Thanksgiving 2010

For Thanksgiving, I went and spent it with Daren and his family. It was so much fun!!

We woke up at 5am almost every morning to workout before the endless feasting began. It was an awesome (yet frigid) way to begin each day.

Daren's cousin, Jara, came for the Holidays, and with Braiden's company we managed to laugh nonstop for about 4 days.

At the Black Friday sale, I got:

• An amazing $200 racquetball racket for $50.
• A beautiful blue workout top
• A warm fleece jacket (also blue, of course)
• An Under Armor jacket
• A snowboarding helmet and goggles
• Really warm mittens

So, basically everything I need for the snowboarding season. Most my winter stuff was getting really old and warn out.

We spent one day snowboarding at Grand Targhee. Oh, the awesomeness. Snowboarding at my favorite place with my favorite snowboarding companion.

 

I honestly had no idea Braiden was ruining my solo snowboarding shot. Thanks, dude. But seriously - do I not have the prettiest board EVER? Also note my new (and first ever) helmet, goggles and warm mittens.

Daren and his sexy board

 The group

Braiden

Downside of the whole event: Braiden was controlling the music on his Ipod and selected Keisha's new album to assault our ears on the way home, regardless of my complaints. And he fell asleep. So we listened to the album the entire 2 hours in the car and it was awful.

We also ate at Daren's friends', Scott and Wes, restaurant. They make good food.

I didn't bring a dress for the weekend, as I was planning on leaving early Sunday to head back to Utah. As it ended up, Daren's sister was blessing her new baby, and I wanted to stay for it. So I was there with no dress... I thought about every available option and finally came up with this:

Yes, this is me wearing Daren's graduation gown. In public. To church. But I had no other option available to me. The slip went CLLEAAAR up, so I had to hold it closed. With my long coat (thank goodness for my long coat) it didn't look as bad as it could have. Still, I was so embarrassed.

The worst part is we went to breakfast after, and I had to walk around in it the whole time and I was even more  humiliated. Everyone thought it was hysterical, by the way. How did they know, you ask? Well, because Daren told everyone and showed them the pics. Thanks, Dude.

I love how we match. When Daren was living in SLC that summer, we went to the same ward. We, for about 3 weeks in a row, matched. I'd wear the same color dress as he'd wear shirt. So after that, for the whole summer, we coordinated colors. Lame - maybe. But we loved it. And here, without even trying, we did it again.

It ended up snowing ALL day and most the night that Sunday. So I opted to drive back to Utah early Monday morning instead of in the snow Sunday. It was a good decision. One of Daren's friends did the drive Sunday and it took him something like 8 hours. And he lives an hour closer than me. Eeek.

All in all, this was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had. Last year, spent with Becki, Jenni and kids was also very awesome.  I'm so grateful for such incredible family and friends.

In case you were wondering. Which you probably weren't. But I don't care.

My Hotmail account was hacked into. The next week my Gmail account got hacked into TWICE. The perp even changed my password so I couldn’t get in. People SUCK.


I am so ridiculously homesick it’s pathetic. I just want to be in Saudi so bad. I miss it like crazy.

I am constantly cold these days. Like, all the time.

The Grandparents’ basement is seriously frigid. Every time I go downstairs it’s like entering Antarctica. You think I’m kidding. But if you felt my subzero hands you’d redact your judgment.

Ramzi’s car broke down and I got to push it on the side of the street while all these guys just sat and watched. Thanks, men, for helping out a couple of in distress girls. Then it got to an incline, into a parking lot, and I couldn’t do it myself. The car kept sliding back onto me so Ramzi had to get out of the car and help me push it into the parking lot with no driver with the men still just watching. Um – seriously people of Provo? At least I got a good workout and laugh out of it.

I’m starting a new mosaic and I’m really excited.

I went to the cinema twice this week. I love going to the cinema. A lot.

I get my present on Saturday and I am so excited I can barely stand it.

Work is still undecided and slow. I feel useless here. No one knows what their job is or what is going on. Moral is at an all-time low and it sucks to watch these guys I care about walk around all depressed. It also sucks to feel useless at work.

I’m the official Chain to Happiness creator around the office. I've even gotten requests. :)

I’m addicted to this new fruity gum I bought yesterday. I have eaten almost the entire box and it is 11am. I also think it's made me slightly ill.

I’m really excited about Thanksgiving. I’m excited to see Daren and spend time with his family. I’m excited to go snowboarding at my favorite place ever – Grand Targhee!

I’m officially the last of the 4 roommates (in my freshman apartment at BYU-I , Alison, Nichole, Brittney Leeann and Brittney Deanne) to be married. Nichole and Brittney are working on baby number 3, and Alison got married last weekend – congrats, Alison!!

