Jessica Kearns

Playing catch up once again.....

2008-08-13T18:20:00.001-07:00

Life seems to be passing me by one month at a time. I am shocked that is it already mid August. My youngest brother Kory gets home from his mission Sept 4th, 2 years has just flown by! So i am going to re-cap July.

My cute niece Jayla got blessed and she has been a joy in my life! I cannot seem to get enough of her and love every second around her. It is crazy to already see how much she is growing. She is starting to be so much more aware and it melts my heart everytime that little girl smiles. It has amazed me that i could love her so much! I am so glad that i live back in Utah so i can take advantage of seeing her whenever i want!

Antelope by midnight was a great ride. I did it with two of my friend Kim and Kathy. The ride started around 10pm, and was done around midnight. 1. lots of hills, 2. lots of bugs, 3. dark. This made for a great ride!

This was my first ride in my clipless pedals. Which also made it for a fun ride. Once those feet are locked in, i better pedal!! We saw many accidents where people did not clip out fast enough and just tumbled over. I am proud to say that i was not one of those!

I also did the Deseret News 10k on Pioneer Day. This will be a new tradition. It was a great course and very fast. At the last about 2 miles, you actually run part of the parade route, so it is lined with people on both sides of the street cheering you on! The only bad part about that is people are also all cooking their breakfast, so the smell of doughnuts and sausage fills the air, not the best smell when you are running hard! :) I did a PR for my 10k, it has been so great to see how much faster i get as time goes on and with each race i do!

July was great, August has been even better! I have had some life changing events happen in August, i feel like a new woman!

Canada vs America.....

2008-07-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

For the 1st of July (Canada Day), my family usually goes up to Canada. My brother Kory gets home from his mission in September, so we decided to wait and go in October. It was bitter sweet, but the 4th of July was a great one!

The festivities started on the 3rd at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Bountiful. We had a b-b que and enjoyed watching Brooklyn say, "Oh Canada!!"

Can you tell i dressed Brooklyn? ha!

On the 4th, i went up to Huntsville with Brett and Steph. It started early with a pancake breakfast, and parade. The parade reminded me of the Raymond parade in Canada. Lots of tractors and little kids riding their decorated bikes! It was great!

I wish i would have taken a picture of Jayla's toes. Steph painted them red. It was adorable.

After the events in Huntsville, we went up to my sister in law's (Steph) cabin in Ogden Canyon for another b-b que. She has a river that runs through the back that people float down. It was freezing, but lots of fun. Her niece Aspen and I went down together. Halfway down she said she was tired of all the "waves!" Ha!

This year, America won. It was a great holiday, one that i usually take lightly. I am glad to be in America where i have lots of family to spend time with. But next year, America will get a run for its money when hopefully, we are back up in Canada for the 1st!

Much needed update!

2008-07-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

So it has been a month since the marathon, and it has been hard for me to post anything on my blog, because nothing is cooler than seeing that every time i look at my blog. I worked so hard for it, so it has been fun to just bask in the fulfillment!

I was coached to take a couple weeks off post marathon, so i start Monday, training once again for some upcoming races. I look forward to the continuous challenge and getting back into shape.

Time has been consumed by babies! I love having a niece, and i cannot hold her and hang out with her more. It is amazing to see how much she has already changed in just a month.

My cousin Jenna finally had her first girl, Jade on Monday! She has two cute boys Jake and Josh, so we welcomed Jade with open arms. Jenna and i are the only girl cousins, so we need all the female help we can get! Congrats Jenna, she is adorable!

So that is about all that is going on, babies and of course...running again! I will be better at posting. Thanks for all your kind words about the marathon! You guys all made me feel so great!

I am a MARATHONER!!!

2008-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well check that out, i finally did it!! It seems i have been training for this event for so long. Last year i was registered for the Newport Marathon and then i had a gallbladder issue and needed that removed, so this year i was not going to let anything get in my way of completing the Newport, Oregon Marathon! It did come with its fair share of injuries, but i stayed strong, overcame them and faced the marathon head on!

Starting line photo, can you tell i was going crazy with nervousness?

My cousin Matt came and supported me from Boise! He was so great! This was us at the start. We started the race by the famous Newport, Oregon lighthouse on Yakima Bay.

Now before i share my experience and pictures from the marathon. I want to share an article about Lance Armstrong's experience on his first marathon, because he sums it up perfectly.

Lance Armstrong on NYC Marathon
Posted November 06, 2006 12:46:00 AM

Seven time Tour de France winner struggles with marathon run.

The New York City Marathon proved to be the most difficult challenge LANCE ARMSTRONG says he has ever faced.

"For the level of condition that I have now, that was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done," he told the Associated Press after completing his run. "I never felt a point where I hit the wall. It was really a gradual progression of fatigue and soreness."

The seven time Tour de France winner placed 856th among more than 35,000 runners, and just managed to beat his goal of running the course in three hours. Lance covered 26.2 miles in two hours 59 minutes and 36 seconds.

"At the end I was so tired, I couldn't care," he told the AP. "I don't know how these guys do it."

I could not agree with him more, it truly was the hardest physical thing i have ever done! I had trained hard and was ready, but nothing could prepare me for the mental aspect of it. It is so crazy. You know you can do it, i had trained to 22 miles, but for some reason your brain plays tricks on you making you think you cannot. So for the last 7 miles i fought with my self, and at mile 25, when only 1.2 miles were left, i first thought... " why does 1.2 miles feel like 100." then i had to fight that thought off and know that i can run a mile in my sleep. There is nothing greater than seeing that finish line!

The course was amazing. It ran right along the coast. It was perfect weather, high 52, and overcast with no wind. Could not ask for better running weather. Eric came to Newport ran the first four miles with me, when we ran passed the hotels, he grabbed his bike and rode next to me the rest of the way. He carried me gu, my gatorade and offered endless amounts of support. At one point a fellow runner, came next to me and told me how lucky i was to have a friend like that and if i ever got sick of him, she would love to steal him! It was so nice to have him there. I don't think i could have made it through it all without him! I truly am lucky!

My parents also came, and it was great to have that support as well. My mom even surprised me and made posters. At several locations they waited for me with those posters and cheered me on! It helped keep me going!

I have said this quote all along the training, it was said, "Your life will never be the same once you cross that finish line." It is an amazing feeling. I will for sure keep this up and will be returning to Newport next year. I now know what to expect and can relax a little the second time around and enjoy it a little more.

Last post before the big marathon!!

2008-05-28T20:28:00.001-07:00

So all it seems i post about is running and races. I am so excited to have another fun thing to post about! My cute niece Jayla! I never knew i could love someone so much after only knowing her for 6 days!

I love this picture of her! She now occupies the background on my cell phone!

I am the only girl in my family, and have always wanted a sister, so having Jayla in my life now gets me so excited for all the fun girly things i will get to do with her!

I hope Steph does not kill me for posting a hospital picture, but i love this picture of their new little family! She looks great for just having a baby! Thanks Steph for letting me hog her!

Mom, Brett and I just staring at Jayla. It is hard to keep my eyes off of her, even when she is just sleeping.

And this is my blanket i made her. I used BreAnna's tag along pattern and just made a bigger one. I then attached a toy on all four sides connected with one of the ribbons.

I love ladybugs, and Steph did a jungle theme for Jayla's room, so i combined the two!

This is how Jayla likes to sleep. Arms straight up in the air. It is hilarious. We will snuggle her all up in her blanket, and she works hard to get those arms up and out of there!

Well, i am off to Newport, Oregon Friday morning for the marathon on Saturday. I am very nervous, but excited as well. Eric says i am ready and i have trained hard, so i hope all that hard work pays off. I will fill you all in just as soon as i get back and can walk to my computer! Ha!! Thanks for all your support and encouragement!

I am an Aunt!!

2008-05-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to say that i am finally an Aunt! My brother Brett and Sister in law Steph gave birth to Jayla LeAnn Kearns today! She weighs 8lbs 50z and is 20 inches long. Steph did great. She went in to the hospital at 1:00pm and had Jayla at 5:55pm. We were all surprised at how fast everything happened! It was great, because we could hardly wait!!

I was especially excited she came today! At their last appointment (Thursday), the Dr thought maybe this next Saturday or Sunday. On Friday i am leaving for Portland for my marathon, so i was crossing my fingers she would have Jayla before i left so i would be able to be there when she was born. So way to go Jayla!

Not my favourite picture of myself, you better believe i will be getting another one tomorrow! I have to look cute with my new niece! I can't wait for all the fun things i will get to do with her!!

The proud Dad! Brett also did great! He is not a big hospital fan, and had to fight off passing out several times, but made it through without any problems!

More pictures to come tomorrow after my visit with Jayla!

3 Weeks and still counting.....

2008-05-10T22:41:00.001-07:00

Well, in three weeks from today, i will be in Newport, Oregon and an official Marathoner! Today i did my last long training run and it was a whopping 22 miles. I know realize why the Kenyans run so fast. The faster you run, the faster you are done. Running these long distances by myself, makes for an even longer run. It gets boring hanging out with just myself! Ha! I get so excited to see another runner running towards me, just so i can raise my hand and give them a wave! So i look forward to the big 26.2 for the fact that i will be surrounded from hundreds of runners!

In December, when Eric was giving me my schedule, i was freaking out that i would be running this far and as much as i was and it amazes me to look at my calendar and look back and see all that i have accomplished. It has been said, "Only one person and one person only will determine how good of a runner you become....You will become as good as you let yourself be. That one person is you." I have worked so hard and am really looking forward to putting all my training to the test.

Here is an update on my big back problem. The Chiropractor, and lots of medications have saved my back. I am so happy, i thought i was doomed. What i had was called Runner's Butt. A little muscle on the top of your butt gets inflamed and it cuts of your sciatic, causing horrible pain. The problem with that is us crazy runners keep running and by the time the symptoms transpire it is bad. But this week, i have felt night and day difference. I am going to keep on on my meds, keep stretching and seeing the chiropractor and cross my fingers that it stays calm until June 1st, the day after the marathon! Ha!

People keep asking me if running is something i am going to keep doing, and i for sure am. It is something that has changed my life, given me something to be passionate about and get me healthy. I have dropped about 56 pounds and am so close to my goal weight. I feel like running has brought some happiness back into my life. It has given me confidence and something to be proud about. I already have a list of events filling up my summer and fall. And maybe finding a guy will work in somewhere! Ha!

