tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53250468637347559592011-12-19T13:19:21.461-07:00It's really just an effort to make my papers for school less wordy by using a blog as an outlet for the small pleasure I get from feeling and hearing my fingers typing on a keyboard excessively.Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-30316925934971912422011-02-15T22:09:00.000-07:002011-02-15T22:09:36.494-07:00

Tonight, I am unmotivated. Instead of thinking about the many pages of paper I need to write, or the reading I need to do, I think of this: In 3rd grade, I had a teacher named Mrs. Rushmore. One time, we tried to trick her into telling us how old she was. I thought I was being clever when I asked, "Hey, Mrs. Rushmore, what year were you born in?" It didn't work. When I first moved to Costa Mesa,

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-59176698061665889732010-12-01T22:09:00.001-07:002010-12-01T23:46:10.177-07:00

I find this evening to be a perfect summary of how I imagined graduate school: 10pm,1,000+ pages of Nietzsche and commentary,15-page paper I'm procrastinating, and cold Chinese food.

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-33861365741650971392010-11-08T08:20:00.000-07:002010-11-08T08:20:50.296-07:00

I want this. And all the other things they have, too.

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-13964580570244890952010-09-12T21:14:00.001-06:002010-09-12T21:18:11.246-06:00

So, today, I would like to stand on a soap box for a moment to vent a small amount of frustration: I have recently acquainted myself with a certain young woman who avidly stands by the common maxim: Boys Are Stupid. Let me first preface my irritation by reminding you of who I am. I was never, nor probably will ever be, "boy crazy." I don't really develop crushes that last longer than 10 minutes

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-2337520650800843222010-06-17T11:48:00.000-06:002010-06-17T11:48:16.335-06:00

Lately, my office has been incredibly slow, so I've been having a hard time keeping myself occupied for 8 hours each day.  My favorite website (mentalfloss.com) recently created a blogpost on random kind acts from strangers, where readers were encouraged to contribute.  If you're looking for a marvelous way to spend some time, click on the link below. mental_floss Blog >> The Kindness of

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-23734585007828112952010-06-09T15:16:00.000-06:002010-06-10T11:17:03.480-06:00

What a trip, eh? It's so bizarre to reflect on the last few years.  Recently tried to remember the classes you took your first semester (look left!)?  I barely can.  I had Biol 100, Career Exploration, English 150... um, wow seriously? That's hard.  It's mostly strange because I'm pretty sure most of the classes I took my first couple semesters I remember almost nothing about (clearly, if I can't

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-20768648263774718212010-03-07T16:01:00.000-07:002010-03-07T16:01:16.393-07:00

I figured I had some spare time this afternoon, so I might add something new to this.  Forgive the ramblings, but that is sort of the whole point of this thing... I graduate in precisely 47 days and will enter the world as a college graduate.  I haven't quite decided how I feel about it.  I am unsurprisingly excited in some ways, mostly because this will be my first summer without classes since

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-17362077144615023872009-09-03T21:29:00.003-06:002009-09-03T22:35:48.494-06:00

School started back up this Monday. I think it's going to be a pretty great semester. I'm pretty excited about my Crime, Justice, and Corrections class: partly because the subject matter fascinates me, and partly because I have friends in that class. (That doesn't always happen.) I'm also taking a graduate course: Seminar on Race & Ethnic Relations, which should also be interesting. We've

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-56445966924253486132009-07-07T01:25:00.001-06:002009-07-07T01:25:04.463-06:00

Conversations with myself are dangerous.

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-53017327394104713432009-07-06T22:11:00.003-06:002009-07-06T22:25:34.345-06:00

save water, save energy, save money, save time, save the lakes, save the whales, save the pandas, don't litter, don't waste, don't waste time, grow a garden, eat right, eat healthy, eat omega-3's, don't eat sugar, don't get wrinkles, always wear sunscreen, take vitamins, recycle, thirty minutes of cardio, keep in touch, keep a record, study hard, learn everything, drink water, get sleep, don't

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-36107371911562485842009-06-07T21:21:00.002-06:002009-06-07T21:25:07.255-06:00

I recently (this morning) finished reading Ender's Game for the first time. As the battle came to a close and the final two chapters commenced, Rebecca started playing her lovely violin so in sync with the fallout from victory, I nearly cried.Well, not really. In fact, not even close. But it was a rather moving twenty minutes. I liked it. And it's much better than A Hitchhiker's Guide to the

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-86769453247771639742009-04-20T13:37:00.007-06:002009-04-21T11:37:50.236-06:00

Nicki's right: it has been a long time.Where to begin? I guess we'll just go backwards and see where that takes me. Finals started this past Friday, and yes, I'm already done. It would feel much more amazing if I wasn't procrastinating a minuscule 2-page paper I still have left as part of my take-home final. But I took my first test (it was scheduled) Friday at 3pm. Then Saturday at 7am I

