2 Heads are better than 1 (A useless post because i'm REALLY bored)

A day in the life:

Sunday, August, 11, 2013

Sundays are perfect for matching:       

                         

Mariah and I unintentionally do it all of the time.

After church:

To dad's house we go.

Tammy gave the little kids sheets of stickers with foods on them and a piece of paper to put them on.

It was pretty fun. 

Then it was time to interact with real food. Dinner.

Chase thought my food was much better than his plate of the EXACT SAME food.
He also thought it tasted better coming from my fork. 

Then we had ice cream! And we don't let a single drop go to waste over here. 

 Then Chase took all the heads off of the lego people and put them all on one person.
 Because 2 heads are better than one.

And 10 are better than 2, of course.

Naturally, it was then a contest between Chase and Charlie and Alex.
A race to the most headliest lego person. 

 I felt bad for these poor guys. 

Left lonely and rejected. 

 And this was just kind of disturbing.

All the while Mariah, Kayla, Jacki (and I guess me) were trying to watch a movie. It's kinda hard when every 2 seconds you have to take a helmet off of a lego men. And listen to arguments such as, "Hey, that's my head!" "I found those heads first!" And questions like "Can you take his head off for me?" "Will you find me some more heads?"

Yeah, it was an excellent Sunday activity for sure.

But Alex was soon declared the winner!

 The lego head hunt champion!

I can't wait to see what the next lego adventure will be. Stay tuned. 

Persistence….

Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize you aren’t fully aware or conscious of what you do?

That happened to me recently.

(And this has nothing to do with the humorous but oh so true thing I heard the other day… “You never realize how boring your life is until someone asks what you like to do for fun.”)

Anyway.

Just yesterday I was talking to someone who was complaining about a paper they had to write this weekend. And about all the writing that is being asked of them this semester. I thought about it for a minute and said,
 “I don’t really have a lot of writing this semester. “ I mean, I have writing assignments, sure. But
 “It’s not as bad as semesters past” I remembered.
The person looked at me with green eyes of envy and noted the jealousy and injustice of this situation.

It abruptly left my consciousness because something new captured both of our attention.

Then. Last night I was doing homework… endlessly typing on my computer.
This morning I woke up and finished my homework… again with a constant finger clicking sound.

I thought back on that conversation I had. Then I started counting all the writing assignments I had just finished. It wasn’t until 10:00 this morning that I realized that in less than 24 hours I had written over 15 pages of writing for various classes. 15. And that's a pretty common occurrence too… (especially now with my new block class.)

Psshhh. And I thought I wasn't do a lot of writing...

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do so has increased.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Or maybe I was just blocking the pain from my mind…. Either way, if I’m not thinking about it I’m fine. 

Travel

For the past few years I've had a strong desire to travel. (Probably since studying Sociology... it's just so fascinating! We are seriously products of our environment - what's normal to us is so NOT normal to other humans. Even the way we think and understand. It's so cool!)  I've made a list of a few countries that I really, really want to go to (England, France, Ireland, Austria, India, Spain, Germany, etc.... ) I could go on forever because i'd be happy going just about anywhere.

So now as my undergraduate college experience is coming to a close, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my life. This travel thing has not been far from my mind. Ever. Teaching English somewhere, study abroad, touring the world, humanitarian service projects... I've thought about it all. A couple years ago, while at EA, I was thinking about going to Ecuador to work in an orphanage. And I was serious. It just never worked out (the joys of being poor). 

Well in the last few weeks it's re-surfaced. I've emailed the orphanage people again, I've looked at possible dates, finances, etc. I want to do it sooo bad! I'm going to make it work this time. 

Then today something happened. 

I started my 2nd block class. 

Culture and Gender. 

As the professor introduced himself he told us WHY it was just a second block class. He just returned earlier this week from India. Where he's been living for the past 6 months. Teaching at a college in Delhi. Fo' real?! Before he came to this university 5 years ago he was teaching in Egypt. He's lived on every continent but Antarctica and has been to tons of different countries. Not just toured, but lived with the people - for research or to teach. This is going to be such an interesting class (Although he's kicking my booty already... 5 pages on 90+ pages of reading due for every class... yikes!) But I have a feeling it's going to increase my desire to travel the world to close to... infinity.... and beyond! (Thanks Buzz)

Abbbaschanabba! 