Salt Lake City Half Marathon

2008-04-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

So i am 16 weeks into my training program,(6 weeks left), and so far had done it without injury, until this week... Somewhere between my 17 miler last Saturday, and Tuesday i did something to my back. By Wednesday, i could barely walk without wanting to scream. Now being as dedicated as i have been, i got on the treadmill Wednesday night, and it brought me to tears. I knew then something was really wrong. So Thursday at work, i rescheduled my afternoon, and got right into a chiropractor. This is someone i have known for years and his wife is a runner, so i knew he would do his best. Long story short, i have inflamed my back muscles so bad that they have now cut off my sciatic nerve. More commonly called sciatica or "runner's butt". This is pretty much hands down, one of the most painful things i have ever felt. So he worked his magic two days in a row, trying to get the pain and inflammation under control so that i could run the Salt Lake City half marathon this last Saturday.

Well, i did do the race, and i was very happy i did, but it did not come without 13.1 miles of pain! Ha! When you turn into a runner, something must overcome your brain, telling you that no matter the pain, you need to do it. Why? And it is Sunday today, and i am paying for the pain of my back. That race really would have been great if my back was healthy. It is hard because i have put so much time and effort into training, that it really is hard to take an injury and allow myself to take some days off! But i know i need to, my ultimate goal is the 26.2, so i need to get my back healthy so that is not agonizing! Ha! So here are a couple more pictures from the race.

This is my cousin Jesse, who did the half as well. It is great to have other family involved, so they understand my craziness! Great Job Jesse!!

Yup, it was crazy windy!! Nice at times when it pushed at your back, not so nice when you had to run into it!

This is my good friend Mindy. This was her first half marathon. The farthest she had ran was eleven so this was a great accomplishment for her!!

Mindy raised over 2,000 dollars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She did this race with Team in Training, she is an Oncology nurse at Primary Children's, so that made it even more special for her.

My friend John, was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia last month and is currently up at Huntsman Cancer Institute undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. His friend designed this shirt, and thought it would be fun for us to wear them and take a picture to send to him. So i dedicated this race to him. As much pain as i was going through, i am sure his is a lot worse, so i am glad i was able to get out there, and get through the pain. He is a great person and i know he will get through this!

6 weeks and counting........

2008-04-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

Life is busy.... 6 more weeks till my marathon and i feel like i will be able to sleep. Training has never been better, i am amazed as each week passes, how much better i feel running, the distance i can endure gets longer, and recovery from those long runs gets shorter! It really does pay off!!

I am reading a book called, "The Quotable Runner," it is a bunch of quotes from all sorts of runners, professional and amateurs. My motivational quote for the week is:

" Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?"

Last Saturday, i ran 17 miles. The farthest Eric is going to have me run is 22, so look at that... I am not too far off. What is even better is the excitement i felt that 9.2 more past the 17 equals the marathon. I am in awe that i have made it this far!

Saturday, I am running the Salt Lake City half marathon, which i am very excited for. I have ran 13 and more several times now, but this is my first half marathon race. So i will receive my first finishers medal. Yup, that medal makes me excited! :) So i will post pictures later!

Anything that has to do with running i am reading and watching. I found this video on you tube and laughed out loud. I have felt this, but i am sure i will feel it ten fold in 6 weeks! Ha!!

Is that smoke i smell??

2008-04-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

So Monday was an interesting day at work. At about 4:00, the store next to us came into our office and asked us if we had smoke in our office. We had not seen any, but when i walked in the back, i could see and smell something burning. We could tell immediately, that it was not coming from us, but from the dry cleaners that is right next to us. My Doc and i went next door to check it out, and the place was filled with smoke, but no flames in sight. So we did what anyone would do, finish up with our patients and called 911.

I was excited i was done with my patient, because i got to see this....

So not just one firetruck came, three came. Along with two ambulances, and three cops. Now like i said, no flames!!

So the firemen came in the office and evacuated us... Not before Nicole made me stand for a picture by one!!

There was a group of 4 fireman, that seemed particularly interested in our office. Maybe it was because of the three girls gawking over the men in uniform, so being the concerned hygienist i am, i got them all toothbrushes and floss. We can always use new patients right! Ha!

So 2.5 hours since smoke and since my last patient, we called it a night. No flames, no fire, but a faulty dryer next door, that was ready to blow. By far, the most exciting day at work!

Horrible turning 28, but hey...I ran 15 miles on Saturday!!!

2008-03-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, lets start with this, Can you tell i am in marathon mode. The Easter Egg i coloured is a 26.2 marathon egg. Sorry, it is a little blurry!

Speaking on marathon...Which i do alot, i ran 15 on Saturday!! The miles are getting up there!! Eric and Gina were down from Boise in Park City, so Eric was nice enough to spend several hours with me. Several hours that turned into the pitch black along the highway in Park City. We got a late start, so the last hour and a half, the only light i saw was from oncoming traffic. Probably not the most safe eh?. Maybe that helped because i could not see anything, so my legs just kept moving. We ran to the magic McDonald Arches, and can i tell you, that was a sight to see. After each of these long double digit runs, i am overwhelmed with emotion. It sounds dumb, but i have put in alot of time and dedication and it just overwhelms me to see how my body has reacted and how far it has come. 9 more weeks to my marathon and i cannot wait!

On Monday, i turned 28. It was a sad day. I hate birthdays! Sometimes i feel like i am being left behind in life. Have yet to find the man of my dreams and every year my uterus is shriveling up a little more! Ha! I know that may be too much info for some of you! Ha! Running has been great for me, it has helped me discover it is something i love and has given me more goals and has definitely helped me find out the person i am and who i want to become. Being alone on the road, gives you alot of time to ponder on life....

If you notice, there are no flames on my candle. Being the hygienist i am, every time i see someone blow out the candles, i think of all the germs and spit they may be blowing all over that yummy cake. I know, i think way to into it. Maybe i can start a new revolution! Ha!

Now this is a pic just to embarrass my brother Brett. I dont know where he gets it, but he makes me laugh. Glad he does not have a blog to retaliate!!!

These last three pictures are of my cousin Brooklyn. I got to go out to lunch with her and Aubrey last week and she is just the cutest thing. Another reason why it is great to live closer to home and family!

"Run like hell and get the agony over with." don't know who said this! But AMEN!

2008-03-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

I stole this from my cousin Jesse's running blog, because i cannot seem to watch it enough and it is worthy of sharing with all of you! Thanks Jesse!

This is my quote for the week. I run 15 on Saturday and already am freaking out! It is just so dang far! 2 more than my half marathon, but when you get this high in distance, adding two more seems like adding ten more! Ha!

The difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot coals.
Hal Higdon, "On the Run from Dogs and People"

13.1.............What a high!!

2008-03-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, i went up to Boise to run my first 1/2 marathon with Eric. It always makes me so nervous to run with him because he is an amazing runner. So amazing, he runs faster than Lance Armstrong (inside joke), but he really does, and has ran Boston marathon several times. Eric was the one who introduced me to this great sport and has helped train me and turn me into the "runner" i am becoming, so part of my nervousness is proving to him and showing him i can do it.

The farthest i had run prior to this 13.1 miler, was 10 miles, so 3 miles of un-known territory made me very nervous. Eric is doing his first 1/2 ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 run) the week after my marathon, so Eric rode his bike beside me the whole time. He carried my gatorade and gu and cheered me on. At mile 10, i started to feel it, my legs were tired and it took everything in me to put one foot in front of another. I took a GU (nasty snot gel stuff that gives you energy) and in about 15 min, had a boost of energy that helped push me on. The last 1.5 Eric supported me and encouraged me and when his house was in sight, i got a little emotional as i could see and end and was so proud of this huge accomplishment. Never in a million years did i ever think i would be able to run such a distance. When i first started running with Eric, i could not even run a 1/4 mile without stopping. It was a great self- accomplishment, but also very excited that i could make Eric proud as well.

Now Eric is an incredible runner, and i grew up swimming, so i had the great opportunity to help Eric learn the techniques of swimming. So Saturday before i ran, i went to the pool with him to support him in his swim and it was great to see how much he had improved. I told him he looked like a long time swimmer. I got an understanding of how he must feel to see me run and accomplish that, because i was proud to watch him swim! He is going to do great at his 1/2 ironman!

For all those of you who do not know Eric, he is married to my uncle's sister. It is complicated, so i just call him my uncle! Ha!

The Spirit of the Marathon

2008-02-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

I am still on my path to the Newport marathon in May, and have never felt better. A couple weeks ago, i completed my first double digit run, with the help of my cousin Jesse, we ran 10! (THANKS JESS!) I was on such a high, until i realized that after that 10, i would still have 16.2 to do, to finish the marathon. Holy Crap! I just have to keep telling myself one day at a time, one mile at a time, and i will get there!! It is amazing to me, to look back to when i first started running and my pace was slow enough to walk and i could not even run a mile. On the 8th i run my first 1/2 marathon (13.1) and at that time, we book our flights. It is great to see all my 4:30am runs and saturday long runs are paying off!

This last week, i went to see this movie with Jesse and Blake. I saw it on the first night it played and loved it. It was only in the United States for one night, but because of what a huge hit it was, they brought it back for another night. So Jesse and Blake (cousins) who have both completed marathons and i went to watch, The Spirit of the Marathon. It is a story of 6 people training for the Chicago marathon. Some pro's, some previous marathoners, and some new to the sport. It is such a motivation and inspiration to watch others complete and train for the exact thing i am. It reminds me why i am doing it. My favourite quote out of the movie, " When you cross that finish line, your life will never be the same!"

Disneyland......"Remember, Dreams come true there!"

2008-02-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today, my Grandma (visiting from Canada), came into the office because she lost a filling. She is down babysitting my cousins Gavin and Hunter, so Hunter came along for the ride to the dentist. He is 4 years old, and one of the smartest, and most adorable kids. He has such a funny personality and i love hanging around him, he makes me laugh, even today.....

I was working on a patient when Hunter got there, he came into my OP and took a seat. He started asking my patient Rob if he was married. Now previously Rob was telling me he just got separated and was going through a divorce. So Hunter proceeds to ask him why he does not have a wife. Rob tells him it is a long story. Hunter goes on to tell him, " Thats ok, you can tell me. When she is done, you can tell me your long story." Now Hunter is 4, so he was not going to give up asking why Rob does not have a wife. I tried to tell Hunter not everyone has a husband or wife, look at me i don't have a husband yet. He sat there, thought for a minute and told me, "You need to go to California." I said, "Why California?" Hunter said, " Disneyland is in California, and dreams come true in Disneyland. " How cute is that!! Here is his picture so you can have a visualization of him saying this.

Homemaker Jess coming through... Thanks BreAnna!

2008-01-31T20:04:00.000-08:00

A couple months ago, i was reading my friend BreAnna's blog and in awe at the mad skills she has as an amazing Aunt. She made these cute puppet monkeys and baby blankets. This made me realize, that i am a loser. I can't sew at all. I always said it was a good thing i went to hygiene school because if my kid wanted a new blanket, i would just go out and let them pick one out and buy one. Then i found out
i was going to be an Aunt and decided it was time for me to become an awesome Aunt like BreAnna. Hence, a picture of my first baby blanket!! I am so proud!! It is my first, so it is not perfect, but remember, i have never sewn!! So yeah! Cool Aunt Jessica here i come! Thanks BreAnna for teaching me! I am open to more fun projects and ideas on how to be a cool Aunt!!

