I Really Do Love My Job!

I really do love my job.  Which job?  My job as a summer time grounds keeper for Southern Utah University.  Recently I was asked to do the monthly safety meeting.  Me and two of my co-worker/friends decided to talk about staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen working on the job.  I might have a lot of time on my hands....actually not really, since I work 50 hours a week.  But, I thought it would be a nice touch to our safety meeting to add a video of all the grounds keepers staying hydrated.  I went around work for about a week taking pictures of my co-workers drinking water (not beer) out of a red Solo cup.  Then I took a couple of hours to put together this video.  I am almost positive everyone at worked LOVED it.  I also think quite a few people ended up peeing their pants.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone watch the video.

{Side note:  There is a picture towards the end of the video of Cam Levins who recently just graduated SUU and will be running in the 2012 London Olympics - he even beat out the person from BYU.  I even got an autographed picture of him, might possibly be worth some money???}

The Flower to the Power FLOWER GIRLS!

Me, my boss Ross, and Flower Gals.
Top:  Vonae, Charlotte, Ross, Marlene, Brakel, and Me
Bottom:  Julianne, Kaylee, and Staci

108 Days of MY Summer Vacation

Woweeeeee!  Where, oh where, did this summer vacation of mine go.....

My summer vacation started out with a bang.  The Sis and I did a VERY LONG ROAD TRIP - remember that???

14-15 days...give or take a few, (I can't remember) of traveling in a circle amongst the states of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.

4 days of Cake Decorating Classes - to which I might add, I'm not a fan of decorating cakes.  I was stressed the whole time because of my chemistry class that was going on the at SAME TIME.  And, I think the icing we had to make was absolutely disgusting.  Therefore, my cakes that I ended up producing got thrown in the trash.  My final cake for the class didn't even make it to class because of stress and poor planning - that cake was a complete mess, and so was I!!!  I will say that the one thing I gained from this experience was some nifty baking tricks, and an admiration for anyone who decorates cakes.  Let me just fork out the big bucks to those cake decorators in the world, because you won't ever see me decorating another cake!

Me and my two girls - Staci and Reagan at our favorite flower bed - Presidents house.

 Some of the other fun flower and ground girls.  (Back:  Julianne, Kim, Kali, Reagan, Staci.  Bottom:  Vonae, and Me.)

63ish days of working the grounds of SUU.  I got "stuck" with two younger girls in a threesome this summer, and let's just say I wasn't looking forward to it.  BUT, I ended up having a blast with my two young co-workers, and we had a fun time working together each day.  Reagan (20) and Staci (18) taught me a lot.  I go back to what my Boss said when he paired us up, "You can learn a lot from these two girls."  I said, "How can I learn something from a 20 year old and fresh new High School graduate???"  I looked passed the age difference (finally) and had a great time working the grounds with two young'ns.

Kyle, Me, (Kyle + Me (Libby) = "Kibby") Erin, and Auntie Cami!!!  Best 31st Birthday EVER!

3 days of birthday celebration!  The night before my birthday my Sis and one of my Bro's baked me some cookies, lite a candle on fire, sang "happy birthday," and let me open my presents.  The day of my birthday I was surprised with flowers, singing, and Dairy Queen ice cream cake!  What a wonderful surprise from dear friends!!!!  A few days later I was then treated to dinner by another friend to a very yummy BBQ restaurant in Cedar City.  Tasted so good, but left smelling like a fire pit - worth it, I think so!

5 days of Tiki Shack snow cone eating!  I know, totally disappointed in my lack of support to one of the best Snow Cone shacks this side of Hawaii!  Next year I will not disappoint!  (If you haven't stopped on main street in Cedar City at the decorated camping trailer known as the Tiki Shack then you, my readers, are missing out!  When you go, (next summer since they closed for winter) please get a snow cone with your choice of flavor, vanilla ice cream on the bottom, sweet and condensed milk on top, and then lastly topped off with whip cream - HEAVENLY!)

