a thing or two about moving my body (you know what I'm talking about). I cannot wait for what our future holds and we embark on the unknown. Thank you for being yourself and accepting me as myself. I love you lady! 

                       Love always, 

                              Christine

p.s. Will you be my babies godmother? Great, thanks!  

Day 8

Day 8: Something I wish I were better at.

Math has forever been a huge enemy of mine. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to beat it. There are a few concepts I have never been able to understandand.

• Imaginary numbers - if imaginary numbers are, in fact, imaginary then they simply do not exist and there is no point in learning to use them because I live in real life where I only use real things.

 My point exactly. Although, this is incredibly funny...

• Proofs - When taking geometry my teacher informed me that I was going to be expected to prove that a triangle is a triangle. This man was not blind, so why in the heck would I prove it to him in mathematical nonsense when all he had to do was look at the freaking paper and prove to himself that the triangle is a blasted triangle. I proudly declare that I receive a 6% on that test. Why? Because the only thing I proved to my teacher was that I could write my name at the top of the paper. He seemed to think it was worth six points. How generous of the Irishman; love ya Flaherty.  

Prove that this triangle is a triangle. No, acutally, don't. Because no one gives a darn if you can prove it.

• Math literally hates me. I took the ACT four, yes FOUR, times to improve just my math score. I improved every score BUT my math score. 
• I hate math. I wish I were better at it and could do it four hours because life would be a WHOLE lot easier. But here's my dilemma. Every single one of my math teachers/professors has said that I will never use most of the math I wasted hours learning ever again, unless by some miracle, I teach math for a living - WHICH I WILL NEVER DO. So I can't bring myself to study a math concept that I will never use again. Instead, I will read my novel about women in Afghanistan during revolution. 

If you can follow this and know what is happening then go hit your head against the wall because I don't like you and neither does your math professor.

 Love always,
    Christine