And i just love this picture. I spent last Friday with my cousin Jenna and her two boys Jake and Josh. Jake is wearing my bracelet, and Josh is wearing my necklace. They sported my jewelry all over Thanksgiving point and fought over who got to wear what! Needless to say, when we met up with Jesse (their Dad) he was not too happy to see his boys wearing jewelry and tried his best to confiscate them. Ha!! Boys will be boys!! :) ha!!

Necklace Swinging test!!!

2008-01-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

PLUS

EQUALS

So, i am past the stage where all my friends get married, and have entered the baby stage. Don't take this wrong, i am very excited for each one of you, but once again, very jealous! Where is my man?

Yesterday i spent the day with my cousin Jenna, who is also pregnant and she was telling me about the swinging necklace test. Her friend did this to her. Not only does it tell you the sex of your baby, but it also tells you how many kids you will have. She has 2 boys, which made the necklace back and forth, and per the necklace this will be her last child and a boy as well.

I was excited to get a necklace, put my ring on it and test it out for myself. I was for sure it would raise above my palm and hold still, but it began to away back and forth, 1st child a boy. Second sway turned into a circle, 2nd child a girl. Then nothing. So two kids seem to be in my future.

Now, Jenna did this to her husband, and it did the same thing. Three boys, then nothing. So i have learned something new. Now on my dates, i am going to whip out the necklace. If the necklace does not sway boy then girl, i will know he is not the one and i can move on! ha!

This was great news for me, and as lame as it sounds, brought a little tear to my eye because i really look forward to being a mom one day!! So, i put up my own transparent belly to be due in 2011. So get out there people, use the necklace test and find me a man!

Happy Birthday Kile and.... my 1st cake!

2008-01-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

Since our cake class, the sister-in-laws and I have been looking forward to someone's birthday! This weekend was my brother Kile's, so i was very excited to test out my new skills. I went out and bought a football pan and could not wait to get that cake decorated. It was an odd shaped pan, so i was a little confused how to keep it even, then five min into the bake time a light went off and i understood how to make it even. A little too late, the cake came out a little lopsided, but being the skilled cake decorator i am after one class (ha ha), i knew just what do to. I filled the lopsided spots with lots of frosting! :)

This is one of the greatest things about being back in Utah, not missing a birthday party with the family! Happy Birthday Kile!!

Cake Decorating I Graduation

2008-01-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to take a cake decorating class, but would never get my brothers to sign up, so now that i have two sister-in-laws, i knew this was my chance. So Steph, KJ and i took a 4 week course in cake decorating.

This is the last day of class, we had to bring a cake and decorate it in class with all the techniques that we had learned. I tried to be different and brought a square cake. Cute, but does not fit on all the circle carriers. Oops. It was also BYU's last game, so i decorated in blue!!

All three of us with our cakes. We are all excited to start making cakes for all occasions! Birthdays are going to be cake happy!

And look, we even got diplomas! As she handed them to us, she even sang that ever historic graduation song. I had to hold the tears back!! Ha!

Next step, class II fondant! Looks cute, tastes like crap! :)

The gang: All at the Temple

2007-12-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

This was a special day. Dan and his wife (Jen) and daughter (Sydney) got sealed in the Bountiful Temple. Dan, Aaron, Mindy and I have been friends for 8+ years and this was the first time we had all been in the temple together. We have been through alot together, some good, some bad, so for us to all be worthy to be in the temple with one another at the same time was just special. It is great to know that through everything, we are all eternal buddies. What a cheesehead i am eh?! ha!

Disneyland was great, but this was PRICELESS....

2007-12-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

This is one of my bestest friends in the whole world. I have know Aaron since High School, and we have been close since. This is my Aaron, my broadway baby, who lives in NY. He was in California choreographing a show so this is the first time we got to meet up in years. It was so great, we caught up, drank coffee (apple cider for me) and sat in rain.
We also came to the decision that if i do not find a man soon, he is going to be my babies daddy! Ha!! :) It was so great to see him, he is one of those friends who makes you smile when you think of them. Even better, i love the texts from him. So sincere and with so much love. Literally, the "I love you" texts keep me going, hoping and wishing that i can find a man like him, but who likes girls!! :)

#4 Disneyland and California Adventure

2007-12-08T22:21:00.001-08:00

I really believe that the second you step foot into Disneyland, you revert back to when you were 5. I think i had just as much fun as my 4 and 9 year old cousins. I loved the rides, the kid rides and had to steal one of my cousins each time a character came by....I wanted pictures with all of them and i am pretty sure they would look at me crazy if i as a 27 year old went up to them for a picture, so i grabbed Hunter, or Gavin making the character think the picture was for the little ones, when really it was for me! Ha!One of my favourite parts of our Disneyland day was going to Goofy's kitchen. It is in the Disney Hotel and it is an amazing buffet, not to mention the characters come right to your table and talk to you, take pictures, tell stories. It was great! I highly recommend this to anyone going to Disneyland.

Here is a slide show, too many to post! If you can't tell, i loved it, i loved the atmosphere and the time i got to spend with my family. I plan on going one day when i get married so i can buy the bride minnie ears and make my hubby wear the groom mickie ears. That is going to take a man who really loves me to do that eh?

Stop #3: The Beach!!!

2007-11-29T18:44:00.000-08:00

I know, i know.... It has been forever and a little while since i have got back from my trip, but i could not move on, i need to catch up because i had too much fun and want to share it all with you!!

Not much i need to say but, i hope that all of you have had the opportunity to go to the beach. I love it! I love the waves, the sounds and the overall beauty. If i could live in a beach house (and afford it) i would move in a second.

Aubrey (my water, dolphin buddy and Aunt) and i went in the freezing cold ocean and got hit big time by an unexpected wave! We loved every min of it, and i am sure every chicken in our family on the shore loved it even more!

Hope all is well with everyone and i am sorry i have been such a slacker!! I promise to catch up!! Hope Thanksgiving was great for everyone!

Stop #2: Sea World!

2007-10-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Sea World, was one of my favourite things i did in California, mainly because i took the opportunity of a lifetime and swam with the dolphins. Aubrey and I paid the bucks and got in that cold water with Maggie and Buster.

This is my Aunt Aubrey, yes i said Aunt and no i am not older than her.

This is Maggie and I walking hand and hand.

Doing another command with Maggie.

It was so amazing to be in the same water with these animals, and to see them react to our hand commands. I did not want to get out of the water!

This water was so cold by the way. Almost every picture we took, Aubrey and i have our hands clasped together.
There were so many pictures and instead of posting each one individually, i thought i would do a slide show. I loved swimming with the dolphins, it was one of my top three activities we did while in California. I would do it again in a minute. Well worth the money. Next time i go, i want to swim with the Beluga Whales!

1st stop....San Diego Zoo!

2007-10-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

So, ten days in California... What a trip. I went with my Mom, my grandparents from Canada, and my Mom's two brothers, wives and kids. It was a great time. Our first stop was the San Diego Zoo. Much better than the Boise Zoo, Las Vegas Zoo and Hogle Zoo. Heck, even better than the train ride through Lagoon! Ha!

I love that i almost blend into this picture. I did plan my little outfit for the zoo day. :) These great little seats massaged our feet after a LONG day walking....

This is a picture of me, my mom and my mom's mom. Three generation picture!

Funny, almost every picture i have with my cute cousin Hunter, he either has a mouth full of food or making a crazy face! I love that kid!!

This is my other cousin Gavin. Him and Hunter are brothers but complete opposites. It was great to see there faces and how excited they would be to see a hippo or giraffe.

This is Brooklyn. She melts my heart. My newest cousin and so glad that a girl has come around again. I have one other girl cousin and she is 4 years older than me, so i was really excited when she came to Russel and Aubrey a year ago!!

Overall a great day at the Zoo! But stay tuned, Sea World was next and boy do i have some great pictures and even better stories!

I don't get lunch......or dinner.........

2007-10-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

"Where have all the GOOD guys gone?" Isn't that a song? I have been gone for the past 10 days in sunny California, and i will blog about that trip later because, i could not help but post on my awkward situation.

I have heard of many stories where a hygienist meets her husband in the dental chair as a patient, but never thought it would happen to me. I did not meet my husband, far from it, but i did get my first patient ask me out scene. Now as most of you know, when i go to work, i am in baggy scrubs, hair pulled back, wear a mask and glasses. Now if you can imagine, that does not leave much to see.

So i kind of have a personality where i love to get to know my patients and become part of their life, and get excited to see them back in six months. As i cleaned his teeth and laughed, he looked up into my eyes and asked how i would feel if he asked me out to lunch. I laughed and said there are not too many days where i actually get a lunch. Thought i was home free. Then he hit up dinner.... What is a girl to do than to hurry finish up and go get the doc for an exam. I know you are all thinking, Hello, you are single, why are you not going out. Well let me tell you. He has been married three times....to the same girl. In the temple, temple divorce, in the temple again, then divorce, married civilly then divorced. Not to mention he has mild perio! Ha!!

Then while i was in California, he actually called the office and asked for me. He was calling to get that date set up. What do i do?? What do i say? There is no way i will call him back, but he is coming in next week for some restorative work. Give me some advice......

So i ask again, " Where have all the Good guys gone." They are either looser "ish" or gay, although i love my cute little gay patient, i am sure i am not going to asked out any time soon from him! Ha!!

Because i can dream.....

2007-09-28T21:06:00.001-07:00

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Heber Valley Century: My first bike race!

2007-09-23T17:43:00.001-07:00

I know, you are probably wondering when i decided to start biking. As you may have read in several of my posts, i am ultimately training for a marathon. I took up biking as a way to cross train. I have a new love of triathlons and the bike is part of a tri, so it was time i bought a road bike. If you look close, there are little maple leaves on my bike. Yup, she is Canadian. Once i saw those little maple leaves, i was sold. I know those hardcore bikers out there would give me a hard time about that!

So Saturday was the Heber Valley Century bike race. It had a family 25, 30, 60 or 100 mile course. My Aunt and Uncle (Allen and Alicia) thought it would be fun to sign up and do this as a family. Alicia has been biking for months now, so she signed up for the 60 and Allen signed me up with the family. My two little cousins Gavin (8) and Hunter (3) also participated. Way to go Allen for pulling Hunter and pushing Gavin along. Alicia and I left him with the kids..... He is a great Dad.
At mile 10, Soldier Hollow was a big hill, but at the top were drinks, snacks and restrooms! It was a nice surprise after a struggle up that hill. We met the boys at the bottom of the hill and continued on. Alicia and i broke away again and headed past the 25 mile marker. I was feeling good and wanted to push past the 25. Made it to thirty and continued on. Came to a killer hill in Kamas and i mean killer. It was talked about with other bikers at several aid stations, and it did not sound too fun. Alicia and i got to the point where we could see that hill and what was ahead. Alicia trekked on and i sat at the stoplight going back and forth with myself, my sore behind and jello-ee legs. So i crossed the highway and started up that hill.

