Dating, for serious?

So this post has been a long time coming....but I have finally got the time to do it. Sorry it is going to be kind of a venting blog post.
Dating. What is up with that?
Why am I a dating handicap? For serious.
Let's go over my brief dating history.....and remember these are just dates, I have only really "dated" one person...and that did not go well, not at all.

First date ever...(I will change the name to protect the identities of this poor boy)
Samuel, nice, a bit creepy. I am 16 he is 18. Senior Sweethearts dance. Here is the gist of it. He asked me 2 days before the dance, in a manner which I could not say no...he did not tell me when we were meeting for the day date, so 11:00 I am still sleeping and our whole group is waiting for us...He had to work the night of the dance...and he could not drive, no drivers license. So we got to the dance with 1/2 of the dance left. All in all memorable, but not so great.

Through the high school years I went on few dates and they were all to school dances. Prom Jr and senior year. Both fine. The drives home were fun :) Dan, ha ha ha, the best! And Deen really made that really funny the next day at church.

So then after high school I went to the singles ward where I met so really great guys. Never was asked on a date...although I tried to flirt as best I could (which is not good, I tell you not good) But I also worked during the week so I was never able to really go the activities where the real flirting could happen, because I am very much against flirting in church. There was this one dude, that I really, really, really, so many reallys, liked. In fact still do. But he went on his mission and I went to Africa, and he never came back to AF. We are facebook friends, ha ha. So nothing will happen with that. Which makes me sad because he was real live perfect. Anyway, I am rambling.

While I was going to the singles ward I dated a dude from high school. That was all bad, frankly put, he was a lair, in every form.

So I went on a few dates, like 3, with other guys. First dates only....I think that is all I am good for.

There is one stick out date, we had so much fun and didn't want the date to end. But it did have to end, and I went back to Massachusetts and he is now on his mission. He is a really great dude and I really like him. But on a mission...so that is a bummer.

I have been set up on a few blind dates....those did not turn out well. A really sweet woman in my home ward set me up with this guy that she works with. The first date went well. The second, not so much. Cage fighting in a bar. Yep. So, not so good.

Now I am going to the singles ward again, the same one as last time. And I have not gotten a date directly from that. I went on a few dates with an awesome hockey player, who was in the ward, but is not anymore. He is nice, but I am sure he just wants to be friends. Which I am fine with.

So sadly that is pretty much the extent of my dating. Never really to a 3rd date. Everyone tells me that it is the guys. But I am not convinced. There has to be something I am doing wrong! There is something wrong with me. Dating Handicap, that is me. Socially awkward, yep me too. Advice welcome :)

So I am venting my frustration with the whole dating scheme. And announcing my resolve to go on a date...lets start with one a month. Ok maybe every other week. One date every 2 weeks, lets see if I can do that.

Year in Review

So a new year huh? What did I do in 2009....hmmmm....
Well I was still in Zambia,
In January Michi was with me and she had decided to go home and I had decided to stay...but we wanted to go to Victoria Falls together before we left...so we kinda snuck out and went. And I am glad I did! It was fun to go with some one and see it, because the next time I went I traveled by my self the entire 10 hour bus ride. Then the next week Michi left and I was alone...all alone, for a few months anyway. But January, February, March and April where when I really got to work! I went out and taught and it was amazing...I miss it! At the time I really just wanted to come home more than anything, I had a homemade calendar counting down the days. But I really miss it and I want to go back. I taught at 11 schools. And I loved my students! They were so much fun. Some were better than others, Showgrounds was my favorite. It was the poorest school I taught at but it had the best students! There were 4 girls and 1 boy that were always asking questions. Always wanting to know more. The last time I went there one of the girls got up the courage to ask to feel my hair....so I have 30 dirty hands running their fingers through my hair. They gabbered away in Tonga, in excited and awed voices. I miss them.
January, February and March where also the time when I put on the most weight while I was there...I was only cooking for myself and I felt like I could not waste any food I made. Also it was really hard being by myself...so food was my friend, and what did I do when I got bored? I ate food and read books....I read A LOT of books. I brought....6 books and I read those all in the first month...so I downloaded books off of the internet. 10 books from the internet....and then when Hye-Jin came in March she brought 6 more books.
I also had a lot of visitors from other "projects" in those months...which was so nice. A girl from Austria came and stayed a week. A boy from China also stayed a week. Yuskuke, that I trained with, came and stayed a week. It was so fun to meet new people. And have them go with me to my classes.
Then a few weeks before I left I went to Livingstone to see Victoria Falls again. It was amazing both times! But this time even more so. It was after the rainy season and there was so much water! So so so so so much! The first time I went I didn't wear a poncho, but this time I did, but it soaked right through and I was dripping, dripping wet when I took it off! I really want to go back there and bungie jump off of the bridge just below the falls...life goal.
The last couple of days I was there I finally got the package my mother had sent 3 months before. It was full of children books, which I had asked for so I could take them to my schools and to the hospital. So I went to the hospital with Hye-Jin and read to the children in the children's ward. I think that is one of my favorite memories.
The last day I was there was unbelievably stressful. I didn't know how I was getting to Lusaka, or if I was going to be given money to travel....I think I cried harder that day then I ever have before...and ask anyone who was there with me...I cried a ton while I was there.
But finally I got home. After delay, upon delay, lost baggage and almost missing my connecting flight. But I was back on American soil!
I then drove home with my wonderful friend Elyse. And then flew back to Utah. And welcomed home by my wonderful family and amazing best friend.
Being home.....what to do what to do.
Well one thing was certain, I needed to lose my almost 30 lbs that I had gained. I needed a job and I needed something to keep me busy.
I searched and searched for a job, sent out a million resumes, and went to LDS "how to get a job" workshop. I finally got one at Mozy and I started working there Aug. 2nd. I have lost 25 of the 30 lbs that I gained. And over the summer I was in Children of Eden that American Fork/Highland arts council up on. Which was so fun to be in! I love love love theater and am resolved to do more of it. Being in it kept me busy and I was able to make wonderful friendships and renew some so they are even better and I don't know what I would do without them.
So all in all a good year...there is only one thing that is lacking...and that is a boyfriend. I have concluded that I am dating handicap. I have been on some dates, few good, more not so good. But I will just have to keep on trying. I just wish it wasn't so hard. I just want to date a good guy that likes me...someone to cuddle with. Is that too much to ask :)

