This is why this is my major

"Magicians pull rabbits out of hats,
Psychologists pull habits out of rats."

They rhyme. & I love to rhyme.

So maybe something good came from the little albert experiment after all.

Happy 100th Arizona!!

100 Years
Celebrating Arizona's centennial
1912-2012

100 years ago today
was a proud moment for the US of A
the 48^th & greatest state was born.
Mighty ARIZONA – for all to adorn!

With its natural beauty, a glorious sight
One of a kind sunsets almost every single night!
Sedona’s red rocks make a worthy companion
To our wonder of the world – the one & only Grand Canyon!
Pine trees up north, saguaros throughout
Help this place stay lovely – even while in a drought!

With dry riverbeds 10 months out of the year,
to us a creek is a river & a REAL river is just weird!
Water sources are dirty & green in this lovely place
except lakes Powell and Mead – Our saving grace (thanks NV & UT)

Oh Arizona: Where natural disasters are never a concern
but 10 minutes outside leads to a blistery sunburn!
where 5 days a year it not just rains but POURS!
& all the neighborhood kids run quickly outdoors.
If you don’t like dust you should probably move…
because we have dust storms on steroids… called a haboob!

We take pride in being the wisest state in the nation
recognizing daylight savings time is just an irritation!
Also for making the bolo tie the official state neckwear
& having more boats per capita than any other state – how queer

3 cheers to this glorious state I love
with towns you’ve probably never heard of…
Pima, Jerome, Kingman, Globe & Bisbee??
But each with hundreds of years of their own history!
We’re home to the legendary shootout at the OK corral
Where Wyatt Earp probably left many with a low morale.
We also host the lost Dutchman mysterious tale
With the whereabouts of the gold mine no one can nail!

I love this state in it’s scorching hot glory
& that my friends, is definitely a true story!
With history so neat
This state cannot be beat!
This desert landscape is usually a beauty
& with our perfect winters we probably sound snooty!
Arizona sure has a lot to give..
That’s why it’s the NUMBER ONE place to live!

Here’s my ode to my favorite state!
Where many more wonderful years await!

Happy 100^th Arizona!!

Ps. There are Native Americans galore
& mormons there are even more!
We have the suns, Cardinals, and Diamondbacks!
Go to a game and eat some crackerjacks!
The spring training cactus league is grand
& many important people have roamed this land
The dbacks won a championship… that was fun
Ok now I really am done.

Classy and Cultural 2012!

Apparently this is the year for c’s.
So, In addition to my efforts to become more cultured, I’ve chosen another goal for 2012. The word is class. Ha, how classy. This idea stemmed from a wonderful quote by the one and only Audrey Hepburn, a very classy lady.
‎"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
Well actually I read that quote and my thought process went something like this… I like Audrey Hepburn. She’s got class. I’m a fan of class. I am not as classy as I want to be. AHA. Goal for this year… be more classy. In addition to being cultured. They will go hand-in-hand.
So there. Now you understand.
Anyway, I googled the word class and what did I find? The definition “stylish and elegant”
Well that’s not exactly the definition I was thinking. Here’s my version:

1. Speak kindly and carefully. Think before speaking. Choose words carefully. And stick to the good’ol saying,”If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Gossip, name calling, and insensitiveness seem to be the opposite of class. Stay away from negative thoughts and feelings.

2. Say thank you. Let others know you are grateful for them and what they do for you. Including Heavenly Father who has given you the greatest gift of all. Gratitude.

3. Seek Wisdom and learning. In addition to my 50 classic novels, spend more time in the Book of Mormon and old conference talks. Religious, political (Presidential campaign this year) and cultural studies!

4. Spruce up. Exercise regularly & take care of your body. Stay clean and elegant. Dress up on random days. This does not mean being vain… no, no, no. If you feel good about yourself, you will act better. Fact.

5. Shine. Find the confidence to be who I want to be. Respect myself so others will too.

So this really may not have anything to do with Audrey Hepburn at all. I want to become the person I want to be and know I can be. I want to improve my relationships with my Heavenly Father, my family, and my friends. I want to be more self-assured and comfortable with myself so I can be the Instrument I need to be in the Lord’s hands to do the work I came here to do.