Made it 47.2 miles before the weather started to get crazy and others were turning around. I was proud of that. I have only been biking for 2 weeks, so that is pretty good for a new comer! Next year... the 100 miler!!

To Tri or not to Tri?? (Tri=Triathlon)

2007-09-15T20:51:00.002-07:00

Ok, i am a dork. Today was the Ogden Valley Triathlon where my cousin Jesse and friend Mike participated in. Since Echo triathlon i have wanted to do another, but there is something, one big something that kept me from the race.... If i could have done the race and avoided the swim, i would have been all over this race. This little critter below is what scared me out of not only Pineview, but the race as well. It is called a Tiger Muskie.
Here is a crazy picture of one taken straight out of Pineview. They have two sets of very sharp teeth. Have been known to nibble, eat small dogs....

This is a quick little video of someone catching this crazy creature.

So due to this little creature, i dedicate this post to Jesse and Mike, of whom i am proud to know and look up to even more for not letting a fish like this get in their way of accomplishing great things. I can't wait till i am that hardcore! Jesse says he blocked out the Tiger Muskie... He did a great swim, improved his time from the last, so i am thinking, he either just plain rocks, or he really was thinking of that Tiger Muskie the whole time!! Ha! Personally, i think he ROCKS!! Thanks to Jenna too! I had alot of fun spending time with you! We always get a good laugh together! Love ya!

I've been tagged.....Twice!

2007-09-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks Shanna and Tasha for tagging me. I am going to try really hard to give you ten things that you don't know or realize about me......

10. I would choose a disposable cup over a glass one. Preferably, the red disposable cups. Even at my own home. Does that go along with my crazy obsession with hand sanitizer? Hmm...

9. I can't sleep without a fan in my room. I think it is the calming sound they usually make. In fact, all of us in my family are the same way. My brother even took a fan on his mission, just for the sound.

8. When i eat candy, i have to have to eat them in 2's. For example, 2 M&M's. If at the end of my bag there are three left, i throw the third one out. Ok- obsessive compulsive much? Ha!

7. Running, training and Triathlons, has helped me gain confidence once again, and ultimately learn about myself and find happiness. Not to mention.. This picture! These three guys are huge examples to me and i look up to them so much. This last triathlon my only goal was to beat those guys out of the water and i did! Not by much though. I guess i am one heck of a teacher! Ha!!

6. I can word for word, song for song, dance for dance the Sound of Music from start to finish.

5. I do not believe that anyone has been on the moon. Thank you Dr. Hendrickson and Paul.

4. I really want to have children, hence, i really need a husband! I have said this for years and it always makes my friends laugh.... "My uterus hurts!"

3. I am still mad!!!!
** No picture to describe what i mean! Ha!**

2. I really want to go back to school and pursue a Master's in Forensic Odontology.

1. This is going to be a shock............I am American...My parents forced me, literally pushing me into the ceremony, crying and all. Just so you know, i did not raise my hand, i did not denounce my country and i did not say, "I do!" My fingers were crossed, my heart was not there. I am still Canadian.

Ok, I Tag: BreAnna, Crystal, Jami and Grandma!

See...Canadian's are smarter than American's!

2007-08-29T18:45:00.001-07:00

By now, hopefully most of you have had the opportunity to have a good laugh at this video. I just can't seem to watch it enough. If you have not seen it, where have you been?? It was at the Miss teen USA pageant this last week. Poor Miss South Carolina will probably never live this one down....

Seriously, "The Iraq," "Such as," She even came in 4th out of what? Like 50 girls? What is America coming too?

This next clip is a little parody i just had to include.....Almost better than the real thing!

Miss Teen USA Spoof by: William Sledd

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I know i am Canadian, but come on, even i can locate North America. Too dang funny!

2 years gone by, and we have almost doubled!!

2007-08-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, we had a little friend reunion. It is amazing at how much things change in just two years. We have added several spouses, a baby and really miss one of our friends Paul.

Aaron and Becky (Becky being a new spouse,) bought a house in West Jordan, so we all got together for a B B que and games. It was so fun to get together and reminise and just laugh. So much has transpired, and we have all changed, but the second we all get together it is like we have not skipped a beat. I thik that is a sign of good friendships. We have all been through alot together. They are all true friends and just another reason why it is great to be back in Utah!

What?? Mr. Bojangles............

2007-08-08T20:27:00.001-07:00

So, a quick background. I am known for having little critters fall into my window well and freak the heck out of me. So a couple of nights ago, i was awaken by some weird noises. I was for sure that it was someone trying to break-in and kill me! ha!! :) I lifted a blind and tried to peak in. It was too dark to see anything, but the noise kept me awake all night. That morning i woke up, peaked in the window well and lone behold.........Mr. Bojangles.

I ran up the stairs to tell my dad, but of course, when we came down to look. He was gone. So that night, i was determined to prove that it was a mouse. So, later in the evening, i waited patiently to hear the noises. The second i heard, i switched the lights and there he was. I got the camera out, yelled at my mom and the two of us watched him for probably two hours. I felt bad he was there with no food, so i ran upstairs grabbed some bread and water and chucked some down.

This picture above, is of him licking the water droplets off the glass. Mom yelled at me because i got water spots all over the window, but i think seeing him lick them off softened her heart.
This last picture is of Mr. Bojangles trying to escape. He tried so hard and would get so close and then fall to the ground. For two nights, i was awoke by Mr Bojangles, but could never find him the next morning. So Sunday, i was down in my room with the blinds open and down jumps a cat. I couldn't get to my camera fast enough, but i feared that the life of my new friend Mr. Bojangles was finally rescued and shortened by this stupid cat.

p.s. if you are wondering why the name Mr. Bojangles..... Go watch the Green Mile.

I did not drowned!.........Well, almost!

2007-07-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

On July 15th, was the Xango Echo Triathlon in Coalville, Utah. Me, my Aunt Alicia, and sister-in-law Stephanie participated as a relay team. It was a 1/2 mile swim (me), 12 mile bike (Alicia), and a 5K run (Stephanie). It was alot of fun and i enjoyed ever minute of it and loved all the family support that came along with it. Our team name was, Team Canada Eh! What else could it have been eh?

Let me tell you about my swim experience. First of all. I am a swimmer. I have swam since before i could walk, swam varsity all through high school, so i felt pretty confident. A 1/2 mile swim is equivalent to 38 laps in the pool. I had been swimming with Eric and it had been going great. I wish it had gone that great in the lake. I felt really good until about 50 yards to the shore. My right calve started to cramp, so i quite kicking and it felt a little better. The second i got out of the lake and started running to the transition area to meet Alicia, both right and left calves "super cramped." The type of cramps that made me take almost 4 min to get to Alicia. It was as i have seen in marathons. Debilitating cramps that made it grueling to watch them cross the finish line cramps. But i made it, and in record time. My only goal was to beat Eric, Jesse and Blake out of the pool. And i beat Eric by 2 seconds!! Ya!! Really, i gave Jesse advice and helped Eric out in the pool. I really should have skooled him, he is just too good at everything.

These two pics are of my cousins Gavin and Hunter. They are Alicia's boys. They were two of the loudest cheerleaders of all. They sported their Canada gear with utmost pride and chanted, "My mom is going to beat you, Canada, We will rock you." and many more...
Overall our team Canada did great! We got third place out of the relay's overall. I took 3rd in my age group for the swim, Alicia took 3rd in her age group for her biking, and Steph took 1st in her age group for the run.
What a fun activity this was, not only to get out their and challenge ourselves, but a fun time with the family all together. My family stayed in Park City in a condo and just enjoyed each others company and shopped. Steph and i treated ourselves for working so hard!! :)

Now a little shout out to Eric, he did so great at the triathlon. I felt really proud of his swim! It was fun to be able to be the teacher with him, instead of the student. I hope to make him as proud one day with an incredible run!! Last week, Eric fractured his skull and is off running for 6-8 weeks. Then just easy runs, nothing major for 6 months. This is major because he is one of the most dedicated people i know. So i dedicate this post to him and will be running for him until he gets that thick head of his better.
P.S. Way to go Jesse and Blake as well!! You two rock!! I am planning on September!!

Another new beginning......

2007-07-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

So, i left Boise and came back to Utah. I had lived in Boise for two years and loved it. It served a purpose and i learned alot and overcame alot and now i am back with a vengence. My parents built an amazing house, so i thought i would occupy the basement until i figured out where i would want to purchase something of my own.

On monday i started my new job at Almond Dental and i love it. He is a great guy, very laid back, relaxed and fun. We fit great together! I have only been there two days and i love it already. He works his schedule so we always have a 4 day weekend. There is no better profession than then dental profession, we work hard, and love to not work as well.

This next weekend, i am participating in a triathlon relay in Park City. I am swimming the 1/2 mile (38 laps on the pool), my aunt Alicia is doing the 12 mile bike and my sister in law Stephanie is running the 5k. So look soon for pictures, that is, if i don't drowned! Ha!

"A light at the end of the tunnel!"

2007-06-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, i am obsessed with Nancy Grace. I want to be her! She is what has made me want to go back to school and be an attorney. It will probably never happen, but i am pretty passionate about what she does and i definatley share similar beliefs!

A little background on Nancy. She was going to school to receive her master's in education and was engaged to be married. A couple days before the wedding, her fiance was killed in a random act of violence. This devastated her to point she changed her major and became one of the first woman prosecuting state attorney's and is out to get every sex offender, murderer and wants justice. It is great! She puts her heart and soul into these cases and sometimes pushes the envelope expressing how she feels. I love it!

Here is an example of the type of interviewing/interrogating she does. She is interviewing my other obsession, Elizabeth Smart.

I am a devote watcher of her CNN show and it gets me riled up. (is that a word? Riled)At the end of each show, she looks at the screen and says, "goodnight friend." My family and friends all know not to call me at the end of the show because i will make them wait till she says goodnight to me! Ha! Long story short, she started her show tuesday, with some major news. It made me cry, here it is.....

So exciting. She never thought she would allow herself that happiness of marriage and kids and i am glad that she has finally let it in! It is nice to hear that there really is, "a light at the end of the tunnel."

Lots of changes......

2007-06-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

So, i got offered a great job in Salt Lake City for Dr. Almond. I am really excited, he is a great guy and his office is so laid back and fun. It seems just like my office here in Boise, but it is in Utah! Yeah!! I start on July 9th.