Feather Head Bands

So for Christmas we choose names, but we buy a gift and also make gifts. So this year I got April and I wanted to do something different, because it every usually does the same things...blankets, pillow cases, pj's...stuff like. Also I really love theses! I made Feather Head Bands! :)
So here is a little picture tutorial. They were super easy to make. I went to Cabala's and got a huge bag of Fly tying feathers and I got some felt from wal-mart, some headbands and a glue gun, and some cute things from Roberts to cover up the bottom of the feathers.













These I ended up give to my cousin for her Auction to raise funds so her and her husband can adopt a baby. But I made a bunch more...and I have lots more feathers!
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!!! Love you!

Birthday and Thanksgiving

Mmmmm....so I have been 22 for a week and a day. So Happy Birthday me! We went to Wolf Creek for my birthday and for Thanksgiving. It was nice, a bit boring, and a bit cold. I like being at home. My wonderful mother forgot my present at home so I didn't get it till saturday...but she did get me what I wanted. I brought home a beautiful painting from Africa that has 6 woman with babies on it, and I wanted it framed...so I got it framed! Well Mom got it framed for me.
So 22, the big 22...I don't know what to say about that, besides it is the same a 21+1....
But when I was little I always thought I would be married by the time I was 22...ha ha ha ha how naive of me :) All I can say is that it is good to be 22.

No Shave November at work

So it being NO SHAVE NOVEMBER, the guys at work decided to have a contest. The rules: no shaving. The prize a trip for 2 to St. George. Here are some pictures of the final judging.


So it got down to Jon and Mark...really the two best beards on the team. I voted for Jon, left. But Mark ended up winning. Go Mark! Yeah for having good beard growing genes :)

Here are most of the guys that competed. Clay was on a call, but we pulled him in for a sec to get voted on. The Voters, all of the girls in the office. I think there were maybe 20.

Most of the team. Top, left to right: Derrick, Jon, Mark, Nate F, Austin. Second row, left to right:Jeremy, Ben, me with my manly mustache, and Kayleigh with her highly attractive 'stache. And then Keith in front. We were missing Rex, Clay, Nate L, Steve and Justin ( he is in the picture above, on the right)

Kayleigh and I thought we would join the fun, and thought it was unfair that only the guys got to have a contest. So Kayleigh go some felt and we cut 'staches of our own! We were DQed, well because we were girls and the rules were beards not mustaches.

New Moon

Ok, so my good friend Adam got me into see New Moon. What do I have to say. I liked it. And then sometimes not so much. I laughed really hard at some parts where you probably weren't "suppose" to laugh. But it was so so so so, ok to many so's. Just so better than Twilight. Still hated Kristen Stewart. Can she act. NO. Does she look like she cares for Edward, nope not a smidgen. Did her screaming make me uncomfortable, you betcha. I could so be a better Bella ;) Robert Pattinson is still hairy and still wears lipstick, and still don't like his "acting". The script still sucked...stupid, cheesy, random. But I still liked it. The music was better. They stuck better to the book. And of course Taylor Lautner shirtless almost the entire movie. What can I say I am a sucker for a six pack, hairless, steaming guy/boy. And it made me laugh! I am going to go see it again with my co-worker Kayleigh. And I am excited.

The tale of the Curtains

So since it has been getting colder, the leaves on the tree outside my window have fallen all off. Therefore I decided it was time to get some curtains, you know so I didn't flash anyone or something like that. I can pretty much get away with no curtains in the summer. So this is the tale of Leah trying to make curtains. First I went to wal-mart, ok well I was all ready there, and I passed the fabric, and I thought to myself and said to Sarah. I need curtains. So we looked and found this pretty great sheerish, gray stuff. I got enough to double layer it. Then proceeded to buy it and take it home. I then got home and set out to make my wonderful curtains. I cut and I sewed and I sewed some more, very crookedly I might add. I went to the store and also got curtain rods. Then I went home and put up my wonderful new curtains. But later that night mom and dad came home and said, "so I see you put up new curtains". "Yes" I replied. "You know you can see everything through them, every poster on your wall, EVERYTHING." So failed I did with my curtains, what good are they if you can see through them? So that night I made sure to change out of sight of the window. The next day I was determined to do it right. I went to a real fabric store and picked out some pretty purple fabric, that was HALF OFF! I know right! For me, amazing! I actually look at the price. Any way I got 4 yards, and made sure it was not sheerish at all. Then I went home and cut and I sewed and I sewed some more, very crookedly I might add. The I was finished! And here they are! I put both of them up and they have a very nice effect. The End