Bring it 2012! It’s going to be one classy, cultural ride. & it’s going to be AWESOME!

I will be cultured… one day!

I had an epiphany the other day—I am so not cultured. Then I decided I wanted to be.
So... in order for this to happen, I need to participate in cultural things. So I made a list!

*Read 50 classic novels. The only classic novels I’ve read were the required ones for highschool English classes. And I probably didn’t enjoy them as much as I should because I was forced to read them. So hopefully I can even learn to like them. But just in case, the list I made had 100 books. 50 classics. 50 others. So I can have a few breaks from the classy stuff. :)

*Watch all the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars & all the Avengers Movies. [Hulk. Ironman 1&2, Thor and Captain America.] I’ve never seen them. & I do realize that these are probably really random for a “To be cultured” list, but you’d be surprised at how many times these things are referenced in this country. So soon I’ll know what people are talking about. :)

*Watch Movies. {In general}. I’m getting a lot better and not hating them. I used to think they were a waste of time and I also could never pay attention throughout the whole thing. So I haven’t seen or even heard of many. But now I’ve come to the conclusion that movies are good, cultural & educational.

*Watch a musical on Broadway. NYC would be awesome. Vegas would be sweet. But even Gammage has some cool ones every now and again.

*Visit another country. At LEAST one. Pretty much any of them will do. But I’ve always wanted to go to France and England. And I WILL go one day. I will.

*Listen to music from other countries & in other languages. Cultural, no?

*Always try new things when given the opportunity. Like hobbies, random activities and such.

December 2011 and 2012: Project Culture Hannah Gunderson.

Let's see how this goes.

Not the ending I was looking for.

Well today marked half marathon number four for me. My last two were WAY and a half times better than the blistery mess of my first one last November. My last one was my fastest ever and I was hoping to beat it! Unfortunately, I still didn’t train. Well last week I ran a total of like 8 miles…. But that’s all the training I’ve done since the Bryce Canyon half in July.

I started out and ran the first mile in 8 minutes. Let me just tell you… I’m not a runner. That was the fastest mile time of my life. Mile 2 was slightly longer, but still good. I was feeling pretty good about this race! By mile 5 I was averaging just over 11 minute miles. At mile 7 I think I walked more than I didn’t – but if I kept my pace I could get a new PR – I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it because my second half is always slower.. but it was at least still a possibility.

After the half-way point… I think just after mile 9? But I’m not positive… I biffed it and twisted my right ankle. I got up and kept going, it wasn’t that big of a deal. But then a little while later…. I biffed it again and twisted the same ankle. Except this time I hit my head hard on the dirt, ripped my shirt, ripped my spandex, chipped my ipod, and scraped up both legs, arms, and hands. I wasn’t too far from a street crossing where nice police officers were directing traffic. One of the cops came up to me and kinda made me stop for a while. He looked into my eyes to make sure I didn’t get a concussion or something, and helped me pick the gravel out of my scraped hands and arms. He asked me something about finishing and I just said I was going to finish, I just REALLY didn’t want to finish last. I trudged on and after another half mile of walking, and a very achy right ankle… I tried to run. Ha. Bad idea, Hannah. I fell again… it’s kinda funny now but at the time I was just mad. I walked, limped, and ached my way to the end of the race.

With about 100 feet to go, some lady volunteer came running up to me and said she was going to run with me. She kept trying to encourage me but I’m too prideful and independent.. she just made me feel like a pansy. I didn’t feel like finishing the race was an accomplishment.. I’ve already done that, I wanted to be faster. Plus my whole family was there (10 of whom had already finished…. Long, long, LONG before) standing at the finish line, watching me stagger to the finish, my ankle killed and I just felt stupid. Really really stupid. As soon as I crossed the line everyone told me good job.. but that’s not at all how I felt. I sat down and all these volunteers went to give me water and ice for my ankle. 3 hours and 4 minutes was the verdict… 14 minute miles. Apparently I’m a slow walker when I’m in pain.