Next, sad news. Since my move just gives me two weeks to find a new home, i am going to live at my parents house till i find where i want to live. Hopefully looking to buy a house. That leads me to my sad news, my best little friend Daisy, was sold today to a very cute family. My dad is anti dog in the house and because i will be staying with them, the hardest decision i had to do was to give her up. It was so hard. I have always made fun of people and their love for dogs. But having Daisy, it really made me understand that they really do become one of the family. I have been bawling my eyes out. But i can't stop thinking of the adoption commercials, "I am not giving her up, I am giving her more!" The husband, works at a rehab/hospital/old folks home and he will be training daisy to become a therapy dog. So she will be at work with him everyday helping others feel better and i really like that. She is such a cute dog and i just adored her. I have to say, she is my first and will definatley be my last.

So new adventures going on in my life. I look forward to getting back to Utah to be around family and friends...and hopefully this broken heart will heal soon!

$22 bucks for testicles.......

2007-06-13T17:09:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, was the annual "Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed." It is biggest feed in the west. Being that i am living in Idaho, this was an event to be at. My friend Justin and i thought it would be hilarious to see what kind of people actually would put a testicle in their mouth, chew it up and enjoy it. Now i do not know how to describe what a fried testicle smelled like, but it did not entice me to try one either. We could smell them sizzling from miles away.

As we approached the feed, there was a pretty big line waiting to get in. It was amazing to see the different types of people all gathered together for one common goal. To eat as many testicles as they can. So we get to the front of the line and they tell us it is going to be $22 bucks. That was for unlimited nuts and four beers. I am not a drinker, but was thinking that if i was it was going to take a lot more than 4 beers to get me to put on of those into my mouth. So $22 bucks for testicles, no thanks. We laughed at the idea, and left the nuts at the nut feed.

This is a commercial that did not run for too long here in Boise. It created major controversy and you will see why. It quickly got cut from the air as complaints came flooding in.

Why i will never become an American Warning not for the faint of heart

2007-06-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

Ok, i hate spiders so you will never know how hard this was for me to talk about, let alone search for pictures and post it. As we speak i swear i feel things crawling all over my huge goose bumps.

I had a patient this week that just got back from a 9 month deployment in Iraq. I asked him about Iraq, their teeth and if you can buy floss there (ha! I new he had not been flossing!!) and the thing he decides to tell me about was the camel spider. Here is the picture. Don't worry they live in the middle east. They are about as big as a dinner plate and can jump approximately three feet and run as fast as 10 miles an hour.

And....this is a picture of one of the troops who got bit by one at night. They actually eat flesh.....

And if you thought it could not get worse, here is a video that some troops put together in Iraq.

And on that note.....That is why i will never become an American. Canadians, we don't fight, we get along with everybody. So if i stay Canadian, then i will never have the chance to be deployed to the middle east. So i dedicate this post to Rick, for reiterating what i have always believed. CANADA ROCKS!!

Bom Chicka Wahwah!!

2007-06-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so maybe it is because this commercial takes place in a dental setting, but i think it is hilarious. Most of the Axe body spray commercials are only shown on MTV, probably because they are a little racey (how the heck do you spell that? ha!) and it fits in to the general theme of MTV. I wonder what would happen if i started to wear the body spray. Would men in my dental chair start, "Bom Chicka Wahwahing" me?

Ogden Marathon.....will i ever get there??

2007-05-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

This last weekend i went down to Utah to support my cousin Jesse who was has been training hard for the Ogden marathon. Instead of just being a spectator, i thought i would participate and run the 5k. I love these little races. They get me pumped and excited to run and continue my training goal of completing a marathon this year.

My friend Mindy thought it would be fun to train as well for a marathon. Her dad had ran several marathons and is no longer with us, so i think this is an opportunity for her to get closer to her dad by participating and striving towards something he enjoyed. She is great, always been their for me and a great supporter. She did just that the day of the race too. It was a privilege to run along side her. Partly too because the elevation was killing me! :) I felt like i needed an oxygen mask. Utah is about 2500 feet higher than Boise. I now know why athletes come early to a town to get accustomed to the elevation- you can really feel it!
Another thing that was really fun is after the marathon, they had a kids K. A one mile run that allowed the kids to run threw the finish line. There were 800 kids that participated. One was Mindy's daughter Madi. We call her my surrogate daughter. I just adore her. I met up with them to finish the race. She grabbed my had and ran to the end. I really enjoyed that!
A special shout out to my cousin Jesse. He did a great job. It was such a hot day. Hotter than expected and it affected a lot of the runners. Jess cramped up at mile 19 and struggled, but he finished strong and "endured to the end!" I am in awe that he accomplished this. It is a lot of hard work, hard on your body and very time consuming. He is such a supporter to me and my training and i want him to know how proud i am of him. Here you come Boston! I know you can do it!!This picture is of him. I love it. He is pointing at his family. Way to go Jess!! Utah was a blast this weekend! It was really fun to see the new house my parents are building and spend time with family and friends. My mom spent the whole day with me at the marathon and i really enjoyed that time with her.

Happy Mother's Day!!

2007-05-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago, my mom came to Boise to visit. It was alot of fun. She really is my best friend. I really like Boise and am having a great time here, but it always makes me a little homesick when i have family come and visit or i go home for a weekend. My mom and i had a great time. She is loving having a "grandog!" Daisy just loved her. Mom always finds the most annoying squeaky toys and they always end up being daisy's favourite toys. She spoils her.
The weekend mom was her the 8th street market opened. It is downtown and they close down all of 8th street and it is filled with all sorts of booths. Everything from fresh fruit and elk sausages to rum (and i mean rum) cakes, jewelry and fresh cut flowers. It is the highlight of my Saturdays. Everyone brings there dogs and it is just a good time.

On the way to the 8th street market, Mom and i stopped at Jack in the Box for a quick breakfast sandwich to hold us over. At the window of the drive threw, they say Daisy and asked if she would like a treat. They had a big bin full of dog treats. I love how this city caters to dogs.

As it is mother's day weekend, i have to be grateful that my mom is still around. Few years back we almost lost her and didn't know if she would live through the night. Life comes and goes quick. I have lost alot of loved ones and am just so thankful that one of them was not my mom. She is my number one supporter and i would not be the person i am today without her love, compassion, and example. Another reason mother's day is so great......I get to talk to my brother Kory who is on a mission in Louisiana, Baton Rouge!!

This is a complete shock!!

2007-04-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this quiz and thought it would be an eye-opener to take. I am being 100% honest, being single sucks. Everyone tells me how lucky i am and how i need to take advantage of being single and "free, " and to just enjoy this time. Honestly, how fun can it really be to go on a trip by myself, go to a movie alone, spend Christmas alone, go to wedding receptions alone, go to baby showers.... wishing i was again, not alone. I am done with school, have an amazing career, done everything i could possibly want to do alone. Where in the heck is my man???......

Ok, now that i have got that out and you can get an idea of how i feel about being single, here are the results to my quiz. Guess i needed a quiz for me to realize that i am, "pretty happy being single."

You Are Pretty Happy Being Single

You have a full, fun life. And you definitely don't need love to be content.
Of course, being single can get you down a little. Especially when you've been single for a while.
But you know how to be patient and wait for the right person. You're life is too good to settle for anything!

Are You Happy Being Single?

.........but know i will be even happier to find a good, honest man!! :)

Table Rock Hike

2007-04-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, my friend Shannah and i thought it would be fun to go hike Table Rock. Table Rock has a big lit up cross on the top of the mountain, and since i have lived here i have wanted to go. This weekend was the perfect weather to get outdoors.

This is daisy two seconds after we got in the car.

This is daisy 5 seconds after getting in the car. I think we wore her out. Even funnier is that we did not even get to the top. Not because i wussed out, but because the dogs did. Daisy plopped down under a bush and would not get up. She was done!

The brown dog is Shannah's new dog. His name is Tucker. He is a Boxador, 1/2 boxer, 1/2 lab. Very cute. Daisy has a new friend and i think she realized how annoying she was when she was a puppy. Tucker loves to pull at her collar and jump all over her. I love that Shannah got a puppy. It will be fun to go on hikes, walks, Boise is such an outdoorsy city- there are trails everywhere!

On a lighter note, the running is going well. I cannot belive how much better i feel now that the gallbladder is out. The countdown is on for Logan and it freaks me out. I have alot of inspirational people who make me excited for this experience. My two second shout out goes to my uncle Eric who is running Boston on Monday, and my cousin Jesse who is running Ogden in May. They both are huge supporters and i could not do this without their example.

Happy Easter!

2007-04-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! I know, i am a geek. I hate this picture of myself, but once again, Daisy steals the show. You would think from watching, "America's next top model," i would learn how to pose my face so it didn't look so fatty. Guess i need to practice more in the mirror! Ha!!

I could not help myself when i saw the chick "outfit" at Pets mart. What the poor dog has to put up with. It was hilarious trying to get that on her head. She just did not want to cooperate. My brother got it on video. I need to figure out how to put it on the blog, because it is worth seeing.

Now this picture does not do her justice. What is going on with her eyes? I was holding a treat in one hand and a camera pointed right in front of her, so i am thinking she has one eye on the camera, one on the treat. It is a little freaky!!

Fun weekend with Kile and KJ (Kile's Jess)

2007-03-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend my brother Kile and sis-n-law Jess came to visit. If you don't know this, Kile married a Jessica. So hence, there are two Jessica Kearns' in my family. So in order to get rid of the confusion we call her KJ. (Kile's Jess.) Kile and Jess don't have dental insurance, so i cleaned their teeth for them.

Love the hats on Kile and Jess. What a cute couple they make!

We laughed at these shirts and had to buy them. The green is even fuzzy! Ha!! Plus, it is green! Needless to say, we did not get pinched. Bad pinches that is!! Ha!!

On Friday we packed a picnic and went to Camel's Back park. This is what happened to Daisy after a long fun day at the park. She zonked out. And not in the most comfortable place. But she looks so darn cute regardless!

Even though we are sister in laws, everyone tells us we look like sisters!! She is a blast and i feel blessed to have her in the family!!

Picture from our walk at Camel's Back park!!

I love when friends and family come to visit. You never really realize just how much you miss them until they get in the car and drive back home. Boise may seem far, but really, not at all. I need to take the opportunity to visit home more.

In other news, Monday is the day i have been looking forward to for a month. I have the clear to start running and training again. So marathon, here i come again. Cross your fingers that no other body organs decide to give out along the way!!

Ooh, i feel pretty.....

2007-03-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

This is a fun little website you will all have to visit. Someone telling me, I have similar facial characteristics to Eva Longoria, instantly i felt pretty! :) My picture is hard to see, but it is the one i used in my profile on my blog, so feel free to blow it up so you really can say i see Eva Longoria in Jess!! Ha!! It also gave me a 59% to Keith Urban. I did not include that because i didn't want to think i looked like a guy, but, he is pretty hot!! Ha!!!

