Need a pick me up? Presenting... Lab Partners

Do you know what makes me laugh every time I need a pick me up? SNL skits on Hulu. My favorite as of late : Lab Partners It makes fun of the whole Jacob/Edward dispute and well... you just have to watch it, my absolute favorite lines are as follows:


Team Jacob : If you promise not to disparage my Beautiful Jacob, I promise not to mention your Moody over-gelled Girlfriend..
Team Edward : No! Edward is... Edward is a BOY..
Team Jacob : Then why does he sparkle like a princess's tiara?


OR!


Team Edward:LOVE, What is it ? Can it be planned or is it fated.? I believe that it is. And the moment I heard Edward say.."I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore." I knew we'd be together"

Student (Male) : I'm sorry, does she think she is going to end up with the Fictional Vampire from Twilight ??
Team Edward : Not Think, KNOW..!!



OR!


Team Jacob: There was a time in my life when I too loved Edward Cullen, when Jacob was merely a blip on my radar screen.. but then something changed. Maybe I changed. Maybe I learned the value of the guy who was also my friend but more likely. Jacob Changed. When He took off his shirt in New Moon..I saw those changes and I was like.." YEAH, I WANNA BAKE COOKIES ON YOUR STOMACH!!


Also, Taylor Lautner like this makes my day, every time... 

I feel better! Don't you?

Thankful Thursday, a little late

So my blog has been weird for a few days and wouldn't let me view it... weird, but whatever.

Today I'm thankful for hands. See, I remember being a little girl and sitting and playing with my daddy's hands. I remember thinking that his hands were so big and strong. He had calluses and square nails and my hands looked so small in his.

Even now, when I go visit my grandma (which I ought to do more often), I like to hold her hand, her skin is so thin and I remember when I was little, holding her hand and it always being cold, but cold hands signify a warm heart, after all.

At work, when I have babies, and I get to be in the baby room, I'll just sit and hold the babies' hands while I rock them. Their hands are so small, but strong, and they'll just grab on so tight, like you're the most important  thing in the world.

I love holding hands. I took a language of love quiz the other day, and words of affirmation and physical touch tied with the highest points. That being said, I'm not overly... open with physical things.

 This might seem silly, but I can't really remember how many boys I've held hands with...It's either 4 or 5...

• See, I remember the first, Homecoming date Senior Year. (my dad was in the next room, only happened once). 
• Then there's this one guy, (we called him the make out prince, but no, I did not make out with him, for the record, he just made out with everyone else...) And I just can't, for the life of me, remember if we held hands or not. I know that's ridiculous, but it's true. I thought about asking him, we are facebook friends. But he's married with a few kids, that might be awkward!
• Then there was the jerk face, we'll call him, He who shall not be named...  
• And then the one random guy post mission (that makes me sound like a hand holding hussy, I'm not, I thought there was something going on, he quickly informed me that there wasn't, so I informed him that there would be no more hand holding. I'm nobody's on call girlfriend!) 
• Then there's the boy...  

 (Aren't you glad I shared all this info with you?) But see, only with two of them has it been anything... serious... real? I don't know the right word for that. Anyway, but when it's someone that I like... well. I just love holding hands.

The first time I held hands with the boy, I swear (feel free to make fun of me), but it just made me feel warm all over. I actually went over to my sister's house and informed her that I had just 'interdigitated'! Since then, it seems like every time we're together so our our hands. Then I realized how many different ways you can hold someone's hand. I could list the different types, and I almost did... but you seriously don't want me to do that. Also, my parents just invited me out to dinner.

I LOVE holding hands. I especially love it in the small moments, the holding hands while driving, or walking or sitting in church, or just... I miss that boy.

But I just think how amazing it is that hands can accomplish so much. You can comfort and show love and friendship, or they can serve and lift and help. They can be small or large or simply there.

I'm thankful for the hands that have been there to lift me and comfort me, and help me grow. The ones that have helped me to become who and where I am today, because I sure as heck don't think that I got to this place in my life by myself.

The poet W.H. Auden said "Fondly I ponder you all, for without you I couldn't have managed even my weakest of lines." I've long believed that true of my life. Ok, I'm done blabbering.

Things that make me happy

(Are these paragraphs small enough for you, Rachel?)

