I'm a Published Writer!!
Through a run-around twist of fate I received the opportunity to write for a wedding magazine. I couldn't believe the work that it took! I worried sick all January long. Writing, rewriting, editing, having other people edit it, choosing the write pictures (I gave them 5, one of me and 4 of the designer I write about and they used only the one of me) sending them copy after re-did copy. And then like the hushed calm after a thunderstorm I waited.

Weeks went by and I couldn't get the article off my mind. I kept imaging magazine being published only to find out they left me out. Finally while I was on my way to one of my Journalism classes I passed by the news stand. It was one of those moments where you do a double take that takes too long so you have to walk backwards a bit. I grabbed the first magazine off the stand and flipped pages too eagerly to read through the topical guide. And there it was. Page 32:


I couldn't believe the surge of pride I had for myself! I wanted to dance a jig and re-write the song "I've got a golden ticket!" My article, my words, my opinions. It was all there. The best part of all was skimming the page to see - Rachel Darling - in print.

I showed my journalism teacher right away who replied, "That's a nice picture of you." "Yeah Brother Hicks - but I wrote the article," I clarified. "OH, Wow!" he was actually excited when you understood what was going on! I now feel like I should get an automatic 'A' in that class.

As I waited in line at the Post office the strangest feeling came over me. It was a feeling I'd felt before. When I was in high school I quickly became OBSESSED with winning a medal. I didn't care what the medal was for or what place I got - I just wanted a medal that I had won. I then medaled in a regional speech competition (second place in my division and second place for the whole competition). As I hung the medal on the wall I took out my mental "Life's to do list" and checked off "win a medal". Feeling satisfied I no longer had an ounce of care to win any more medals or do anything else with speech competitions.

The night after I was realised from my mission I felt the same way. Standing there in the kitchen with my family and in my favorite pair of jeans I took out my mental to do list and checked off "serve an honorable mission"

The Post office line went quick and a copy of said magazine was on its way to Mom and Dad in Nebraska. I took out my familiar list and checked off, "get article published." The hyped up feelings about getting published found their exits in my heart just as quickly as all my other goals had. I did. And now its done. Did you know that I have accomplished everything I had ever said I wanted out of life? That's a pretty good rap-sheet for a 23 yr old.

I drove home asking myself what I really wanted next. And came up with this: I want to be able to go to walmart and pick up an action figure of myself or the action figure of someone I played in a movie.

I guess its time to dust off my acting resume...

Happy Valentine's Day

Seeing how Valentine's Day was on a Sunday this year we decided to celebrate on Saturday. Or at least try to celebrate.

Everything started off GREAT!! Ben came home from work and presented me with a dozen orange roses. As I was ooing and awwing at how beautiful they were he pulled out another dozen roses from behind his back! What a wonderful way to start the day.

We made plans to look at the puppies, then go see the movie Percy Jackson, and go to dinner at Jonny Carlio's.

We were so excited to go find a new dog. Our apartment complex recently gave dogs the ok to move in. Now OF COURSE our first choice is to have Elli here with us, but no matter how many times we've thought about getting her here we can't figure out how to do it and have it be uber safe for Elli. So our second choice- adopting a new one! Unfortunately the place only had 3 dogs left!! So our first part of the itinerary was over quicker then we thought.

Next came Percy Jackson. Which we soon found was sold out. Went to see 'Valentine's Day' instead- don't bother wasting your money.

Finally off to my FAVORITE Idaho restaurant Jonny Carino's which was PACKED!! The wait turned out to be over an hour. We skipped it and tried a new restaurant (well, new to me) which is all about steak. We had to wait about 20mins for a table and I was getting Hangry. That's right Hangry. Its a turn my roommates and I created for that feeling when you haven't eaten in a while and everything starts to frustrate you. But my hanger was fixed almost immediately by the first course and for being on a date with such an amazing guy! :)

Having our plans going awry sweetly reminded me of our first date that Ben and I had. We got lost, then lingered to long at dinner which made us late for a movie, then couldn't find a pool table, and all sorts of mayhem. BUT the important thing was that we had so much fun together. No matter what happened. That's why I started to fall for Ben because he's so good at just rolling with what life gives you and loving it.

But wait - this whole plans going all wrong didn't start with Ben. Remember when we went to Disney World and ALL I wanted to do was to go on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and it was the only ride closed down for the whole time we were there!

Then we went to Chicago and I couldn't wait to show my mom the Jackson Pollock. And the only part of the museum closed down for renovations - the Jackson Pollock part. Hmm, how do i fix this jinx about me?!

Our Time in Salt Lake City

(check the sweet HAT! mom made it)

This is a little late, we went to SLC a couple weeks ago, but we've been busy!

Ben and I took time off and made the three hour trek to SLC to go to a 'Brand New' concert. I'm always surprised how quick the drive feels. Every time we used to go to Waterloo it always felt like it took alllllll day to get there!

We stayed at Ben's sister Mary's house. It was great to catch up with her and her new husband Rob. We hadn't see the family since their wedding in June. Mary had 4 kids from a previous marriage and Rob had 5- that makes 9 kids in the house 12 and under. I'm surprised that TLC hasn't caught up with them to do a show!

We woke up the next morning ready to roll! Playing with the kids then off the the mall. Then we went to the IMAX to see Avatar. Yes, we saw Avatar at Christmas time, but Ben has never been to an IMAX to see a movie. It was really cool to see such an epic movie on such a large scale.

Having a more time we scuttled over to the temple and got to take a tour of the conference center. It was great to get a tour of a building you always seen on tv. Our tour guide was adorable! She was about 60-70 yrs old kept saying how cute Ben and I were together. We started to wonder if we could adopt her.

Then grabbed a late lunch at The California Pizza Kitchen- YUM!!! We feasted and I completely forgot about how great their food was. Of course, by the late time we were eating, anything might have tasted that good!

We had some more time to go shopping- YEAH - which lead to an impromptu visit to- Build a Bear!!! Ben had never been there and has slight issues to my previous Build a Bear, Mr. Carrots. He wears a pink sleeping beauty dress. So this time we made a Mrs. Carrots now wears a sleeping beauty dress and we bought Mr. Carrots a comfy bath robe. He now looks more like Hugh Hefner, oops. Ben also made a monkey with Star Wars pjs who we named Fred.

Lastly came the whole point of whey we were there: the 'Brand New' concert! It was the first concert I'd been to years and, it was LOUD! Maybe I'm not as party hearty as I used to be. I ended up sitting down on the side where I saw fate take a hand. A girl, about the age of 16, had been drinking quickly found out that alcohol doesn't agree with more people's digestive system as it all came back up and onto the floor. I chuckled, then went over to her and her friend to see if I could help. They eventually got a ride home and left. There was no cleaning crew in sight so the mess just stayed on the ground. I started counting how many people would step in it. At around the 14th stepper a glorious thing happen. A girl- very scantly clad- slipped and fell in the unsanitary puddle. She screamed and ran to the bathroom. Moral of the story: wear more clothes and sensible shoes to concerts. :) ahh, poetic gooey justice.