Isn't my Daisy just the cutest?!!

2007-03-09T21:31:00.000-08:00

When i was having my gallbladder out, my friend Krista and her family volunteered to take Daisy for me. Krista is the dental assistant at my office and the other two dogs (white jack russel's) are her pride and joy. We have alot of fun walking in the foothills almost every night and have even more fun shopping for clothes!! :) Yes, i am one of thise crazy dog mom's that put clothes on her dog. Daisy may be my only child.....

Oh, love the sleeping picture. I love that she took pictures for me. She has a picture of Daisy and Jenna totally snuggling. She needs to download it, then i will post it. :)

Things are going well. I have not had the chance to start running again yet. I worked out too soon and was having some pain. I called the surgeon and he was pretty upset with me. Said it sounds like i tore my internal stitches, so he commanded 2 more weeks off. So next friday, i will be running no matter what. I never thought i would miss running. It is amazing at how much better it makes me feels not only physically, but emotionally. Running has allowed me to take out any stress or frustrations on the pavement, so not hitting the pavement has made me cry lots more than usual.

My brother Kile and sister-in-law Jessica are coming up to Boise for spring break, so i am really looking forward to having them here. That is about the excitement for this next week. Work is really busy, which is nice, but the hand by friday is needing some major ibuprofen!! Anyways, that is it for the week. Hopefully something more interesting happens so i can keep up with all your lives!! Miss you all and am glad to keep in touch with you all through your blogs!!!

Life without a gallbladder!

2007-02-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

So this is a funny story. Days after my surgery i was looking through my mom's camera and stumbled accross this. Now i do not have any makeup on, i have horrible hair, oxygen, just not a pretty kodak moment. She laughed and told me when she initially took the picture i asked to see it. I guess i didn't like how i looked so i made her take another one. What? It must have been the drugs talking. Not in a million years would i have consented to a picture like this!! I think she took advantage of that! Ha!! :)

Surgery went good. The surgeon said my gallbladder was distorted. Hmmm. Don't exactly know what that entails, but i meet with him this friday for my post op appointment.

Mom came up to take care of me. For some reason, no matter how old you are, having mom around when you are sick, makes it seem all better. I felt really bad because i slept most of the time she was here. Wish i could have been able to spend more quality time with her because she is amazing.

Thanks to all the e-mails, cards, flowers, and phone calls of support! I have the greatest friends and family members. I even got my first fruit basket sent to me. My brother Kile and sister-in-law "KJ" sent me a fruit basket. It was yummy. Mom and i ate fruit salad all week. Kile is hilarious, he is always doing nice things like this for me. On the card he said he has always wanted to send someone a fruit basket. Glad i could be the receiver!!

If i were an M&M....

2007-02-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

The resemblence is somewhat scary eh?? With lots of sick time on my hands, i am bored and have stumbled across this fun website. It is http://www.becomeanmm.com. You create your own M&M. You pick the shape of your shell, the colour, hair, eyes, mouth, accessories. It is pretty fun. (Does that say how bored i am??) Then after your m&m is created you can send an e-card, make a movie. Lots of things to get my mind off feeling sick and worrying about surgery!! :)

So, in my down time, since i have yet to find my husband, i thought i would make an M&M husband. Stethescope and all. Ha!! So here we are taking a stroll hand in hand. Ha! Don't i wish it were that easy to create the perfect man! Ha!!

Just when things started to get good........

2007-02-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

Why the image you ask?? Well, it all started Jan 1st. New years eve i spent at Eric and Gina's with the Webb family and Harris family. Great fun, lots of crazy dancing and singing, and did i mention fondue? New year's day i had a race, so i knew that i needed to take the chesse fondue easy. So, Jan 1st comes around, i run my race, and threw up twice. Yup, way to start the new year.

So for about a month i have felt sick, the stomach flu has been going around, so i have just been ignoring the constant nausea, abdominal pain and so much other stuff i am sure none of you want to hear.

After weeks of loving "nagging" by my friend Krista and mom, i went to the doctor. That day the took lots of blood and sent me right over to the hospital for an ultrasound. Yesterday i met with the surgeon and i have some gallbladder issues that has caused me to schedule for surgery on Tuesday the 6th.

This has been very hard for me because i have had this marathon goal in sight, been doing great with the training, getting in better shape, even registered for the marathon. The surgeon told me no running prior to the surgery and 2-3 weeks off past the surgery. He is a runner so he sympathized as he told me i will probably have to start from the beginning. Walking slow, slow jogging, SLOW increase of miles. Does he not realize i am on a schedule.

Speaking of schedule. It is an 18 week program to get ready for a marathon. That 18 weeks started last monday. So, Newport is looking like a past memory. That is really hard for me to take. When i set a goal i accomplish it, and it is very hard to have someone tell you that that goal, is unattainable.

Next goal, get recovered, feel better and shoot for the top of Utah marathon in Logan Utah in September. I hear the first 14 miles are downhill, that is already sounding good for me.

2007-01-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

So, i did it. It is official. I am signed up for the Newport, Oregon marathon. It is on June 2nd. It took everything in me to push that button that would make the registration complete. When you are not registered you can talk it up that you want to do a marathon, then the second i pushed that button, fear and anxiety took over. The hardcore 18 week training program starts monday. You have to admit that the course is a beautiful one, looks very long........AAHH!!!

I read a book called, "Running with Angels." Great book. This lady was 300+ pounds, had a 2 kids die and was depressed and overweight. Today she has ran 2 marathons and is training for another this year. She used those hardships to get her through the hardships of a marathon and compares life with training for a marathon.

On her marathon, she dedicated a mile to a special person who supported her, and got here there. I really like that. She talked about mile 19 (i think...) and how it was a tough one, but the fact that it was the mile dedicated to her daughter that passed away made her push on. That really touched my heart and so i will be copying her and dedicating miles to special people in my life.

Needless to say, marathon training is my life right now. No time for goofing around, no time for guys..... Eric and Gina say, the marathon is my boyfriend right now, and that when i finish that race i am going to know what to do with my life, where i want to be. That keeps me motivated as well. It is something i need to do, focus on me, accomplish this goal, and "let the chips fall where they may."

Cold Turkey Race....A thanksgiving tradition?

2006-12-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, hope that your thanksgiving was great! I had the opportunity to run the cold turkey race on thanksgiving morning with some of my favourite cousins. Jenna, Jesse, Blake and Kristen and i all ran the cold race ending at memorial grove. And for all of those who know me and know my obsession with Utah murders and kidnappings, memorial grove was a funny place to end. You all remember the Lori Hacking murder? That is where she "went missing while she was jogging." We all know that ended up on being a lie, but how weird that when i hear of where the race takes place, the first thing i think of was Lori Hacking. Little warped.

Thanksgiving was great! This is the first year i did not have any brothers around. Two got married this summer, and one is on a mission, so it was a little different. Russ and Aubrey put on an amazing dinner, great turkey all around with the traditional roasted turkey cooked by Russ, and a deep-fried turkey oiled by Allen. Good times. When you live away, family suddenly becomes that more special, so it is nice to be able to come home and see all of them.

How time flies!!

2006-11-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hey all!! I have missed the blog world and have decided i need to get back in the groove of life. Loosing my friend Paul really threw me through a loop and i have had a hard time getting my feet back on the ground. So this is my attempt to try.

Exciting news, the puppy is my latest addition to my family of me! Her name is Daisy, i got her the first week in October, so i am still new to this mom thing. Everyone has always said how much fun a pet was, but no one ever said how hard it was to train one! Oh, the puppy stage!! She is a puggle, the new hybrid bread. She is half pug, half beagle and i have to say, the cutest dog i have ever seen! She is potty trained now, so i am really starting to love her alot more!!

I am still at my same office working 5 days a week! I love it! There are things i would like to change, but not much. He is a great Dentist to work for, so fun and laid back! I have grown really close to one of the assistants, Krista. She has no brothers, is married and has two boys. We can hang out all day, and then take our dogs walking at night. Some think it is weird we do not get sick of one another!! :)

The biggest change in my life is i have taken up running. I am training for a marathon. I will be running the Newport, Oregon marathon on June 2nd. My "uncle" Eric is a hard core runner and is teaching me all his skills. In fact, he is so good that Lance Armstrong couldn't even beat his time in the NY marathon. He is mighty proud of that! I am running my first race in Salt Lake this week called the cold turkey. I will have to post some pics!

Anyways, life is on the uphill and i am looking forward to that! I am glad that almost everyone is keeping up on there blogs because it is nice to read about how you all are! Miss you all and i promise i will be better at blogging!!

Sorry everyone!!!

2006-04-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

What a month- taking each day as it comes. It has been a hard one. Through loosing one of my dearest friends last month i have realized how important your family and friends are and i just want to thank all of you for all your constant love and support! It is hard to be away from so many of you, but i am thankful for the technology that can keep us close!! I promise to update the blog with pics this week!!

You hygiene girls getting ready to graduate! I am so proud of you and am so glad we have stayed in contact! Jamie and Mary Ann especially. You two are amazing!!! Keep me posted on this week!!

Love you all!!! Jess

In loving memory of my Pauly

2006-03-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

On March 10th i received a phone call that i will never forget. My family found out one of my best friends Paul Perkins, was killed in a car accident, but being here in Boise alone, my family did not want to tell me until someone could be here with me. Well, my friend Dan called before my family and i found out the news alone. It was one of the hardest things i have gone through. I never felt so hurt and alone in my life.

Paul was driving southbound I15 in North Salt Lake, when an 18 year old kid crossed the median and hit Paul head on. He was killed on impact.

I have known Pauly since the day he moved to Utah- since i was 18. We instantly connected and he became on of my dearest friends. I wrote him throughout his mission and was the bearer of several secret mission stories.

His family lives right down the street from my family in Layton. Paul has an older sister and three younger brothers, all very close to me and my whole family. The Perkins have just always felt like an extension of my own famliy.

Paul helped me through some really hard times in my life and i feel blessed and privilaged to have known him. When i was up for UDA in February, Paul and i ran into eachother and had a really good talk. He loved and supported me like he always has and expressed how happy he was that i was happy again! He talked about how we needed to plan a get together and catch up. Paul went home that day and told his mom how good it was to see me, and how much that meant to him. Cindy (Paul's mom) told me that if Paul knew he was dying and had a list of things he needed to do and get done. Our meeting and being able to talk was one of them. That has meant so much to me because two weeks after running into eachother he left this earth.

pauly1
Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

Death is something we know we will all go through, when it is going to happen, we never know. And, although my heart aches, i know that i will see my pauly again.