Today work was actually pretty great! I had babies most of the day, which is my favorite. I just sat there for like 2 hours and rocked an 8 week old baby. I love the baby smell, and her little noises, and facial expressions. I just love it all! Someday, I'll have one that I get to take home, and who gets to keep me up all night, and it will be fantastic!

I got off at 7pm, after a longer than normal shift (I'm not complaining about the hours, don't you worry) and it all just hit me on the way to my car. I was TIRED!

Then I had a beautiful thought. There was a chocolate in the bottom of my purse. I think it's still there. See, like 3 weeks ago in Relief Society one of my favorite ladies ever passed out these amazing macademia nut turtle chocolate things. I was playing the piano, so I didn't get one, but afterwards she shoved like four of them into my purse. I LOVE that lady!

These, but with caramel! Mmmmmm

So I searched past all of the junk I carry around in my purse, a wallet, slippers, waterbottle, journal, camera and find a flat, but still delicious explosion for my mouth.

It was pure heaven as I bit into the first half, the creamy chocolate and caramel swirling around, and the crunch nuts making it an all together perfect moment.

It was so good, I licked the wrapper. And I don't even feel guilty about it.

One of THOSE days...

(Rachel: I broke it up into paragraphs, just for you!)

This morning I woke up after less than my required 8 hours of sleep, and couldn't find my work shirt. I work at Adventure Kids Playcare, where everything is bright and happy and upbeat, and the shirts are bright yellow. I worked 6 days last week (and luckily got a second shirt), but bright yellow kind of makes me want to hurl about now. I looked all over the apartment for the cleaner of my two shirts (one of them currently smells like spray-n-wash in preparation of tomorrow's washing). The shirt was nowhere to be seen! It made me even want to call in and tell them I wasn't coming because I couldn't find my shirt. (Which, I would never do. I think my mission president's wife said it best when she said you should go work unless you were "bleeding out your eyeballs." I LOVE that woman!) Anyway, so I finally retraced my steps found the missing shirt in my sister's room at the big house, and donned it, covering it quickly with a sweatshirt in order to block out some of the neon rays it was sending out. Work was actually pretty great today. Really slow, only a few kids, but it went really fast, and Alice was there, she's the 8 week old baby, and I love her!

I guess I've just been in a funk. I worked lots of hours last week, which was really fantastic, but it was every day, and I was so tired by the end of it all. See, I never really recuperated from the boy's visit.(Don't worry, I'm off tomorrow!)

 Yesterday I went to the single's ward with Amanda, who's home for the week (which, PS made me VERY happy that I'm am attending my family ward). Then I went with Amanda to our friend Laura's graduation party. Laura just graduated with her doctorate in Physical Therapy. Yup, she's almost 25 and has a doctorate in PT.  And I was there with Amanda, who just finished her first year of Law School. I felt like such a slacker/ underachiever. I'm STILL working on my bachelor's degree (working very hard and ALMOST finished), but still feeling behind.

And then I look at other parts of my life, and I feel behind in those too. Recently dad has said a couple of times recently something about how I'm behind and I've got to get married and have babies, and I know he's joking, but I've spent the last 5 years trying to convince myself that I'm fine and not in a big rush.... ugh!

Rationally, I know I'm not slacking or short, I work hard, I'm moving forward, I'm making myself a quality person, I've done other, good things. But this of all mornings was just a stay in bed kind of morning. Except, grow-ups don't get to do that. We put our big girl panty's on and go to work. If I could go back and tell my 5 year old self something, it would be "STAY IN BED WHILE YOU CAN!" (Ok, probably not, but in the moment, sure).

Then there's the boy... I was so sad all last week because he didn't call. And I was frustrate with myself for being upset that he wasn't calling. (He didn't call before his visit, he's just not a caller, it's not in his nature, and I'm not just making excuses, he warned me of this before leaving Provo), but I just wanted him to call, and I didn't want to come off as clingy or needy because I called him. (please note here that I'm a little hormonal and prone to crazy.) Anyway, so last night on my way home from Amanda's, he called, and we talked till almost 2 my time. (three his, crazy boy). But the thing is... I just felt like it was singularly unimportant talking. Nothing bad... just talk, which, I suppose is important, but... I just, HATE LONG DISTANCE!. That's what it comes down to. I hate it. It makes me question everything and analyze things that wouldn't be a problem if we lived in the same state/region/time zone. And I know... this too shall pass, and it'll be way better when we're back in Provo, but I don't want to feel crazy all summer, you know?