73 days, and still going....UGH!  I planted a garden.  I have decided that gardens as big as mine are for people who have kids that can help, or for people who have a spouse, and you are both retired.  I bit off more then I could chew, and this garden has been a lot of work.  However, I have reaped the benefits, okay a lot of benefits. I have more squash then I know what to do with - anyone want some?  Contact me!!!!  Sheesh! They say that when planting a zucchini plant or squash plant you plant two.  Two, just in case one plant doesn't make it you'll at least have one.  Oh no, I planted three different types of squash and six plants each of the different squash.  That makes a total of 18 FREAKING plants.  And, on top of that, I accidentally dropped some pumpkin seeds that surprisingly popped up, so now I have a huge pumpkin plant taking over a section of my garden.  Anyone need pumpkins this fall????  Well, at least I can say that I learned a lot from this garden experience.  I know what to do next time, and what not to do.  Next year, I do not see a garden in my future, at least not a very big one.

5 days of culture, as I spent time going to plays at Tuachan and Shakespeare.  I got to see "The Glass Menagerie," which was very interesting, depressing, and hit a little to close to home.  "Romeo and Juliet" where I leaned back and slept through most of the play...it was free so I wasn't out any money, and I was taking my Sister - who loved it!  "Noises Off!" which was was hilarious, clever, and I very much recommend.  "Grease" which was SO AWESOME - such a classic in my book!  And lastly, I got to see "The Little Mermaid," which was actually kind of silly - cool affects, but super silly.  (I also get to go see "Dial M For Murder" in October, which is a fall play during the Shakespeare festival.)

This is me FINALLY passing chemistry - thumbs up yo!  (Don't worry I just signed my tutor up for another semester with my Food Science class - Lord help me!!!)

38 days of studying my pea brain out over chemistry!  And not to mention I spent $700.00 on a tutor who FINALLY got me to pass organic bio chemistry.  How does it go....
A big bag of sunflower seeds $3.59
Over due fees at the library for using a study room $2.30
70 hours for a personal tutor $700.00
Passing chemistry after the fourth time (or 9th time - all together)...PRICELESS.  Heck yes, FREAKING PRICELESS!!!

 The whole hiking gang at Kanarraville Falls.

A couple of days (here and there) hanging out with family, having barbeque's, going hiking, camping, and river rafting - yeah buddy.  Our latest hike took us to the canyon right up the road from my bro's house.  Kanarra Narrows, as we always called it growing up.  We finally set a date and went and hiked the narrows.  Had a most beautiful Saturday afternoon, and couldn't have picked a better date.  The narrows were packed with people and we had some interesting experiences, but we didn't see any snakes and we all survived each other.

Lastly, out of my whole summer vacation I only watched about 20 days of Netflix.  Shocking, I know!  I should've just put my account on hold as I was so busy with chemistry, chemistry, and well whatever else I did this summer.  I didn't put it on hold, so my very few dvd's I recived over the summer sat in their envelope for days, sometimes weeks without me watching the dvd.  I also watch instant, so the rest of my watching days were set to my latest crave, (or the flashback to mid 90's watching "My So Called Life" with the beautiful Jared Leto) "Take Home Chef" - which I used to watch when it aired years ago on TLC.  This show only lasted two seasons, but has over 100 episodes.  AND, the only time I would get to watch that show was when I had dishes THAT HAD TO BE DONE.  I clean dishes and watch a beautiful (straight) Austrialian man cook dinner.  Oh the life I live!  I also want to put in my two cents about this whole Netflix - raising the price thing.  IT STINKS!  But, as my Mommy tried to calm me down...she said, "Libby, it was bound to happen - get over it!"  I'm sticking with Netflix, but they can forget me converting any more people over to their company.  SHOOT - I used to have such a strong testimony of them and their company, but then that thing called money and greed got in the way and this is how they treat their consumers.  Nu Uh - I don't think so.  I tired to wait it out by making a threat (either "you don't make us pay or I'm canceling my account") via Facebook, along with umpteen thousand others....but those Netflix folk are sticking to their guns and I am just going to have to buck up and pay the extra money a month.  So, I'm sticking with them! I am even paying the $16.00 (actually $17.07 - just got my first bill) a month so I can have one unlimited and instant viewing.