Before this I was thinking this would definitely be my last half unless I ever got serious about training. But I don’t want such a terrible attempt to be my last one! I didn’t even get it in less than 3 hours!! Bumski.

The Perfect Recipe

Take 1 GENIUS, independant bone expert extremely lacking in the social skills department, who only understands facts and logic.

Add her ex-sniper FBI partner - a special agent who solves murders using facts, superb people skills, & sometimes gut and emotional instincts.

Stir in their humorous drama, chemistry, and growing that occurs between them.

Then combine with Brennan's Jeffersonian staff: an artist who can recreate just about any situation, face or body with advanced technology knowledge; a bug and particulate man who can identify and get advanced, important information solely on bugs, dirt and other random particulates; and a fleshy expert & director of the Jeffersonian - each with their own quirks, families, pasts and knowledge that allow everything to flow.

Mix in 1 of the 5 different "squinterns" - Brennan's grad student interns who come off as young and unimportant - but all have great knowlege and funny personalities to share.

Sprinkle in a young, FBI psychologist, who loves to bring up everyone's troubled pasts, is somewhat disregarded among the Jeffersonian "facts" staff, but who always has something to offer.

Throw in a dead body or 2 a week, a few serial killers, some jelous and lustful murderers, crazy people, lots of drama among staff members with high emotions and family problems.

Bake Thursdays on Channel 10 @ 8:00 for one hour.

Yields: a humorous , action packed, murder solving, romantic episode of BONES season 7.

For best results watch seasons 1-6 beforehand to understand the growth & full dynamics of each character.

Cheers for the 2011 Diamondbacks!

I've spent the last 30 minutes feeling cold and empty. My beloved Diamondbacks fell short in game 5 of the NLDS. It’s definitely not a good feeling, at all.
BUT…. It wasn’t without a great season! At spring training, nobody thought the Diamondbacks would make the playoffs. Heck, in June there weren’t many who thought they would make it. They lost 97 games last year….. 97!! The bullpen was beyond terrible, blowing saves and allowing hits &  homeruns left and right. As my good friend Gracey says, “All my years in baseball have taught me that you don’t lose over 90 games one year and come back the next and win the division. You just don’t.” Well folks, the diamondbacks did the impossible! And they did it when no one believed in them.
They are a very young team… only 3rd baseman Ryan Roberts is over 30. In fact, they brought 6 rookies to the NLDS.
-Goldschmidt, who came up from AA in August, had the go ahead triple in the divison-clinching game, also gave a curtain call after a 2 out, 2 strike grand slam in game 3. HE’S A ROOKIE!
-Colin Cowgill, pinch hit with 2 outs in game 4 and had a 2-run RBI single.
-Collmenter, got the game 3 win - only allowing 2 hits in 7 innings.
-Bryan Shaw appeared in the series 4 times... never giving up a hit.
That Kirk Gibson sure puts a lot of trust in his team, including the rookies – and they always come through.
Ian Kennedy. though not a rookie is only 24 and came out of nowhere this year and had 21 wins – being a top contender for this year's Cy Young.
Justin Upton, also 24, has already been in 2 all-star games, and currently in the voting for the NL MVP.
Miguel Montero struggled defensively quite a lot last year… he’s now second in the league in throwing base runners out. Definitely the most improved in my eyes.
JJ Putz has 45 saves out of 49 opportunities. David Hernandez & Micah Owings have a combined 13-3 record.
Seriously I’m not kidding when I say this team came out of NO WHERE! And EVERYONE contributed.. the starters, the bench, the bullpen. EVERYONE! There was a new hero everyday. It was awesome! They are a group of very young over achievers with a determined, no nonsense manager. They had a great season that was extremely fun to watch. They led the majors with 48 come from behind wins –they just don’t ever give up! They’ve had grand slams in the last 4 home games. I’ve been up out of my seat many a time watching this team play. They are incredible.
It was a wonderful season. They fought hard until the very end… tying the game on the suicide squeeze in the top of the ninth in game 5. They rallied but didn't quite get it this time... but that's baseball. Although they didn’t make it out of this one, they came up and beyond everyone’s expectations. I've got high hopes for next season and many to come! I can’t wait!!! Good job boys!