And so... I'm sorry for the list of the crazy in my life. I promise, I'll come up with something fantastic for Thankful Thursday this week!

One more for the day...

So I've been thinking, I sometimes worry because I don't know who's reading my blog, and so I'm not sure what kind of information is getting out there. That being said, I'd love to invite everyone to read it, it's just a matter of knowing who is doing so. So, on Sunday, I'm going private, but if you'd like an invite, shoot me an email. zimmerman dot ec at gmail dot com. I'll send you an invite when it goes private :)

Thankful Thursday: jealousy

So, when the boy was here, we were walking around at the locks all goo-goo eyed at each other, and I said something about how we were one of those obnoxious couples who makes people want to gag, and the boy said that they were just jealous of us. I responded with "It's probably true, heck, I'm jealous of myself!"

I was thinking about that today, and I realized that I really have a fantastic life! I mean, seriously. I was praying last night, and realized that lately there's been a lot of asking. So I spent a while thanking my Heavenly Father for all the blessings I have. Some of them include, in no particular order...

I live in an amazing time and place. (Today one of the kids at work was playing a computer game and they were 'visiting' different countries, when they went to North America she said "North America is my favorite!" it was so cute, and it's my favorite too!). I have so many opportunities, I was taught well, and have made good choices that allowed me to get an education, to have a testimony, to associate with amazing people. I have a mother who is so good at self improvement and learning that she taught me to be as well. I've also made not good choices, that allow me to know the difference, that help me learn, and I can repent. On Saturday, when we went to the temple, I wondered how long it had been since I had really taken the time to think about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Of all the things I am thankful for, That ranks top of my list. I am thankful for a Savior who had enough love and courage and strength to win the fight for my life. I'm thankful for a family who taught me about Him, and His gospel. I'm thankful for my testimony. What a strength and peace. I'm thankful for church meetings directed at me. For a mother who listens, and for lots of wise friends.

I have such a blessed life. I'm pretty jealous of myself :)

And epic, boy weekend

So I spent several sessions the last few days writing down all the details of the past weekend, I then decided, however, that I probably should keep all the nitty gritty details to myself, and to the people I'm closest to. That being said, I'm still going to give you a few of the highlights of the weekend. I promise to post pictures on facebook.

Thursday: The boy flew in on Thursday and we went home, introduced him to the 3 siblings he hadn't met yet, and then we strapped the kayaks to the top of the Subaru and we went to Coulon Park, which is on Lake Washington, it's Beautiful! We had a fantastic view of Mt. Ranier. It was gorgeous, in the 70's.

Friday: I had to work for a few hours, so he be-bopped around town while I worked, and then we went out to Snoqualmie falls. The boy thought that it was going to be a little walk with a cute little waterfall at the end. Snoqualmie falls is HUGE and is 270 feet tall (taller than Niagara falls). We had a little picnic and took a little nap on the grass (I was worn out from work). We later went home and took the kids hiking on a cute little trail up in Newcastle. Then we went and saw Jimi Hendrix's memorial (I've called Renton home for more than 20 years, and have never been). It was kind of cool, the boy made a rubbing of the headstone. We went home and watched Ratatouille with the family. At this point I should mention that he is so very, very patient with my siblings. VERY patient. That's all I have to say about that.

Saturday: We planned an early start, but when morning came, we were tired, and a little slower, but we left by 10am. We went and did a session at the Seattle Temple, which was kind of marvelous, I love the peace of the temple, and then we walked around the grounds, and... well, let's just say there was a break in a 5 1/2 year dry spell. :) It was magical and perfect. The rest of the day was crazy busy! We went to lunch, then went and saw the troll under the Freemont Bridge, then went to the Ballard Locks (which happens to be one of my favorite places). By that point the boy wasn't feeling very good, so we changed plans, went and visited one of my best and oldest friends who lives in Seattle, and who I still need to call to see if she approves. Then we went home and watched another movie at home. We had a conversation in which I told him that I did not kiss boys that I wasn't dating, so yes, he is my boyfriend(!)