My new home - what a mess.  Wish I could find time to unpack instead of just doing a little here and little there!!!!!!

And lastly, I spent all my other time trying to pack up my CRAP and move.  Yes, I cut the cord from my younger brother and moved out to the big city of Cedar City.  I wish I would've done it sooner.  I will miss my Bro - he has been a fantastic landlord/storage unit, but the time has come.  Now I really can make fun of people who are my age and still live at home!  I moved to Cedar City, and it has taken me forever to get my CRAP to my little basement apartment that is just blocks away from campus, and in the heart of downtown.  I live below an old family friend who is my age and has a little boy.  I love my new crib, and I am almost done decorating it - you want a tour...I will be making a video of my new digs just cause it's been a while since I have made a lame video.  Stay tuned - it's going to be a good one!

I know my summer wasn't as exciting as most of my family and friends, but I sure did stay busy.  I guess that's all that matters at this point in my life.  Won't this next year of mine be interesting to watch....can't wait to see where I end up!

I Graduated From LDS Institute, and Other Nonsense....

I can't seem to graduate from that thing called college, BUT I was able to graduate from the LDS Institute program.  Yeah for me!  It was actually kind of exciting.  I had decided about a year ago that maybe I should try to graduate from Institute.  I talked to one of my teachers and he pulled up all my information and classes I had taken.  He then tells me I am really close to graduating I just need to take a year of the "Book of Mormon."  In all my institute years - there has been many years - I had never once taken a "Book of Mormon" class.  I have taken the "Dating and Courtship" more times then I can remember (and obviously it hasn't helped), but I had never taken "Book of Mormon."  I asked my teacher if going on a mission would count for that year of "Book of Mormon" and he could just pass me through.  No such luck!  I had to sign up for a year of "Book of Mormon."  I signed up, and took a full year, along with my "older singles" institute classes.  I was taking two institute classes a semester along with my regular semester of classes, including chemistry.  You would think that doubling up on the spiritual institute classes would also  help me to pass all my chemistry.  Hmm...Let's not go there....By the way did I mention I took the "Book of Mormon" class...not sure if it was said or not.  ;)

Since I would be out of town on my Institute Graduation I was told to go pick up my diploma sometime after I got back.  I obviously never did get around to it, and now I wish I would have.  Last Sunday, I was surprisingly on time to church, let this be a lesson - stick to coming late!  I had gotten to Sacrament meeting even before my aunt, who I sit by each week.  Totally SHOCKING!  As they we were making announcements I was talking to this senior couple next to me in my ward (who I have buddied up with) when all of the sudden the Bishop calls my name,  "Can I have Liberty Williams come up to the stand?"  What the heck, as I am in full conversation with my senior buds.  The Bishop continues, "Libby has been called to serve in the Mongolia Mission...."  Okay, aren't you just funny Bishop.  I start the long walk to the front - never sit in the very back - not good!  I get to the stand and the Bishop continues..."Libby has actually graduated from the LDS Institute of Religion, and has completed her four years.  The program has presented her with this diploma and we would like to present it to her today."  As I was standing up there completely embarrassed I went on to act like a "sunbeam" (a 5 year old child labeled in the LDS church), and I made some face, rolled my eyes, then shook the Bishops hand and quickly walked back to my seat.  REALLY - HOW OLD AM I - now the face making and eye rolling was embarrassing?  Why did they have to present that in Sacrament meeting?  Well, it's now official - I graduated Institute, and now it's off to get my advanced certificate in Institute.  I mean really, if I can't graduate college I might as well try to graduate in my religion.  Does this mean I have a degree to bash with people of other faiths???