I still have a mangled can of sardines on my desk. Why?

I daydream about sushi. Way too often than is healthy.

I really want to be a country singer. Forget the 8-5 desk job and go on tours with sexy drummers and sing my heart out.

I have bad dreams almost every night for the last couple of years. Every night. Seriously, cosmos, can you give me a break?


Love,
Brittney

Right Now, as of 11-15-2010...

Name as it appears on your birth certificate? Brittney Deann Johnson

Nicknames? Ninnie, Ninz, Ninnie Marie, Britt, Brittsie, Spitz

Parents' names? Jerry and Jeannie Johnson

Siblings? Mikail, Camree, Taylor, McKenzie

Pets? I’m not a huge animal person. Our family dog is Kamiah. Any dog I ever have will also be named Kamiah.

Height? 5’8

Eye color? Blue

Hair color? Brown

Piercings? Two in each ear. I only wear the earrings in the first hole, though.

Tattoos? None. But if I had one – it would be my name in Arabic on the small of my back.

How much do you love your job? Love it. Love my co-workers the most though.

Birthplace? Utah

Hometown? Dhahran

Current residence? Orem

College attended, degree? BYU-Idaho – BS in communication with minors in editing and Middle Eastern Studies

What kind of car do you drive? The most awesome car in the world. Blue RAV4.

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PREFERENCES

Croutons or bacon bits? Croutons!

Coke or Pepsi? Neither. Unless I’m in a bad mood.

Sprite or 7UP? Sprite

Coffee or ice cream? Ice cream – Cold Stone. Chocolate.

Coffee, tea, or decaf? Herbal tea. Some days at work, it’s the only thing that keeps me warm.

Milk chocolate or dark? Milk chocolate.

Buttered, plain, or salted popcorn? Buttered and salted… YUUMMM.

Red or white wine? Neither

Gold or silver? Silver

Two or four doors? Four!

Bridges or tunnels? Bridges

Beach, city, or country? Beach! Or Country! Or city.

Summer or winter? Love both. But if I had to live in one forever – I’d chose summer.

Storms: Cool or scary? Cool! I love storms.

Roller coaster: Scary or exciting? Exciting

James Dean or Clark Gable? James Dean

Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn? Audrey Hepburn

Beatles or Stones? Both in moderation

Blanket or stuffed animal? Blanket! I made a beautiful quilt with Aunt Karen's help. It is so soft and pretty and I take it everywhere. Seriously. It's rather ridiculous how attached I am. And of course, Fluffy. But he isn't an animal.

One pillow or two? Two

Adidas, Nike, or Reebok? Nike

Mac, PC, or Linux? Mac.

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WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE...

Salad dressing? Ranch. I love ranch..

Salad? Cobb or taco.

Pizza topping? Onions, peppers, olives, tomatoes, mushrooms and pepperoni. YUM.

Foods? Desi. Thai. SUSHI. Hamburgers. Pizza. French fries…

Sandwich filling? Turkey and tons of veggies with lots of avocado.

Dessert? Chocolate.

Restaurant? Hmm… Zupas. Cafe Rio. Any place with cool ambiance.

Fast food place? Arby’s!!

Drink, non-alcoholic? Water.

Drink, alcoholic? If I drank I think I’d go for tequila because it sounds cool.

Color of socks? Colorful patterns.I don’t like plain colored socks.

Shampoo or conditioner? Conditioner. Tons of it.

Toothpaste? I’m not picky.

Holiday? All of them. Most especially Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween. I love holidays. Except Valentine’s Day.

Color? Blue!! Baby blue specifically.

Car? TIM! RAV4.

Day of the week? Sunday

Band/Artist? Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith, Reba, Zach Brown Band, Nickleback, Plain White T’s, The Script, and on and on…

Book? Genre – Historical Fiction. I love reading.

Magazine? I only scan them at grocery checkout lines.

Movie? “Anne of Green Gables” and “Pride and Prejudice” are my all-time comfort movies.
TV show? Gilmore Girls, The Office, Parenthood

TV character? Pam. Because people say I look and act like her.

Disney character? Wow, This is hard. Hercules, I guess.

Warner Bros. character? None. Don’t like their stuff.

Sesame Street character? Big Bird? Or Bert and Ernie.

Quote? Scripture: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13

Word or phrase? "Screw The World!” I said it in a moment of annoyance in High School to a group of Dormies and Its just stuck…

Flower? I don’t think I have a favorite flower. Any blue flower.

Sport to watch? Soccer!
Zoo exhibit? Elephants and giraffes.