Sunday: Was the boy's birthday. We went to choir practice where he was checked out by the entire base section... :)  And we went to church and sat on my family's very cozy bench. (with the 7 of us, plus the boy and a lady in the ward who sits by us it was really cozy) the boy and I did not mind. The companion speaker to the high counselor was the bishop of my youth who sat and watched us and came and grilled me afterwards. And there was a lot of happy smiles at me. Many of these people have watched me grow up. One of my very favorite people paid me a wonderful compliment. He said "He's not good enough for you." and asked if he'd ever met the boy. The answer was "no, but nobody will ever be good enough for you, Emily."[Knowing what I know now... he was right] For choir we sang Each Life that Touches Ours for Good and it really made me think about all the people that I love, who have touched my life. Sunday after church we had lasagna for the boy's birthday (his 22nd birthday, thank you. Rachel said that I'm just "embracing my inner cougar" I do go to BYU, you know :) ). Last night we went to St Mark's episcopal cathedral in Seattle where they have Gregorian chanting every Sunday night. It was beautiful and inspiring and it was great, to be there with him. We came home and watched a movie and cuddled. I will tell you, the cutest moment, possibly of my life was when he looked at me and asked "Why does your hand fit so perfectly in mine?" My goodness, he just gives me butterflies. (I realize that I would totally make gaggy noises at me too!)

Monday: He left. Boo. We had breakfast then went and sat next to each other on the couch while we dozed because we have been running full speed ahead and not sleeping. So for half hour-ish we went dozed and talked and just... were. Sometime it's nice to just be. And I went to work at 9:45. And mom took him to the airport at noon. And now I can just miss him. But I will be brave, and happy, and I will have patience and I will look forward to the future, but enjoy the moment. Dad called this morning to tell me that the boy was welcome back anytime, and that we can take this time to keep getting to know each other, (without the physical getting in the way, which is likely a good thing, because I do enjoy kissing that boy.)

So, if you can believe it, that was the short version. I've got to go to bed now! I'm beat!

And after all there's only one more sleep...

Did you ever count sleeps before something? In the best rendition of a Christmas Carol there is, the Muppet version, of course, Kermit and his son sing a song that goes "and after all there's only one more sleep till Christmas". Tonight I'm singing that tune but with "the boy comes" replacing "Christmas". I can't believe it's so soon! I've gotten a lot of things ready, I realized yesterday that he's going to be here for his birthday, and so I needed to get him a present. Ugh! I am a terrible shopper-- giving presents is not one of the way that I show love. Also, I've never given boys presents before... So I go for nerdy. I regularly tease him about needing to put away his pocket protector. So I went and got him a pack of pocket protectors (did you even know that they sell them still?) And a package of handkerchiefs that I'm going to have my mom embroider different things on them, a few with the boyscout fleur-de-lis, and some with his monogram on them. I just don't know what to get boys! Ugh. So... the funny story of yesterday. I was chatting with the boy on facebook, and I had to go to the bathroom and Rachel got my computer and started talking with the boy. She asked him if she could ask him a serious question, if there would be any nom nom-ing when he came to visit. He tried to dodge the question, but she called him out on it and made him answer. He started to answer "well, if you must know, I have not yet kissed Emily yet." (that's right, with two yets, I think this is a good sign.) I wanted to know what he would say next, but Rachel cut him off with a shocked "eww, gross, get your mind out of the gutter. I just wanted to know if there would be any eating like dinosaurs while you were visiting." It was quite hilarious.
So he got a taste of what visiting will be like... my sister even named his facial hair... Eugene. It's kind of a miracle that two of my siblings are married at all!

General Conference Sunday: A 'Mother Heart'

This morning it is mother's day. We work really hard to make this a special day for mom. We spoil her with breakfast in bed (sweet potato muffins, gourmet toast, sausage-onion-mushroom fritatta and orange juice complete with a vase of flowers). As we brought her breakfast to her on a tray, we sang "Mother I love you, Mother I do" Then we leave her alone to enjoy it. Dad will take care of dinner with help from ever one. At church they'll likely have all the women stand and receive a flower or something.

For the first time in my life on a Mother's day, I feel a little pang, a touch of excitement, that someday this celebration will be about me! What an amazing chance, we have, to celebrate the women who stayed up long hours feeding, changing and comforting us, and likely stay up many longer hours worrying about us. I couldn't help but remember a talk given my Julie B Beck in General Conference my senior year of High School. She talked about having a Mother Heart and developing a Mother Heart. She said

What is a mother heart and how is one acquired? We learn about some of those qualities in the scriptures. To paraphrase Proverbs: “Who can find a … woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. … She … worketh willingly with her hands. … With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. … She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. … Strength and honour are her clothing. … She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Prov. 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25–27). A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her.