That was exciting?  However, another exciting bit that happened in the month of May was that we celebrated a holiday known as Memorial Day.  I decided on the Friday before the holiday that I would actually celebrate this holiday correctly - meaning, go visit those who have passed on - pay my respects to the dead.  I know, that sounds kind of tacky - "pay my respects yo, to the dead!"  On Sunday, I went to the cemetery and said hello with my parents in toe.  Then, once again on Monday amongst the normal holiday activities of hiking and BBQing my family again went down to the cemetery and walked among the spirits of those who have passed away.  It was a sweet feeling being at the cemetery.  We all took a moment to remember our dear Grandparents, who were so kind and loving, and NOT forgotten.  I'm so glad we took a few moments out of our day to do that.

Of course, as the holiday of Memorial Day has turned into a much needed day off from the busy work week we planned a hike, and an annual BBQ.  It's how we roll in the Williams family.  Around noon we all met up and decided to hike Spring Creek again, since that is exactly what we did last year.  We wanted to hike Kannarra Narrows, but because of all the rain and snow we have been receiving we decided it would be really wet and cold.  Not that Spring Creek was any dryer.  We did a lot of crossing of the creek, and luckily nobody got extremely wet.  It was fun to take all the kiddos, and to be up in a beautiful canyon hiking.  The best part about it was that the hike was free, and right in our own backyard.  SCORE!  After the hike we got back to my Bro's house and fired up the grill for our typical hamburger, and lot's of eat'n BBQ.  I think we all had a great time - it really seemed like everyone had a great time!  The weather was perfect, a little bit on the chilly side, but nothing a jacket couldn't cure.  I have come to love the holiday of Memorial Day, but now as I am older, I have decided that even though it has been made to be just a day off work for people to BBQ I'm still going to make it a point to go visit those who have passed away.

The little Sister trying to make fun of me - so sweet, isn't it!

Some other nonsense....I'm doing my summer of chemistry.  Holy Freaking COW - so much for having an enjoyable summer.  I've met with my tutor already, and had my first quiz.  Passed it - got 10 points out of 10 points.  I'm going to say this is my summer of chemistry.  I may not get to have the summer of fun like I always want/get, but by golly I am going to pass this class.  I'm putting it out there into the universe - I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!  I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!  I AM GOING TO PASS CHEMISTRY!!!!!!  It's actually not so bad, kind of interesting too.  What?  Did I just say that?  Sure did - you heard me right yo's!

Got Flowers?

I mentioned my summer...well that brings me to working the grounds of SUU, yet again.  All summer long I get to be a "flower girl!"  I started about two weeks after everyone else because I was out on a very long road trip.  I'm now back to the manual labor, digg'n in the dirt, breaking my back, and still screaming at those things called worms.  It still doesn't get easier with time - worms are still gross, but I am grateful for the little guys because it shows that the soil is in really good condition!  

(Our cool shirts we made for our crew full of flower PoWeR!  I came up with the slogan - "Got Flowers?")

However, I'm totally bummed because I don't have an iPod anymore.  Here's the sad story.  Around the first of April my car stereo when kapoot!  I have a dear sweet friend in the car stereo business, he hooked me up and got me thugging once again in the Honda.  Well, about a week before that "very long road trip" I dropped my iPod in the toilet.  I KNOW, I KNOW!  It was completely (and still is) devestaing.  The funny part is I came out of the bathroom just screaming...of course the Bro was like, "What is all this screaming about?"  I say, "I just dropped my iPod in the toilet and I'm hoping a bowl of rice will fix it!!!" (side note:  the iPod got dropped before anything else got dropped if you get my drift...)  He say's, "Who the HELL takes an iPod into the bathroom with them - you take a book!!!  I don't feel sorry for you!"  I say, "Oh just be quiet.  And, yes, I take an iPod in the bathroom, so I can play games!"  It has been that blessed iPod that gets me through my summer job of planting flowers.  What am I going to do?  As mentioned to some of you, I am taking donations.  I've got a plan...if everyone who reads my blog sends me $5.00 each than I should, for sure, have enough money to buy me a new iPod and then with the leftover money (I'm assuming here) I can buy songs off of iTunes.  Totally have a plan...