I got the boot......I am not Boise's biggest Loser!

2006-03-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

ELIMINATED
So....I heard it. This week when i got kicked out of the contest i heard, "I am sorry, you are just too fat." I was so bummed. My weight loss percentage was not high enough to go on another week. It was frustrating because i worked so hard, worked-out hard everyday and did not cheat. The remaining guys love to mention that they have "cheat" days, miss work-outs and when they get kicked off are so excited to go eat junk. This is something i took seriously and it bugs me that guys who loose fast and easy are going to win my cruise.

It worked out great though because a new year resolution i made was to run a marathon, so this hard core working out got me to drop 22 pounds and get me addicted to exercising, so marathon, here i come! Ok, well not marathon, but a half marathon and a couple 5K and 10K races. 27 miles, are you crazy. Somewhere down the road for sure, but for this summer i think i am going to start a little slower. I have registered for 2 5K's and 2 10K's all ready. Boise is great because as soon as it gets warm, there is a race every weekend.

Now that my contest/cruise obsession is over, i can now turn my obsessiveness over to running, so i am looking forward to that!

I will have to post a picture of my 22 pounds less self! The picture above was our weigh in picture!

My biggest comptition!!!

2006-03-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

So as you may have read i am in this little competition called, "Boise's biggest loser!" This guy is Ethan! He is my biggest competition. He is in first place, me in second! Last week when he came to weigh in he had a little something in a bag and was excited for to weigh in so he could finally get into this bag of his. So Ethan weighs in and the second he got off the scale he pulls out a doughnut. I was shocked. Of course everybody laughed, but deep down i was a little bothered. I have been so hard core, have not cheated or missed a day of exercise and here Ethan can eat a doughnut and still be in first place? Something had to be wrong with this picture.
I have found yet another thing to be angry at guys for; They can loose weight fast, easy, and without much effort.
Tonight is ou 4th week of weigh in! I am very nervous because there are only two girls left and three guys (started with 5 of each) so the odds are getting harder and harder for me. I am smack in the middle though, 2 above, two behind me(one being a girl:)), so i don't think i will get kicked off this week, but you never know what will happen.
I do know that right now the only tow people who i am concerned with are Ethan and Danny. Both big guys with alot of weight to loose! Don, he was my number one competition, but i passed him up last week!! Ya!!!
Tomorrow i will blog to fill everyone in on what happens!! Just want to thank you all for all your support!! And if it is my time to get kicked off, i will be upset, but thankful that it got me back in shape, and finally feeling a little better about myself again!!

Magic 93.1 Boise's Biggest Loser!!

2006-02-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

So, I seem to always stumble on new and interesting adventures. Tara and Shamus are morning show DJ's on Magic 93.1 here in Boise. They are doing a contest called, "Boise's Biggest Loser." It is based off the t.v show, "The biggest loser." Well, i sent in an essay and got picked! We are in the second week and i have lost 14 pounds- have killed the girls!! Every thursday we do a weigh in, and every friday morning we are on the air and they kick off the one with the lowest percentage. This last fridat they kicked a guy and a girl off, so there are only 8 people left.
I think my biggest competition are two guys. There beginning weights were 350-360, so they have alot of weight to lose, not to mention guys loose faster! (No fair) How they are tracking the percentage is alot more fair than pound. My 10 pounds last week was 4.6%. Don lost 18 pounds and his percent was 5. So, it seems to be fair!!!
What's in it for me?? Well i can get back in shape, but the winner gets a cruise to Baja!! And....I so need a vacation!!!
The contest is only 6 weeks, so i have 6 weeks of hard core competitiveness. I come fromk a sporty family where i learned the art of being competitive. This is good because losing is not acceptable, but it also makes it bad because losing is not acceptable. :)
Cross your fingers for tomorrow's weigh in! Feel free to e-mail shamus and tara and tell them that i deserve to win!! Ha Ha!!! www.shamusandtara.com

It all makes sense now...

2006-02-03T23:43:00.000-08:00

So, i am still single because i ruin relationships! Sad. One thing that is very interesting on this quiz is it says that i don't put my needs first. So true. I would rather do something for someone else, and would always put them before me. I am so Co-dependent!!!! :) Surprise, surprise.
Good news, it is all about me right now!!! For the first time in such a long time i am focusing on me, and doing things that i want to do. It has been great!! :)

You Are A Relationship Doormat!

Surprise, you ruin relationships. Bet you didn't see that one coming :-)
While you're a nice, understanding, and caring girlfriend - you don't put your needs first.
And deep down, it's probably because you worry about getting dumped.
So speak up for yourself, weed out the losers sooner, and you'll find a guy that *deserves* you.

Do You Ruin Relationships?

Beer- the new "baller" sedative

2006-01-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

Here in Boise, we have a basketball team called the Idaho Stampede. They are part of the CBA. I think the best way to describe it is, they are better than college ball, but not good enough for NBA. :) There are some players who are signed on with an NBA team, but the NBA team sends them to play in the CBA to get some experience. We are friends with a couple of players so we usually always have tickets to the game.
On tuesday they played yakama washingtonn. It got to be a pretty heated game and it was not long until a player on Washington got a T. Five min later he was ejected from the game. He yanked his shirt off and left the game swearing at the top of his lungs. Someone in the crowd yelled back at him saying something to the fact that there were kids in the crowd. For some reason this made the player even more upset and people were holding him back from jumping in the crowd. They finally get him to leave, the game goes on and about 5 min later, the Washington coach gets ejected. Same thing, he throws a fit and several cops had to come.
This is not the best part of the story. The game again continues, we can hear yelling still going on in the tunnel when a waitress comes with beer for the two ejecties. That made the crowd even more upset. Everyone watched the beer get taken to them and continue to yell and scream while they drank.
Did they think that the beer would settle them down? It may have settled the two down, but it made the Idaho Stampede and the CBA look ridiculous.

STAMPEDE KINGED BY YAKAMA

The Stampede (15-14) were up 75-69 at the end of the third quarter when Yakama (18-10) player Rosell Ellis and head coach Paul Woolpert were ejected from the game. But an inspired Sun King team came back to outscore the Stampede 38-23 in the fourth.

My Power colour

2006-01-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

Your Power Color Is Gold

You're dependable and hard working. You never miss a deadline - and you're never late.You have a clear sense of right and wrong. You're very detail oriented.You get frustrated when your friends are sloppy - or when they don't follow through.You're on top of things, and you wish that everyone else was!

What's" Your Power Color?

Amazing.... Two posts in one day, but this is a cool website i had to share with you all. Check it out- it has questions from what kind of bra you are to what your alias should be. Would you agree that the colour yellow is my power colour. The description in pretty darn true about me!

Totally Naive eh?

2006-01-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Notice any similarities between this church sign and the sign in my previous post? Hmm. Who would have thought that you could get on a website at http://www.churchsigngenerator.com and design your own church sign. I am such a dork eh? Just so you know, if you design your own sign and e-mail it to me... it will still be funny! Ha!! You would think i was a blonde!! On the hair note, i got my hair cut and coloured this weekend. The lady who did my colour chose the highlight colour. Long story short, i have deep purple highlights! I was really scared, but it looks really cute. My blue eyes really pop out now!!

What an accepting church in Boise!

2006-01-19T18:40:00.000-08:00

How funny is this? As my friend was driving to work today, she saw this and had to pull over to take a picture! If you are LDS, you are laughing your head off about now. If not, i am sorry, it just won't be as funny to you. For those of you who aren't, let me do a quick summary. Our Prophet Gordon B Hinkley asked and challenged all the members of the church in October to start and finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. This book is 531 pages of challenging scriptures to read. Is this any funnier???

My first big purchase as a Dental Hygienist!

2005-12-18T17:38:00.001-08:00

Check it out! My first big purhase!........Thanks to dental hygiene school!
I have been driving a 92 honda accord for so long. I just kept praying it would get me through hygiene school with no problems, and it did! It is funny because since i have been out of school the car has little by little stated to break down. I kept putting money in it, until i got tired of it. One day on my way to work i rolled the window down and then it wouldn't roll back up. Of course on a day that smow was inevitable. So that was the straw the "broke the camel's back." I got on the internet and started searching for this hyundai tucson. I have been looking at it for the past year and there just happened to be one in Boise that had all the features i wanted. Red outside, grey inside. So i drove down, traded my well used honda in and drove off in a reliable 2005 hyundai tucson!
What a relief to have a dependable car. To know that it will for sure start everyday and get you from point A to point B without fail is a great feeling.

Same office: Opposite Dentists

2005-11-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

So i am at the most incredible office, i couldn't ask for a better place of employment. So i don't divulge anyones names i am going to refer to them as Dr #1 and Dr #2. Dr. #1 is who hired me and is absolutley incredible. He utilizes every hygiene skill and assistant skill in me and always chellegnes me with new opportunities and activities! I love it!!! He wants me to diagnose and trusts all my instincts and judgements. I work for him M, T, and TH.
Dr #2 has very rarely had a hygienist. No hygienist can stand to work with him. When i started with Dr #1, Dr #2 came to me and asked if i would like to work with him a couple half days to help him catch up with reca. You see, he does his cleanings. The first day i worked with Dr #2 he saind that he is the diagnostician and he does not like that hygienist try to diagnose. He likes to tell me what films to take, what reca and if i need to probe, or do scl/rp. Crazy. He is the nicest guy, just so behind on the times. So, i just do my little job, don't say a word and make him feel all powerful. I can't even chart. I am nervous though. Getting to the point where i am feeling un-ethical. So many of his patients are being looked over periodontally wise. How do i approach him in a conservative method and introduce him to the new hygiene ways?
It is just so hilarious to me at how different these two men are. Slowly but surley i am getting through to Dr #2. Patients have asked him if this was a privilage they get to see me today and that they have never had such a thourough cleaning. Hello!! He needs to focus his time on restorative measures and let me deal with the preventative side. It is just one of those situations that i just have to laugh at. I am just so thankful to have Dr #1 know and appreciate what i can and am willing to do!!!!
So, Idaho is great!!! Having a hard time transitioning from school to work. I am bored! I have just applied to Boise State University and hope to start taking some fun classes. I have to say school did pay off, i love the paychecks! What an amazing thing to pay all your bills and have so much left over for fun things!!!
Miss all you hygiene gals tons and hope things are great for you and that you have all found your dream jobs, because i know i have!! :)

I miss the blogging world!!!