Board game? I don’t love most classic board games. I love card games. Love Rummikub.

Town to chill in? London!!!

Perfume/Cologne? Refuge by Charlotte Russe

Website? FB. Sad, but true.

Least favorite thing? Not knowing where my life is going or what to do.

Least favorite subject? Math -- I just don’t get it.

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RANDOM PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Been in love before? Very tricky question… mostly no.

Loved somebody so much it made you cry? Yes.

What inspires you? Goodness.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Somewhere not here.

What do you look for in a partner? Caring. Understanding. Sympathetic. Good.

What did you want to be when you grew up? No idea. Part of why I’m lost now. I always wanted to be a marine biologist or an archeologist.

What characteristics do you despise? Greed.

If you had a big win in the lottery, how long would you wait to contact people? Not long.

Where would you retire to? Hmm… so many options. Thailand? Some tropical island?

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? No.

Have you ever gone skinny-dipping? No. But it’s on my bucket list. One day.

Do you make fun of people? Way too often.

Last person you went to dinner with? Daren

What did you do for your last birthday? Had a DELICIOUS BBQ. Awesome.

Do you carry a donor card? Yes! I think everyone should.

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RANDOM QUESTIONS

Had the drink Calypso Breeze? No.

Been to Europe? Yes.

Been to Africa? Yes

Been toilet-papering? No.

Been toilet-papered? No

Been in a car crash? Yes

Lucky Number? 8

Any superstitions? Tons. I’m ridiculously superstitious. But not in a black cat walking under a ladder way. I have to say Masha’Allah or knock on wood or I think whatever good happened won’t anymore.

When was your last hospital visit? A month ago? When Ramzi had kidney stones. For me personally? I can’t remember. When I had pneumonia or my melanoma surgery.

First thing you think of when you wake up? Crap… haha.

What color is your bedroom's carpet? Tan

What color is your bathroom? Tan. But my bathroom at home is a blue fish bathroom and it is the coolest bathroom ever.

What's on your mouse pad? Nothing. Plain black.

What's under your bed? Nothing, I hope.

How many times did you fail your permit and/or driver's license test? I failed once on the driving part. I cried forever. It was awful. I was leaving to go back to Saudi the next day and wouldn’t be able to get my license for another year.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be? Jesus.

What was the last film you saw at the movies? Unstoppable. Goood movie!
What was the last film you saw at home? Actually, I watched a documentary on Egypt. It was really good.

What was the last book you read? I'm currently reading Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan.
What was the last CD you listened to? The BOM on my way to work. Gotta love commuting.
What do you have for breakfast? On a perfect day? French toast. Or an omelet and hash browns. On a normal day? Nothing. Or a grapefruit. Or an apple.

Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No.

Can you roll your tongue? No.

How many keys on your key ring? 3 – Cave, Grandparents, Tim.

Where would you like to visit most? 2 places – AFRICA! I want to go so bad! And I really want to go on a Caribbean cruise and hit all those islands.

Hobbies? Reading, mosaics, writing, racquetball, snowboarding…

Which single store would you choose to max your credit card? I really don't know. Maybe a big department store.

What do you do most often when you are bored? Watch a TV show. Read.

What words or phrases do you overuse? I don’t know. Maybe “oh baby!”

What words or phrases do your friends overuse? LOL, TGIF, WTF.

Friend who lives farthest away? Being an international kid, that is a hard one. Saudi probably is the furthest.

Greatest pet peeve? Letting the top of the toothpaste get gunky. Being two sided.

Best thing in the world? Hugs from certain people. Feeling like you belong.

When do you get up? When should I get up? 6:30. When do I get up? 7:00-7:20 when I need to leave at 7:30.

Bedtime? Varies, I do like to go to bed early though. I’m lame like that.

Last new thing you bought for yourself? A pretty dress that I am actually wearing today.

Lady Antebellum

I went and saw Lady Antebellum and David Nail in concert.

(If you don't know David Nail, he sings: Red Light)

 

Have I ever mentioned that Lady A is one of my favorite bands EVER? Or that their song, Need You Now, is one of my top 5 favorite songs. I listen to it all the time, and take extreme delight in singing to it at the top of my lungs in the car.

David Nail

Lady Antebellum!

This is one smokin' hott piano. Katie (I didn't bring my camera so I stole Katie's pictures... THANKS!) couldn't get a good picture of it - the lights were kind of a major nuisance. It's red and there is beautiful gold detail, and then it says Lady Antebellum on it.

One of the major reasons I love Need You Know is because of the instrumentals. It is just incredible. Dave Haywood got on the piano, and chills went up my spine. This melody is one of my very favorite melodies of all time.

Seriously, incredible.