While I wallow in self-pity about my lack of cultural experience, i'll let you look at some cool places of places I want to go! Straight from Pinterest of course.

Scum comes to life

This past weekend was Memorial Day weekend! Holla no school! I was up in Utah (holla spontaneous road trips) so Monday morning I met up with the Gunderson clan on the Nebo loop for a BBQ, games and chit-chat. We then proceeded to the Fountain Green Cemetery because we have family from both my Gunderson grandparents there.
But while we were BBQ-ing, we played a raucous game of Scum. (Of course, knowing my family). The first round I came out victorious and became president. Round after round I re-pledged my victory. Round after round the cousin-folk rolled their eyes at me and stated the unfairness of the situation. I didn’t seem to notice. I mean, it was fine for me; I received the 2 best cards from the scum of the group, the peasant if you will. In return, I gave them any 2 cards of my choice - usually my lowest 2 unless my strategy said otherwise. But all too soon the tides changed. My power was usurped by my next to kin – VP Cousin Heather. My social status was dwindling and I didn’t like it one bit. I was now the VP. I now only received ONE top card from the next-to-scum, while only getting rid of one useless card. It was a downward spiral from there. Next I was just in ordinary civilian. I had to make it all on my own. I wasn’t getting help from anybody. It was the worst. After coming from the top, it all started to make sense. My good pal Karl, the radical conflict theorist, knows what he’s talking about. He likes power. I like power. The “haves” have the ability to exploit the “have-nots.” This was capitalism to a T! A dictatorship of the bourgeoisie! (haha RHYME.) Our game was being run by the wealthy class – which was awesome when it was me. But horribly awful and frustrating when it wasn’t. We were stuck in a bind – a bind where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. How cruel. Trickle-down economics? Obviously false in this game of war of the social classes.
Luckily for me, we packed up and left before my rotten spell of luck could go forward and lead me the role of scum. That's a stigma aint nobody wants!

Since it was Memorial Day and all, I’ll just put in this little plug for 'Merica… but really…. Although this was just a fun game, It made me glad we live in the society we live in. I’m thankful for the freedoms we have and the ability we have to vote and support the leaders of our country. I’m so thankful for the great number of people who risk their lives so we can be the Land of the Free because of the Brave. Thank you!

And it all started that one time Scum came to life.
It should be renamed Marxism. 

Karl Marx  - Photo from Wikipedia

Missed Opportunity

I consider myself a pretty big baseball fan. I love going to games and relishing in the baseball atmosphere. I love following baseball and checking in on how all the teams are doing. Most importantly, I love the Arizona Diamondbacks.
This year at Dbacks Fan Fest they had an instagram scavenger hunt. They had 7 objects for you to find and take a picture of (a picture with Baxter, World Series trophy, Paul Goldschmidt bobblehead, Racing Gonzo, favorite ballpark food, back the dbacks sign, picture of your favorite player). Once you found them you posted them on instagram with the hashtag #dbacksfanfest. They are really good at advertising. Sorry if you are one of the few who follow the whole Gunderson clan on instagram… picture OVERLOAD that day. But it wasn’t for naught…

It just so happens that I won! With this beauty right here! 

Funny story, I was too cheap to actually buy the two dollar hot dog. Matthew bought it and I just took a picture with it. Hahaha ssshhhhhhhhh! I got 2 free tickets to the August 10, Paul Goldschmidt bobblehead game.

Well then opening day rolls around. I figured it was high time to check an item off my bucket list and go to an opening day game. So away we went!

I made this little collage right here and posted it on instagram. I think I saw a sign somewhere that said use the hashtag #backthedbacks, so I did… not knowing what it was.

Then the next home series I went to another game. I HAD to; I mean there were $5.32 tickets in celebration of the 5 hour and 32 minute game the series before (longest game, time wise, in Chase Field history). They were cheap and it was … like… a part of history… Kinda… a celebration of history? I don’t know, I’ll take any excuse I can get.

The next week I went back up to school and thought my time with the Dbacks was over until August when I return again to the sweltering heat.

But alas, a few weeks later I received a comment on my little collage. “Congrats on winning our #backthedbacks instagram contest! Please email us @__________________ for details.”