2005-10-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
I am back! Yeah!! It has been so long. So much has changed!! In an earlier blog i spoke about my job as a dental hygienist at willow tree. Well, i got a better job!!! I am still a hygienist, but at a better office and for a significantly better pay. It isn't all about the money, but when it is nine dollars an hour more, who can say no! Here i am the only hygienist and i love that. At Willow tree there were 4 hygienist counting me, and i hated that one hygienist could make hygiene decisions for all of us! So needless to say i am super happy, great pay, great hours (mon, tues, thur 8-5, and wed fri 8-12) and a great office. Somewhere i can see myself for years to come.
I love Boise and am so happy. This is a great town. For all of you who know me, know that i needed to get away. This was the best thing i could have done. I have met alot of people and have alot of new friends!
I have to say that i love finally getting a good paycheck, especially when i have a place of my own to decorate. School was hard, but it has definatley paid off. I love that you all are keeping up on the blogs! I have someonw who is coming to install the internet next week, so i will get back on track and post some pictures!!!
I read all your blogs often and i am glad you are all doing so well!!!

Beautifully HOT Boise

2005-07-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

So, I am here, I took the plunged and moved to Boise. It was a sad goodbye to my family, but it was also an exciting time.
Monday i started my full time job as a dental hygienist at Willow Tree Dental. It is great! I love it!! They way the building is set up is great. If you enter the door to the right, it takes you to the dentists' side of the building. If you enter the door to the left, you enter the world of hygiene. There are usually four dental hygienists that work at a time. I like that we are so seperate from the doctor's. It gives me a sense of independance! That is what i have been working for for so long.
Being know as "dental diva's" my schedule is as such. Full time for a dental hygienist is 32 hour a week. I work thirty three, which allows me such benefits as medical and 401K! That right there is worth the hours!! :)
Although i miss my family and friends back home, i look forward to what the future holds! I am excited to start making money and to work as a hygienist-something i have been working hard to become for a long time!!
On a side note, my apartment wasn't ready when i made the move, so i am staying in a hotel. Talk about being spoiled. I have continental breakfast, and someone to make my bed everyday! What a treat! I don't know what i am going to do when i have to move out and figure out on my own what to eat for breakfast!!
The tempeture today is around 105. It seem so much hotter that utah! I thought on my down time i would be able to get a tan. Ha! Out in that sun i last about 10 minutes before i go into heat stroke. Can't figure out if it is humid here, but it is hot.
Anyways, thanks to all my family and friends for all there love and support! I miss you all, but will keep in touch through phone calls, e-mail, text messages, and of course, my blog!! :)

If i were for sale......I would be worth$$$

2005-06-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

I found this wesite on another blog, and had to test it out. It asks you many questions about your profession, health, personality ect. and then tells you in a dollar amount how much you are worth. It then breaks down eeach of your answers and tells you how much money you received for each. Try it! It is pretty funny, but don't rub it in if your are worth more than me! HA!! Blog me back and let me know though! :)

I am worth $1,480,528 on HumanForSale.com

I'm not a bride, but if i runaway can i become a millionaire?

2005-06-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

When i heard that the acclaimed "Runaway Bride" was going to be interviewed by Katie course i could not wait to see and hear this crazy ladies excuse for putting her family and community through hell. I am such a conspiracy theorist and was obsessed with all the publicity Jenifer Wilbanks brought. From the beginning i started to make assumptions of what might have happened to her. But, when it all came out that it was a lie, i was baffled. It made me so mad that someone could do this and make up a story as she did. Especially down to what her abductors looked like. What has made me even more upset is her now fame received from lying. She was even paid a half a million dollars and her fiance received a quarter of a million to tell there story on national tv with Katie Couric.

As i watched this interview i began to wonder about the fiance. Was he really that dumb that he was going to stay with her after everything she has done and everything she has put him through? I can't figure out if he is just an amazing guy or a complete idiot. I am nervous to see htere future. If she can shoplift multiple times and lie about being kidnapped, what else is she capable of doing?

What is this teaching our community? That if you runaway and fabricate a kidnapping story, ya your reputation might be ruined, but hey you are now practically a millionaire. She does this interview, i am sure a book and movie deal are not that far away in the future. It seems that we as American's have become so obsessed with other people's lives and reality that i can't help to think that our obsession are contributing to these reality offers and endless amounts of money given to individuals who do not deserve a penny, but deserve jail time.

What makes me even more upset is that i know the day the Jennifer Willbanks movie comes out, i will be there watching it.

Hogle Zoo!

2005-06-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

DSCF0843_0198
Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

Last week i went to Hogle Zoo with some of my cousins. As a kid i have fond memories of this place. As i was talking to my uncle he gave me this analogy of Hogle Zoo. He says that San Diego zoo is like P.F Changs and Hogle zoo is like Smith's chinese food. Smith's chinese food here i come! :)
As we were walking around the zoo, my cousins and i got to talking about these wax animals that you used to be able to purchase and see them get made. We searched the park and to our disappointment they were no longer a part of Hogle Zoo. It was funny that as adults we still hold that same memory of Hogle Zoo.
Hogle Zoo is definatley not the San Diego Zoo, but what made it fun was seeing the kids get so excited about all the animals; especially watching Carter try to stomp the butterflies in the new butterfly exhibit. We thought the butterfly keeper was going to have a heart attack.

Willow Tree Dental

2005-06-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

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Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

This is my new place of employment in Boise, Idaho! They treat there hygienists great, so i am excited to join their dental team!

Pond

2005-06-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Dscf0861
Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

This is the stream that goes throughout my complex. There are always ducks that occupy these areas! Really cute!

Apartment hot tub!

2005-06-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Dscf0869
Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

Just another picture of my new place. There is a HUGE pool, and this cute hot tub!

Home sweet home!

2005-06-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

Dscf0844
Originally uploaded by jessluvscanada.

This is my new place in Boise, Idaho. Hopefully it will be ready for me the second week of July!

Guess Who?

2005-06-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

Which Rock Chick Are You?

Yeah, i love Gwen Stefani. This is a funny website i got off of Maria's blog. Don't know if this is the perfect match of me though. Hmm...

"Way to go Idaho!! "

2005-06-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

So, I have always heard about people speaking of how things just fell into place for them. I have never had that happen to me... Until last week. I have an uncle who is an oral surgeon in Boise Idaho and he has been telling me I should come up to Idaho to find a dental hygiene job. Idaho?? All I have ever seen of Idaho is my drive to Canada throughout Pocatello. Yuck. I have lived in California, and Vegas and am definitely a city girl. But I thought I would check it out.
I got to Boise on a Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday afternoon I had a great paying dental hygiene job with full time benefits and an apartment. I can now agree with so many others that if it is meant to be, it will all fall into place.
Boise is a really cool city. It was nothing I had expected. It was just in Forbes magazine as the second state in the unites states for most economical growth and still lowest cost of living. Downtown Boise is so cool! I am really excited. There are lots of bike trails, a huge river called the green belt throughout the city that people float, kyack, ect. and lots of shopping.
I am excited for this new experience. I am definitely scared, but love a challenge.

Heal the world Michael, you made it a better place??

2005-06-02T21:51:00.001-07:00

As the trial is coming to an end i am torn between what i believe, and what i hope is true. Today on Nancy Grace (Court TV) she was comparing Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson stating, Michael Jackson's trial is full of hard core evidence that child molestaion did occur, Scott Peterson had absolutley no evidence pointing towards him. Scott will be sentanced to death, and Michael will be let free and given a job in Las Vegas as a headliner. It is another "OJ Simpson" example of how money, and popularity prevail.
I will admit it, i am a huge Michael Jackson fan, and again will admit that i would pay big bucks to see him as a headliner in Las Vegas. I have followed the trial closley and still don't know what to believe. No doubt he is a weird man, by his looks alone he could fit the profile of a child molestor. If that indeed happened, he needs to fess up to it, and take the blame. I can't help to think that maybe this was all part of his plan....to go to jail with the rest of the perverts and live happily ever after.

2005-06-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Luck of the Canadian?

2005-06-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit out of the blogging world. School got way to involved for me to even breathe! I had my clinical dental hygiene boards about two weeks ago, the last of the "hell" and let me tell you, it was hell.
Earlier in the semester i had found the most pefect board patient, disease and all. A fellow classmate was leaving to NY to take baords about a month before us and she hadn't found a patient yet. So stupid me.... I feel bad and gave her my patient. The phrase what goes around comes around definatley did not apply to me. A week before my boards i had still not found that perfecr patient to replace my perfect patient. So my friend Kim, gave me hers. So i get to the day of boards and my patient doesn't qualify. Nice girls finish last. I was stuck and did not have a back up. By the time i desperatly begged someone to come in, and had to take the appropriate x-rays, i had thirty minutes to complete my exam. If a patient qualifies, you get 2 hours and thirty-five minutes to clean eight teeth. More than enough time eh? But, thirty minutes, i thought i failed. By the time my patient got in my chair i was so frustrated i scaled the hell out of her teeth. Trust me, the blood was proof. It was a good thing i got her numb!!!
So on tuesday i called the WREB examiners in hopes that i could get my score out of someone. She told me the results were in the mail, and they were that day. As i opened that envelope, i began to get sick. I finally ripped it open and it said i passed. Was it the luck of the canadian, i have to say yes.
Sadly others in my class failed the exam, so i hate to feel this, but i feel like a pretty dang good clinician if i can pass the exam in thirty minutes compared to everyone else's two hour and thirty five minutes.

Proud to be a Canadian/American

2004-11-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

All those who know me, know that i am very proud to be a native Canadian. I have lived in the United States for a majority of my life, but still call Canada home. Today as it is election day, i am feeling a little left out. One of the down sides of being a Canadian living in America is the disadvanteage of not being able to vote! My friend in Hygiene school, Bre Anna, has been quite "all American girl" example. She has such a love for this country and Bush! I have really learned alot from her, and it has instilled a new profound appreciation and love for the United States. Thanks Bre Anna! And this is for you..... GO BUSH!!!

Guys Suck!!!

2004-10-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

So maybe i really am an ingenue.... When it comes to guys!! I got the, "It's not you, it's me" talk today! Guys, what is with that comment. What does it really mean? Is it a way to help the girl not hurt as much? I want some guy feedback here!! Girls, has this ever been said to you? We should take a poll!! I know i should have listened to everyone of the people who have given me advice. Why do girls get suckered in? My heart is completley broken, but yet i still love him. How does that work!? AAHH!! Maybe i can find a nice blogging guy!! I could start a dating blogging site and make my millions!! :) So tell me what you all think about the "it's not you, it's me comment!" I know i am not the only one, or the last girl to hear that comment!!!

I'm such an Ingenue!

2004-10-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

I totally don't know what ingenue means, but my Professor is innane, and wants me to sound smart. ( As this is my first Blog experience.....Be gentle) So, i just learned something new. If you go to google, and type define then the word, it defines it!! Wow!! So since i do not know what ingenue is, i went to google. So for all of those who are sitting on the edge of their seats it means: an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl. Just so you are all well aware, i will admit. I am definatley ingenue when it comes to blogging. But i hope that as the weeks go on i will no longer be an artless, innocent girl! :)