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-14218743438143018692009-02-21T19:43:00.003-07:002009-02-21T19:51:35.973-07:00

Today I woke up and laid in bed for a comfortable amount of time, enjoying both the cool and warm feeling of my sheets.Today I had breakfast (almost said dinner there for no reason) with Stephanie's family.  We made her grandma happy.Today I was mildly productive in catching up on various podcasts and homework.  I had to go up to campus to work on a school project with a girl in my class:

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-27389096514726714452009-01-16T13:18:00.003-07:002009-01-16T13:42:31.072-07:00

Um, crazy? It's been almost two months. I apologize to the stillness of the world wide web for not making its life more exciting with my world wide weblogging.But let's be honest: not a whole lot has happened since Thanksgiving. The semester ended, which is something I won't complain about, except for the fact that we're in a new one now (...but I like school, so why am I complaining?).

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-7983969142940985092009-01-11T21:44:00.003-07:002009-01-16T15:20:58.329-07:00

Okay, so this wasn't really posted on the date that I say it was, but it happened then and we'll just pretend that that's when I posted. So sue me.Today was perhaps one of the greatest days... well, not ever, but it's been a while since one has been this stupendous on the whole. I've had Lena's car to make the weekend errands and parties easier to get to, and she was kind enough to let me hang

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-29946559656154899892008-11-30T21:10:00.002-07:002008-11-30T21:29:04.571-07:00

This past week has been absolutely wonderful! I had the chance to spend my Thanksgiving break with Ben and his family down in Mission Viejo. I have to admit I was a little nervous going into it, but I think that was mostly because I was going to be around new people in general for a few days, and I do tend to get a little shy on occasions such as that. But his family was incredibly accepting

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-11567374473438175752008-11-12T18:53:00.002-07:002008-11-12T19:01:48.957-07:00

Yesterday, I decided I would do something festive for Veteran's Day, so I emailed my grandpa, an 86-year-old Louisiana man that served as an electrical engineer with the Seabees (a Naval division) during World War II. He responded that evening with one of the most entertaining emails I have ever read. So ladies (because I don't think any gentleman actually read this blog), I give you the

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-56115020341082934932008-11-10T09:01:00.005-07:002008-11-10T10:00:43.634-07:00

I just got back from the best trip at Disneyland I've ever had (if that's possible). To be honest, I wasn't sure if it was really a good idea to go in the first place (financially speaking), but I have no regrets. The weather was perfect, the lines weren't long (average wait was maybe twenty minutes thanks to efficient speed-walking, the crowd's impatience with maintenance, and fastpasses), and

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-64383773151194334762008-10-15T18:34:00.002-06:002008-10-15T18:58:01.023-06:00

Upon previous post, the following events have occurred:School. I really like how this semester is going. All-in-all (whatever that phrase actually is/means), my professors have been very straight-forward; the homework level is challenging but tolerable; my schedule itself has been manageable, to say the least; and Ben and I are conducting wonderfully productive study dates. I like most

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-27545067088488127672008-09-20T23:25:00.004-06:002008-09-20T23:30:11.041-06:00

I read this poem ages ago, and it comes to my mind now.If you come softly-Audre LordeIf you come softlyAs the wind within the treesYou may hear what I hearSee what sorrow seesIf you come as lightlyAs threading dewI will take you gladlyNor ask more of youYou may sit beside meSilent as a breathOnly those who stay deadShall remember deathAnd if you come I will be silentNor speak harsh words to youI

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-26441602864963797042008-09-10T20:16:00.004-06:002008-09-10T20:30:12.487-06:00

I suppose the title of my blogspot in general will make this entry much of a lie. This is nothing new. This is me.I often wonder if it's my pessimism that will be my downfall. I try not to think of it as pessimism; it is much more real than that. I find myself worrying about things that I can't change or that I can't fix or that I can't be a part (apart) of. I even go so far as to worry that

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-50179530241076052522008-09-03T22:47:00.002-06:002008-09-03T22:47:56.955-06:00

I've been meaning to make a post about Yellowstone and all that, but this isn't it. I guess I'll get to that if/when I have more time.Nope, this is a different story, but equally lovable. I was at work today, and I had to walk something up to the ASB. On the way there, I saw this cute little family: a mom, a dad, a four-year old girl and a baby in the stroller. As I was passing them, I heard

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-21508751074299219572008-07-23T00:23:00.001-06:002008-07-23T00:32:12.188-06:00

Today was an interesting day. I left work this afternoon praying I wouldn't be back in the morning. I had the hardest time being happy, which is something that I haven't felt in such a long time (fortunately). And yet...I talked to a good friend of mine from back home on the phone this evening. I hadn't talked to her since last year, when I visited home in July. We've both been busy, and I

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-70259350564051223752008-07-05T11:09:00.000-06:002008-12-10T19:18:00.178-07:00

Although this picture does not accurately reflect it, little Juanita was quite a chunkster.Tuesday, July 5, 19889:23 p.m.8 lbs., 13.5 oz.20 inchesI was the sweet little girl that put my mom through labor... in July... in Arizona. And you can't see this, either, but there's a kangaroo on the other side of that blanket. I think that's where my fixation began.