I'd forgotten how amazing the talk was until I read it again. A mother heart is something that one cultivates. I believe it to be a conglomeration of gifts of the spirit (I just wanted to use that word:))  Sister Beck closes with the following

Covenant-keeping women with mother hearts know that whether motherhood comes early or late; whether they are blessed with a “quiver full” of children here in mortality or not; whether they are single, married, or left to carry the responsibility of parenthood alone—in holy temples they are “endowed with power from on high” (D&C 38:32), and with that endowment they received the promised blessings and are “persuaded of them, and embraced them” (Heb. 11:13).

Every girl and woman who makes and keeps sacred covenants can have a mother heart. There is no limit to what a woman with a mother heart can accomplish. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities. How grateful I am to the Lord for trusting women with the divine mission of motherhood. Like Mother Eve I am “glad” (see Moses 5:11) to know these things.

Here's a link to the whole article:  A 'Mother Heart'

How thankful I am for my mother, and for my grandmothers, who raised my parents to raise me. Also for all those others who had mother hearts.

The fear of committment

Today I was going through my phone and I found a picture I had taken of a Starbucks cup. It's likely because I grew up in Seattle, but there is just something comforting about having that warm cup of goodness (be it a steamer, a hot cocoa or a caramel apple cider) in my hands. Last summer I got a steamer (which really happens very rarely, I promise) and the cup was pretty inspirational. It was about fully committing oneself to anything.

THE IRONY OF COMMITMENT IS THAT IT'S DEEPLY LIBERATING - IN WORK, IN PLAY, IN LOVE. THE ACT FREES YOU FROM THE TYRANNY OF YOUR INTERNAL CRITIC, FROM THE FEAR THAT LIKES TO DRESS ITSELF UP AND PARADE AROUND AS RATIONAL HESITATION. TO COMMIT IS TO REMOVE YOUR HEAD AS THE BARRIER TO YOUR LIFE - ANNE MORRIS

I remember thinking a lot about it when I first saw the cup, but now, probably a year later, it still strikes a chord with me. Sometimes, I am a terrible follow through. Example: I love folding laundry but hate putting it away, I love cooking but hate cleaning up afterwards. Do you know how many times I've decided to get healthy... ?hahaha. Sometimes I last a few months. Sometimes I last only till mom makes cookies. Sometimes the resolve only lasts till I can talk myself out of what I'd spent hours talking myself into.

So I'm going to commit to committing.

I started on Monday. I won't lie, there is some motivation, having a boy, to be more healthy. But I'm tired of not feeling good about myself. I, for the record, and pretty fantastic (and humble too), but seriously, I could be even better (hard to believe I know!). Other factors include the fact that I struggled with depression all winter long and the Dr's told me that exercise could have the same effect as drugs if i was consistent (and I don't want to do the drug thing). Because we all know, exercise gives you endorphines, endorphines make you happy, and happy people just don't shoot their (insert important person here) they just don't! So I looked at what has kept me from exercising before. Mostly I think I bite off more than I can chew. I think that it all sounds fine and dandy, but on the first rainy day, I'm out. No more. I found this awesome workout plan called  "from couch to 5k" that I started this week. all it takes is 30-ish minutes 3x a week, and it starts off slow with walking/running intervals, then builds over 9 weeks till you can run a 5k. Sweet huh? I also found podcasts to download that tell me what I should be doing when (because if I had to look at a stop watch, let's be honest, it would have happened once.). They include great music. My personal favorite is one song that includes the idea that what doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger. Talk about motivation.

I'm also committing to other things. The boy, committing to just letting myself feel the way I feel, and not questioning it 90 times a day. And to my religion. I've got to work on my PRPs (personal religious practices). Consistency. It's all about consistency, and removing my head as the barrier to my life.

Thankful Thursday

Today i'm thankful for one simple thing in life, for one blessing and one thing unexpected.