WHAT?!?! I didn’t even know I entered that contest! I emailed them and found out I won 4 infield box tickets to a home game of my choice this season. AS WELL as an opportunity to be a part of their PHOTOSHOOT for advertising and marketing collateral throughout the season!

That’s where the MISSED part of the title comes in… I live in Idaho now, the Diamondbacks are in Arizona. Oh bum.

But at least I asked them if 2 of my siblings could go in my place. And they said YES. So if you see any billboards or posters or commercial things on the jumbotron or anything with some Gunderson sibling on it… that’s why. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT!!

Until then, Peace fools. I’ll just be here in Idaho getting all learned up in Psychology! :) 

Nerd with a capaital N, Geek with a capital G

Let me just say something right off the bat here. I’m a nerd. I’m a nerd about learning. So maybe it’s a geek? I don’t know. I just love learning.

I’ve always enjoyed learning, school and everything about it. And people truly fascinate me… (so I’m a nerd, geek, and creepy stalker… go figure). Hence the reason I’m studying psychology and sociology.

Anyway, last week I bought a GRE prep book and flashcards because I need to take the GRE here pretty soon. {Here I come graduate school!}

This prompted Mariah to look at AP U.S. History flashcards on Amazon so she can ace her AP test in a few months. I was looking with her and found the AP Psychology flash cards…

And… I bought them.

Am I taking the AP test in a few months? No, I already did that. I just wanted to look through them to see what they were like.

When they arrived I opened them and started looking through them and got ridiculously happy and excited. I’m such a geeky nerd. In the left hand corners they are labeled with more specific areas in psychology. Looking at those makes me remember all the classes I’ve taken and how cool psychology is and I just get overwhelmed with happiness and joy. Just ask Rachel… she thinks I’m nuts. Although she is on drugs (her wisdom teeth were extracted on Monday)… so maybe that’s why. :)

Anyway, i'm finding it hard to open my GRE books now... They were a lot more interesting to look at before the psychology cards came.... 

How to Make a Giant Kit Kat Bar

This year for Christmas I needed to make a home-made gift for a family of four (with a 6 year-old and a 2 year-old) for under 10 dollars. I decided to make a humongous kit kat bar – because that’s one thing anyone of almost any age can enjoy. (I didn’t quite make it in under 10 dollars – but it was close).

Here’s what you need:

*Melting chocolate – depending on how big you want it. I used 2 packages of almond bark and a large bag of chocolate chips.
*Vanilla wafers
*A mold – I used a long, narrow cardboard box I found at the dollar store. I was hesitant to use cardboard but it worked like a charm. You could also use a garden planter, or plastic Tupperware or something like that.
*A plastic cutting board – I cut the letters out of this to put on the bottom of the mold – But I think cardboard would work too.

Directions:
1.       Prepare the mold. If you’re using a cardboard box, cut off one side to pour the chocolate into.

22.   Prepare the letters. I used a plastic cutting board and cut out the letters K-I-T-K-A-T and put them down on the bottom of the mold facing backwards. I secured them will glue dots (but that isn’t necessary)

Take a special look at the letter A - it's not backwards :( That's a mistake - don't make the same one :)

   3. Melt the chocolate. I started with 6 squares of almond bark and a few cups of chocolate chips – stir every few seconds to avoid burning.

4. Pour the chocolate over the plastic letters about ¼ way up the mold. Spread evenly and put in the refrigerator for an hour to set.

5. Remove from refrigerator and top the chocolate with layers of the vanilla wafers

6. Melt the remaining chocolate and pour over the wafers – make sure you get all the sides so the wafers are completely encased with chocolate. Put it back in the refrigerator to set. 

7. Remove the chocolate and carefully remove it from the mold – the cardboard came right off for me. The plastic letters got set in the chocolate so I had to use a knife to get the sides up but then they came right off.

Blasted backwards a!

    

       8.  Wrap in foil

9.    Then in red wrapping paper

10.   Decorate it to look like a kit kat – I weighed mine to figure out the NET WT. I also calculated the nutrition information but decided not to add it to my candy bar – since it was a present and all :)

                                 11.   Set it back in the refrigerator until ready to give or eat 

And there you have it. It’s super easy and makes a great gift!