Please send money via check or money order to:
Miss Liberty Williams
P.O. Box 420010
Kanarraville, UT 84742.

My birthday is also coming up in July (the 18th to be exact), so if you would like to send more than the $5.00 donation please feel free.

Thanks for all of your support!  (I am really not expecting any money - but in all seriously, do think it over.)

That's all my nonsense.  Now get mailing me some money yo's! ;)

Flower POWER!!!

(Charlotte, Shellie, Andrea, Me, Kelly, Lindsay - my coworker this summer, and Crystal - who I worked with last year.)

Well, I'm back in the garden again! Yes, I'm back planting flowers, gett'n dirty, and screaming louder at the worms in the dirt. However, I just got done reading some children's books (yes children's books) about worms, and have a new found love for them. Yes they still frighten me when they pop up to say hello, but they are my friend, and good for the earth. So, I am starting to love them.

Enough about worms...I'm back on the Flower Crew sporting my FLOWER POWER, and hot overalls. I have a new buddy, Lindsay, and a new area. I asked for shade this year since I didn't really want to burn and shorten my life due to skin cancer, so ask and you shall receive, I got put in the Shakespeare area. Lots of shade but lots of weirdos...Where do these people come

from??? We see people daily who make us stop and stare, and wonder how they are here in small town Cedar City?

It's been a lot of fun, and I am learning lots more about gardening and flowers. My boss wants me to get my "Master Gardner," but I have to wait until spring to take the classes and then intern at a garden somewhere. Sounds exciting, and I would love to know more and more about gardening!!!!

Today I...

Planted my last flower...

Pulled my last weed...

Deadheaded my last Marigold (which I am no longer a fan of...), Petunia, Cosmo, Geranium, and the list of flowers could go on and on...

Bent over one last time showing my back end to whom ever was passing on a busy street - thank heavens for my overalls!

Shoveled my last pile of dirt - by the way, I now hate the sound of a shovel scraping over cement!

Picked up my last bit of garbage...

Dumped my last pile of garbage...

Pruned my last bush...

Screamed one last time at a slimy worm poking their head up at me...

Watered my last flower bed...

Wore my overalls one last time...they are going into hibernation until next May when I start working on the flower crew again!

Soaked the sun up for one last farmers tan...

Woke up at 5:30am for the last time...(although, I hope to keep up the early morning routine so I can study my scriptures in the dawns early light, rather than just before sleepy time!)

Shoved dirt under my fingernails and toenails one last time...My poor feet look horrible, a much needed pedicure will take care of that tomorrow!

Finished several books (including Harry Potter 3 & 4) on tapes...

Got off work one last time smelling dirty, and looking sweaty...

AND...

Tried not to cry as I said "Goodbye," or "See you all next May" to my fun summer job working on the Flower Crew at SUU.

This is Ross, my Boss! Him and I would wear our overalls everyday...he's the one who inspired me to buy a pair. Ross the Boss also taught me a lot about planting, gardening, and flowers galore! He was a great Boss, that Ross!

Oh Crystal, my coworker who taught me a lot of patience!!! However, even though I couldn't stand her most of the time, not to say I'm not a pain in the butt, I told her today if she is working on the Flower Crew next summer I would be happy to be her "companion" as she called us, next summer. (Note about flower bed: this flower bed is in front of the President of SUU's home - Crystal and I would take care of it, and boy did it take a lot of work to make it look this good! If anything the people that drove down this street got to enjoy this beautiful flower bed. Also, it's a lot bigger than what is shown in the picture.)