* I no longer have a foot-bath every time that I shower! (making me so happy!) This miracle is made possible by my amazing Neighbor. For just a minute I will tell you about the woman who's lived across the street from us since I can remember. She has two daughters, one my age and one my sister's, so naturally i spent a lot of time at her house. She is one of the most Christian ladies I know. One time, we went on vacation and my mom asked her if she would water the plants on the front porch. We came back and not only were the plants beautiful, but the lawn was fertilized and mowed. She's amazing. She also knows many many things, for example, if you've got yourself a clogged shower drain here is the AMAZING solution.
1: Take a cup a bleach and pour it down the drain. (When i did this to the tub, be grossed out: the bleach took a minute to drain, eww!)
2: Wait 30 minutes
3: Boil a pot of water and dump it down the drain.
4: Repeat as necessary. I had to do it twice because the tub in the apartment hasn't been used for several months and the gunk had time to harden (again, sick!).
5: No more foot baths when I shower!

*I got a job so easily. God must love me and want me to be happy because I came home on Monday night, applied for 6 jobs on Tuesday, got called for an interview Tuesday evening, Interviewed for it on Wednesday and started working Thursday. Beautiful, right? It's at Adventure Kid's Playcare. It's a Texas based company that does drop in child care. It's in Issaquah, and I love it! There are a variety of children who come in, all ages, ones who want to read, to play, etc. There's enough to do that keeps me busy and not bored. They promised me full time too :)

*The boy.We talk every few days. There's no schedule. One of us will usually text the other and ask if he's busy. The phone usually rings within a minute or so. Which isn't a problem as long as my phone is on vibrate. I changed the boy's ring tone and sometimes find myself listening to the song rather than answering right away. The other day I was just in a funk. I don't know why, but I called and talked to him for a few hours (there was some phone plugging in on both sides of the line) and after... He just makes me happy. I was thinking about the scariest f word there is (Future), and realized that at this point, the way I feel is pretty serious. That being sia,d it changes ALL my plans. The boy and I had this conversation when we went hiking a few weeks ago, it had to do with the fact that I've gotten along pretty well these past 24 years, me and God. That's who makes the decision and who deals with the good times and the bad, the heart breaks and discouragements. The idea of adding another imperfect mortal into the mix is pretty terrifying. But we'll see. I refuse to worry about this until the summer's out and I've got to start applying to graduate schools.

I just feel like the luckiest girl around these days :)

Emily, you're a dowk.

Today I accomplished one of my long standing goals, with the help of my dad. Since I was probably ten-ish I my family has been going to the same Chinese restaurant. Golden Dynasty is the stuff that my dreams are made of. The hot and sour soup is... mmmmmmm. There are no words. If you're ever south of Seattle, mmmmmm, you must. Anyway. My dad served his mission in Taiwan and in his search for delicious, authentic Chinese food found Alice and Andy's place almost 15 years ago. Dad developed a relationship with them because they are from Taiwan. Also, I'm not sure how many customers they have who have seven children who come on a fairly frequent basis. Anyway, we walk in the door and they just about know our order and they ask about the kids who aren't there, we send them wedding announcements, etc. Here comes the story.
Every time we've visited them since I was about 16, Alice, the wife, who is the cutest little Asian woman in the whole world, asks me if I have a boyfriend. "You have boyfriend?" I've always been a little embarrassed and said no. One time my sister said that she didn't even like boys. Alice looked shocked at our dad and in Chinese asked if she was  lesbian (which she is not, for the record.).
So tonight we went to Golden Dynasty. Mmmmm. Mom asked what the best part of our day was, and my very serious answer was "right now". When we left tonight I was a little sad that Alice didn't ask me if I had a boyfriend. I said something about it while we were going to the car, at which point dad grabbed my arm and dragged me back into the restaurant. The waitress asked if we forgot something, and dad called for Alice. She popped up from behind the counter and dad started speaking in Chinese. (Dad later translated: Dad: She wants you to ask her if she has a boyfriend.) Alice (Oh! I was going to ask, but I forgot!) responded in rapid Chinese and I stood there feeling silly. Then she looked at me and she said "You have boyfriend?" She was pretty excited that the answer was yes. And then dad said "pull out your phone and show her a picture" So I did, and she thought he was handsome and Andy came out and looked. And dad told them how great the boy was, and it was happy.
Needless to say, I feel like a dork, but a happy dork!

wonderful :)