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-40379457495471757922008-05-27T09:07:00.000-06:002008-05-27T16:05:51.299-06:00

Wow. I'm not really too sure where to begin, so I guess we'll start with Thursday:Thursday we were all packed and ready to go for California (eventually), and we left, and it was great. Most of the trip down to Boulder City was getting through the hard downpour in the desert. But with Ashley's amazing speed and driving skills, we managed to make it there in a fairly decent amount of time. We

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-24131219131283825822008-05-11T23:17:00.000-06:002008-05-11T23:31:01.066-06:00

In short: happy Mother's Day!On another note: I spent most of Saturday shopping, which for me is a very rare occurrence (indeed). My sister was kind enough to help me on my quest to find a one-piece swimsuit that fit all of me. It's tricky, and I finally resulted to the much-avoided tankini, but I think the ensemble will turn out okay in the end. Anyway, Brigham was getting annoyed that we

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-85587116910489990472008-05-07T23:17:00.000-06:002008-05-07T23:45:33.827-06:00

This has become one of those nights where I feel the need to write something--anything. There's a lot buzzing around in my head right now, but I can't seem to pin anything down long enough to focus on it. So I guess I'll discuss a slightly-less pertinent topic: grad school.I understand that I am but a few weeks junior in school, but the creepy realization that I've somehow managed to finish my

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-31643792656832160062008-04-25T23:38:00.001-06:002008-04-25T23:38:51.466-06:00

Just another affirmation that I'm right where I belong. Love you.

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-69303227058936249882008-04-13T19:24:00.000-06:002008-04-13T19:41:16.632-06:00

A few of us went on a walk today around the neighborhood. It's been the first really gorgeous day in a long while, and I think we just wanted to give Spring a big Welcome hug by going out and enjoying nature for a bit. The girls mostly wanted to take pictures, and I admire them for that; they're really trying to capture memories (not just make them, like me).Most of the walk, though, I was

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-11786135736605809692008-04-09T08:48:00.000-06:002008-04-09T09:15:07.062-06:00

A few months ago (how many exactly, I'm not sure), I asked my sister to take me to Rite Aid. Nothing new about this, because I was going there to pick a refill on a prescription, something I must do every month. This visit, however, has stayed with me, and I often find myself wondering why I didn't act differently--better yet, wondering why I acted the way that I did.It was just going to be a

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-18372100757493835232008-02-26T11:06:00.000-07:002008-02-26T16:18:45.282-07:00

Sometimes I wish my memory was as easily accessed and as permanent as a memory card in a camera.This past weekend was mostly uneventful, and I'm so glad that I didn't have a great big pile of homework to finish. The semester has been kind to me. However, the past few days I've found myself reflecting on memories of my past--some of which I would like to hold on to, and some of which I wish I

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-51386141385403654892008-02-23T22:24:00.000-07:002008-02-23T22:28:36.626-07:00

The following is just a little note that I wrote (as a note) on Facebook. For some reason, I feel the need to repeat it here:Last night, as I layed in my sweat pants and busty giraffe shirt on the most static-electricity-loving couch, I looked around at where I was. And as Ashley played the piano, Annah looked for Hallmark Hall-of-Fame's on the laptop, Missy played the guitar, Kelli worked on

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-61550991862693711902008-01-29T23:33:00.000-07:002008-01-30T00:14:55.495-07:00

Two things:First, our prophet passed away Sunday evening. We were sitting in our stake leadership training meeting that night, and it was after we had gathered together to learn the difference between "administering" and "ministering" when President Kearl was interrupted by... someone. He returned to the podium, finished his thought, and said to us, "I've just been informed that our prophet,

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-2135820774338497692008-01-25T21:15:00.000-07:002008-01-25T21:29:16.547-07:00

I had another great moment today! I seem to be getting quite a few of these the past couple o' months.I was walking home from the student-recital-a-thon I put myself through tonight, and for once in a long while, it wasn't freezing! Well, I guess technically, it was freezing, but I wasn't for some reason. So I'm listening to my spankin' new iPod, and Yellowcard's Believe comes on--that's a

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325046863734755959.post-85121668769117403222008-01-25T08:07:00.000-07:002008-02-26T16:23:27.073-07:00

To be perfectly honest, this might get kind of tricky. I'm not all too sure what propelled me to start a blog, let alone continue it, but I think we could make this work. So, my dear friends, I haven't yet decided what to say or what to talk about, but I assure that you will not be disappointed.Holla'

Karen Spencehttps://profiles.google.com/109342332112543835314noreply@blogger.com0