Natalie and Holly - they worked on the lawn crew, but the three of us became fast friends! In fact, Natalie (the one in the red shirt) happens to be in the same situation I am in...Oh how the Lord works in mysterious ways...We are both 29, return missionaries, and trying to figure out our lives, and get through school. (By the way this picture was taken at SIX in the MORNING, so as to why I'm not as chipper looking...)

It will be a sad day...

When the greenhouse goes empty it will be a sad day at work! Welcome to my office, this is one reason I love going to work everyday. Look at all these pretty flowers! One of my other favorite perks is all the free flowers that my boss sends me home with all the time - it's either me or the dumpster. (He makes fun of me, saying that one day I'll be outside the greenhouse picketing "Save the Flowers!" "Save the Flowers!") However, I took care of my mom and planted lots of flowers at her house - she thinks I'm an expert now, yeah right...I have a lot to learn??? I gave some flowers to my parents neighbors, I gave flowers to my neighbors, and planted up my cousin Summer's flower beds.

I have to say my mom was so pleased to hear that I wear overalls at work...only because she got tired of seeing my RELIGIOUS COVERED BUTT! I don't know how many times I heard my mom say, "LIBBY, PULL UP YOUR PANTS!" I can't! "Well I'm glad to know that the kids on campus don't have to look at this!" Sorry I don't have pictures of my butt to post...I'm sure you're all disappointed!

As you can see I'm enjoying work, and hope to post more pictures of the awesome flower beds we planted and the patience that I'm learning from them - the flower beds, because it doesn't happen over night for the flowers to come together and create a "canopy" of beauty.

This lovely picture of all different beautiful flowers was planted by me in one of our many grow boxes. I can't wait until the Shakespearean Festival begins because we will finally get to show off all of our beautiful flowers. Isn't that pretty. You can't even see the box that it's planted in. I'll let you in on a little secret - the box has all of these circles around it and we plant the flowers in the circles. With some fertilizer and love it grows so big and full that it covers the entire box. LOVE IT!

This bright vibrant flower is a "Monkey Flower." Crazy looking, it makes me think of the lead singer of Kiss, Gene Simmons!

Not sure the name of this flower...they are a vine type...and absolutely beautiful!

This is a "Cosmo," kind of looks like a giant daisy. Such a happy flower. That's my hand that is turning rough and manly - yikes! (Yes I am wearing gloves at work.)

Who Needs Princess Tours!

Who needs to tour guide in Alaska - I just got a new seasonal job. I got hired on to work as part of the Flower Crew at SUU. How cool is that. I start May 4, 2009 at 6:00am. I will be planting flowers, running power equipment, cleaning sidewalks, pulling weeds, and of course watering. Or as my sister likes to say - "Get'n Dirty!" The job is 40 hours a week, working 6:00am to 2:30pm. I'm so excited, and so glad that I was able to find a job to earn some money over the summer.

So, who needs Princess? By the way, if any of you were interested in knowing about the whole Princess ordeal, it's done. Well Folks, I'm trying to let it go. I'm not going to write a letter because it won't do me any good, in any way. I've come to realize that part of the reason we were sent to earth was to hurt people and be hurt, and that is why we get to learn the great principle of repentance and forgiveness. Yeah, getting kind of spiritual right now? Also, not forgiving always leads to the most unfavorable character known as, PRIDE. We don't want pride, pride is bad. As President Ezra Taft Benson once said, and has so famously been a huge topic of discussion in the Mormon Religion, "Beware of Pride." Did you know that pride is a form of not forgiving another who has wronged you. You probably did, because you all seem one step ahead of me! With that said - I'M TRYING PEOPLE, I'M TRYING...I'm going to let this go, and I promise - you will not be hearing anymore about Princess, at least in a negative way!

Did I tell you I GOT A NEW JOB FOR THE SUMMER, I GOT A NEW JOB FOR THE SUMMER...Planting flowers - Yeah Buddy!